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Are last-minute flights always more expensive?
Are last-minute flights always more expensive? Usually — but not always.
Quick answer
Usually, yes: cheap fare classes sell out first, so near-departure inventory skews expensive. But it is not a rule — unpopular midweek flights, red-eyes, or newly added capacity can price surprisingly low within days of departure.
When last-minute is not expensive
- Off-peak midweek departures with wide-open cabins
- Routes where airlines are still filling new schedules
- Red-eye and very early departures with thin demand
Related topics: flight booking assistance · domestic flights