"Last-Minute Deals"

From Mark Kahler

Three Key Words...

Search the phrase "Last-Minute Deals."

A friend got some unhappy news.

A close relative was seriously ill, and wanted him by her bed side. He lived modestly in the American Midwest. She was calling from Spain.

A generous love offering from his church provided more than $1000 USD for the trip, but would that be enough to fly to Europe four days later?

Surprisingly, the answer is "yes!"

Travelocity has a "last minute deal" that provides roundtrip airfare from Chicago on a Wednesday to Madrid for $573-690 USD/person, and includes a compact car rental at no additional charge.

(Click for Trailer)

Their last-minute deals are offered from 14 to three days prior to departure, and they vanish with no warning whatsoever. Often, these arise from a few extra seats that turned up empty. When the seats are filled, the deals are gone.

How did I find this deal? I simply typed the phrase "last minute deals" into a search engine.

Almost every airline finds itself with a few empty seats. Reduced revenue is better than nothing, so they often put up some great deals.

My friend's trip to Spain was in early March. Making the same attempt in the height of summer season probably would have ended with less favorable results.

But no matter what time of year it is, take a look.

Visit a "last-minute" Web site.

This mode of travel has become popular with people who are not obligated to go anywhere. They like the idea of traveling somewhere cheaply and spontaneously.

It explains why Web sites like Site59 and 11thhourvacations have enjoyed success. Airlines unload last-minute empty seats and travelers receive discounts normally reserved for long-anticipated itineraries.

The airlines also offer these sorts of deals directly on their Web sites. Finding the page you need might take a little exploring. Sometimes they're called "special offers" or "promotions" instead of "last-minute" deals.

It is likely you will search all the last-minute deals and find nothing. What then?