April 27, 2026, 1:18 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The myth persists that flights booked directly at the airport are significantly cheaper than regular bookings. But is that really true? Is the spontaneous trip to the airport worth it–or are you better off with an online booking or travel agency in the end? TRAVELBOOK consulted an expert on this.
Flight tickets can quickly become expensive. It’s no wonder many people wonder if it’s cheaper to go directly to the airport and secure a ticket on the spot. According to Google Trends data, this question is currently among the most searched questions about flight prices. But what’s really behind the myth that particularly cheap last-minute tickets can be snagged at the airport?
Are tickets booked at the airport cheaper?
A clear assessment comes from aviation expert Cord Schellenberg: “For flights, prices are equally expensive everywhere due to the fare system, although there may be surcharges when booking outside the airline’s own online booking system.” Therefore, a real bargain is not to be expected just by booking at the airport. Additionally, many airlines no longer offer traditional ticket counters on-site–a spontaneous booking directly at the airport is often not possible.
The myth likely originates from a time when remaining seats were indeed offered as cheap last-minute deals shortly before departure to fill the planes–a principle that hardly plays a role today.
Spontaneous bookings at the airport haven’t completely disappeared: “Tour operators or travel agencies still offer package deals there, such as a package of flight, transfer, and hotel,” explains Schellenberg. Many travelers appreciate being able to get advice directly at the airport, even on weekends. “The departure can even be on the same day, but of course, it can also be much later.”
Relying on a spontaneous bargain at the airport is usually not worth it today. It’s generally cheaper with some planning in advance. Long-haul flights should often be booked several months before departure, while a lead time of at least ten days can be worthwhile for cheap short-haul tickets.
How to save on flight bookings
If you want to save money when booking, you should be flexible. According to “Skyscanner,” it’s often worth checking alternative departure airports or choosing connections with stopovers. Flights at off-peak times, such as early morning or late evening, are often cheaper. Even last-minute bookings are usually easily possible online today, allowing for better price comparisons than directly at the airport.
Another money-saving tip is so-called open-jaw flights. In this case, the outbound and return flights start and land at different airports. Instead of returning to the original departure location, a different nearby airport is chosen for the return flight, such as Cologne instead of Düsseldorf.