FlySafair, LIFT, CemAir 'cheapest airlines' for last-minute domestic flights
Andrew Thompson, a freelance journalist, compares the cheapest and most expensive rates for last-minute domestic flights from Jozi or Cape Town.
Picture: JoshuaWoroniecki via Pixabay:
John Maytham speaks to Andrew Thompson, a freelance journalist to explain his research results around last-minute airline deals.
If you're an avid traveller, you'd know that last-minute flights don't come cheap... but are you getting the cheapest option there is?
Thompson has written about various travel experiences, comparing return flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, considering various factors such as departure times and airline capacities.
This time, low-cost last-minute domestic flights were next on the list - and it turns out the right choice can end up saving you hundreds and sometimes, thousands of Rands.
Thompson compared last-minute flight costs (as in booking a flight today for tomorrow with a return flight the following day) with various domestic carriers from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
What's the verdict?
The most expensive last-minute airlines are most likely from...
Airlink and South African Airways (SAA) since they're a full service airline, says Thompson.
These airlines "would be expensive regardless, especially with last-minute flights."
The least expensive last-minute airlines are most likely from...
FlySafair, LIFT, and CemAir who are "thereabout equal, depending on exact flights, mostly because they are no frill airlines with greater capacity" says, Thompson.
Now you know.
Thompson also shares tips to ensure you get the best last-minute deal possible...
"As a rule of thumb, it's almost always cheaper booking last-minute deals than booking flights months in advance."
Andrew Thompson, Freelance Journalist
"Shop around and look at each airline independently."
Andrew Thompson, Freelance Journalist
"Try not to book a return flight with the same airline you depart with, I found discrepancies with departing and returning flights from the same airlines."
Andrew Thompson, Freelance Journalist
"Prices vary so significantly, it's worth taking 10 or 15 minutes to check all airlines. If that extra R500 or R1000 is important to you, there's' a lot that can be saved by doing a little bit of a home-based comparison."
Andrew Thompson, Freelance Journalist
Read Thompson's full article here.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full interview.