Traveling last-minute can be a hassle. A last-minute trip often means making spontaneous travel plans that require quick decisions and resourceful planning. You may have limited choices, and those that are available may be too costly for your budget. Using a travel credit card can be a good way to reduce that stress without infringing on the trip, but it’s easy to forgo savings without a proper strategy. Leveraging credit card benefits for last-minute bookings takes wise planning. Here’s how you can use those benefits to save money—and still have fun and adventure, even when plans come together at the last minute.
Why last-minute travel can be expensive — and how credit cards help
Snagging savings on air travel has been challenging in recent years, with prices rising 25% in the last year. This can make finding last-minute travel savings particularly difficult. The reason is simple: airlines know travelers have little choice.
“Last-minute travel is typically much more expensive because airlines…know you need the booking and know you most likely don’t have a lot of flexibility. Less flexibility is usually going to end up with higher prices,” says Kyle Maltz, travel expert and COO of Dollar Flight Club, a membership service that helps people find flights for less. Standby travel may be one way to keep costs in check, but there’s little assurance, and it can depend on the situation. Popular accommodations and activities can be fully booked if not reserved in advance, especially during peak weeks, so planning ahead is crucial to avoid missing out.
Fortunately, a rewards credit card can help in such situations. “Surprisingly, if the plane is not full, airlines will release award points seats last minute at a discounted saver rate many times to fill up the plane,” says Ben Komenkul, credit card expert and founder of Ben’s Big Deal. If you’re looking to use credit card travel rewards last minute and don’t want to spend cash, this can be a solution.
Hotels offer more flexibility than air carriers, as they don’t like to have empty rooms for the night. You might be able to capture savings, but it’s no guarantee. Using points to snag hotel deals last-minute via points is a good way to avoid spending money.
Ways your credit card can help you save on last-minute travel
It’s easy for last-minute travel to get expensive. But there are ways to reduce stress and cut costs, without sacrificing too much. Here’s how to save on last-minute travel with your credit cards.
Leverage pay with points and instant travel credit features
Identifying flight deals last minute is difficult, but a credit card can provide you with more opportunities to save. Checking airline websites and other travel sites can help you find exclusive last-minute deals. Some airlines may attempt to sell unfilled seats via frequent-flyer miles. If you have an airline credit card for the carrier, you may be able to take advantage, especially if the carrier is in an alliance.
“Since airlines usually participate in an alliance, your credit card miles may transfer to a partner that can book the flight you want at a fraction of the cash price,” notes Dave Grossman, founder of Your Best Credit Cards. Flash sales on these sites can offer significant savings if you act quickly.
Other possibilities include earning more points if you transfer during a given window. “Credit card points programs often run ‘transfer bonuses’ where you’ll get a bonus percentage of points when you transfer during a specified timeframe, making the cost even less,” adds Grossman.
Other perks abound, including using statement credits to offset costs and using a portal, like the Capital One Travel portal, to identify cheaper days to fly. Booking vacation packages through these platforms can also sometimes provide additional savings and perks.
Access to exclusive travel discounts
It’s easy for costs to rack up with impromptu travel. Depending on your needs, car rentals, hotel stays, and airfare all incur their respective costs. Many of the best rewards credit cards provide various ways to save. Hotels may also offer discounts to fill rooms that would otherwise remain empty.
One example is to use targeted offers through your credit card to get cash back or discounts on travel needs. Co-branded cards are another good option that provide savings on in-flight purchases, free checked bags, and even priority boarding. Hotel cards work well too, as they might offer a free hotel room night as part of their benefits and other free perks.
Skip paying for excursions
If you’re traveling for pleasure, it’s likely you may want to see something unique to the destination, but that can increase the cost of the trip. Purchasing excursions with points is one of the top budget travel tips to avoid overspending.
The Chase Travel portal is a reputable option to do this. You can book a variety of experiences, including city tours, museum tickets, food adventures, and more.
Avoid last-minute travel fees
Booking travel last-minute may be unavoidable, but there’s no predicting what may happen. A flight may be canceled, or some other unfortunate event may disrupt your trip. This can mean additional, unplanned costs.
It’s important to expect that unexpected events can happen, so having backup plans in place can help you manage disruptions and minimize expenses.
Using the right credit card can help avoid such costs. “If an outbound or connecting flight is delayed 6 or 12 hours (depends on card). You may have up to $500 for the delay to cover hotel, food, transportation, or clothing during your delay. This is all covered by your credit card you use to purchase the airfare tickets,” says Komenkul.
Komenkul also notes that cards that provide complimentary lounge access are beneficial to have, so you can recharge and refresh for free.
Book travel through card-specific programs
Some credit cards offer access to exclusive hotel programs designed to help travelers save money on last-minute bookings. These programs often provide valuable perks such as free breakfast, complimentary Wi-Fi, food or resort credits, early check-in, and late check-out. By taking advantage of these benefits, travelers can maximize the value of their stay while reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Being flexible with travel dates and exploring these card-specific hotel benefits can lead to significant last-minute travel savings and an enhanced experience.
➤ SEE MORE:How to redeem credit card rewards for non-traditional lodging options
How to optimize your travel credit card perks
Having credit card strategies for urgent travel is essential when you travel at the last minute. This can mean the difference between having an enjoyable trip that’s not overly expensive and a stressful, costly trip.
Using a good travel credit card is vital to accomplish what you want. “If you don’t already have a solid travel credit card, get one. They can make last-minute trips way less stressful and way more affordable,” notes Maltz. When choosing a card, decide which features and benefits best align with your travel goals to maximize your experience.
Select a card or two that works best for you and offers flexible transfer options that align with your preferred airlines or hotel chains. Pair that with a co-branded card you like to optimize your options. With the right strategy, you can enjoy the moment while also saving money on your travels.
This strategy should enable you to receive access to perks like lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, travel protections, and ways to maximize rewards on spending.
Best credit cards for last-minute travelers
Identifying the best credit cards for traveling last minute is essential to cutting costs and optimizing rewards opportunities. You typically want to identify cards that offer abilities like instant reward redemption or transfers, along with perks like travel protections and lounge access.
These are some of the best credit cards for spontaneous travel:
- card_name discontinued_disclaimer
- card_name
- card_name
- card_name
- card_name
- card_name
- card_name discontinued_disclaimer
American Express and Citi are CardRatings advertisers.
Before selecting which card to use, verify it has the perks that will work best for you.
Last-minute travel booking: What not to do
Using credit card points for last-minute flights and hotel stays is a great way to keep costs in check. However, it’s not always a foolproof process. It’s best to avoid carrying debt, as that will erode any travel benefits. Not using the right card can also backfire, as it may leave savings on the table. With the right planning, you can reduce costs on last-minute travel without hindering the trip.
