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Went for a short break to Lanzarote (ACE) 2 weeks ago (during half term). Thought about staying an extra few days asfter the family returned (I know!), and surprised to find Economy and Club Avios availability on an already busy flight. 10k and £20 later, ACE-LGW and got an upgrade to boot as economy was full. This was booked 6 days before the flight.
Would never have thought to even look. Is this common?? I’m guessing as a popular holiday destination from the UK, most PAX book return tickets – the cost of a cash ticket was at least 3x the price. Will definitely be looking in the future!
Avios availability on short haul never seems to be a problem with availability very close into the flight date..
Last year I booked a one way avios ticket LHR-MAN the day before.
But yes fee people seem to look because as you say the vast majority of people want a return on a specific date because they have work / kids back to school etc commitments.
Plenty of people book speculatively then cancel nearer the time. But yes, short haul availability can be pretty good anyway.
Easyjet cancelled my flight a couple of years ago and I had to buy LHR VCE tickets including one on the day less than 12 hours before for 2 people. Cash price was around £500. That’s one of the reasons why I always keep enough avios for a last minute redemption if needed.
High traffic routes tend to have great availability, as each flight still gets the standard reward seats when released and supply outstrips demand.
A few years ago I needed a one way to Paris at short notice and even though club was the only reward available it was still much cheaper than any other airline or Eurostar. Was a great little fight, despite being on a full A321 day back at doors 2 / row 10.
Is also great for pricier LCY fares — have paid ~£400 less than asking price before. Great for shorthaul + especially if you’re flexible
Easyjet cancelled my flight a couple of years ago and I had to buy LHR VCE tickets including one on the day less than 12 hours before for 2 people. Cash price was around £500. That’s one of the reasons why I always keep enough avios for a last minute redemption if needed.
Exactly this. Last year got a reward flight night before to Switzerland for daughter #1 when all flights to Milan were cancelled (needed to be there exact day and had booked with Wizz originally), flight for daughter #2 to BUD when she couldn’t get a Eurostar for days and days to get off our island to start interrailing over August bank holiday and got her off Lefkada in September from family holiday when she had a job interview and flights were ££££. Oh and also got sub T-24 hours flight to SJO for disorganised D#2 with lowest Avios max £ which still saved (her) a packet (though obviously not Europe!).
Thinking about it that’s why we’re rather Avios-poor – all offspring are now >21 and time to reign in the avios handouts methinks…
I’ve learned something today! Will be keeping a lookout for those last-minute seats for a quick trip. Thanks everyone!
You’ll find the airlines are pretty good now in terms of realising that maximum profit = fare x passengers who pay it, not ‘minimum fare required to sell all the seats’.
I booked a Miles & More redemption for May over the weekend. Eurowings wanted £400+ (there’s a conference on, they will know that). I redeemed for 15k miles. When I went to pick a seat, I had virtually the entire plane to choose from. Since I suspect anyone paying £400 return will also fork out £8 for a seat – so the empty seat plan is accurate – Eurowings is clearly happy to push this to the wire to maximise revenue even if the aircraft ends up half empty.
I had to go to France at short notice mid July last year. Tickets in economy were over £400. Managed to get a flight from LCY to Bergerac in business day before – there were 2 seats available.
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