anyone ever just turned up at the airport

[Trustmeimadoctor]

for a very last minute trip to unknown destinations ?

always wondered if it was really possible


also when is the best time to find the stupidly cheap holidays if you not tied to needing anything like polls and kids clubs for 2 adults that are happy to basically go anywhere

[LuS1fer]

No. Once at the airport ready to go anywhere, they have you over a barrel and will charge you the maximum possible.

I've found that checking the airline websites at regular intervals is best and then just bookinng the second you see a nice reduction. Some websites are not very "go anywhere" friendly and it can be a chore but I think sites like skyscanner do offer that option.

The best bet is budget airlines and airports nobody wants to use like Luton. The truly giveaway fares are largely history with air passenger duty and VAT being big factors in overall cost - and that's before the compulsory credit card fee at 2.5% they rob you of.

[JonnyFive]

I've often wanted to do this, just arrive and choose the next destination that sounds interesting and leave for abit.

[Justices]

Have done this many times. The trick is to have a good agent. Get to the airport, give them a shout and they will be able to book anything you need without getting shafted by the airport prices.

Have done this and flow to Hawaii, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Houston, Singapore and Bali. Thoroughly recommend doing it at least once in life.

[Ewan S]

My mate has booked lastminute.com style packages online at midnight and then had to be at the airport 4 hours later for the 4 day trip to spain. That always sounds like a sensible, if slightly less spontaneous way of doing things.

[Mr Gearchange]

The best way is to have your bags packed and get onto your indie travel agent.
If you can go on 1 or 2 days notice the bargains to had are astounding.

My parents just pack suitcases for somwhere hot and can go at the drop of a hat.

Two years ago they did a 3 week cruise which, for the pair of them was reduced from 21K down to 4K.

[5potTurbo]

Luxair used to do this for last minute day trips, so the flights that leave Luxembourg around 7a.m. and would return about 9 or 10pm the same day.
You'd pay about €100 and could end up in Vienna or Barcelona - depending on which flight needed more passengers to make it more viable. It seemed to work well, so I don't know why they don't do this any longer.

[Planet Claire]

Have done this before, many years ago but didn't get anywhere, but this was Newcastle. I think you'd have better luck at bigger airports such as LHR or LGW.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

hmm every time i see cheap holidays in agents windows they always seem to be newcastle and luton

i just thought it maybe a nice way to get to see places id not thought about at possibly alot less than they should be. friends of ours just booked a last minute trip to turkey but because they had to be specific they only wanted 4* plus and kids club and this and that they ended up paying 2k for a week !! we go to turkey in a few weeks for a fortnight and managed to get it for 600 inc flights to a 4* place but we booked ours months ago. it does seem if that you have specific requirements and or kids last minute isnt the way to do it lol

[F i F]

The nearest you can get to a pitch up at departure point and decide where to go is by using railways and InterRail or similar.

Notices sharp intake of collective PH breath at mention of railways.

Must admit that 21k>4k cruise sounds a bit of alright though.

[GreatGranny]

Just tried a search on Lastminute for Mon 5th from East Midlands to Nice for 5 days and cheapest was £600 rtn!

Trouble with budget airlines is the cheapest seats are available when the initial flight is first announced, the longer you leave it the more expensive it is.

[TonyHetherington]

Yes.

And it was a nightmare from start to finish. (over dinner I tell a story which lasts about an hour on this adventure )

Arrived, they essentially said "no, you can't book direct here at the airport, only on the internet and before travel". (that was the agents).

So, straight to BA and the other flying companies and their prices were so high as to make it foolish (we almost ended up in Jamaica, though ).

That was 26th December, and we ended up driving to Edinburgh for Hogmanay, which was BRILLIANT.

[LuS1fer]

GreatGranny said:

Trouble with budget airlines is the cheapest seats are available when the initial flight is first announced, the longer you leave it the more expensive it is.

Not always. BMIBaby tend to reduce the flight prices at avrying intervals dependent on take-up of seats and also tend to sell the last 5 or so off at a lower price to get the flight full.