Forget budgeting spreadsheets – our holiday cheat codes are the only money-saving travel hacks you need ️🔍️ You loved our destination dupes and this time it’s all about late flights ✈️ Early and midday times can be super spenny, so let everyone else pay the premium while you sit back, relax and enjoy your cheaper evening flight – and you’re more likely to get that whole row to yourself, too.
Here’s why picking late flights is a huge win for your budget and your travel plans…
Cheap and chill
Ofc, everyone wants to max out on holiday time, so those morning and early afternoon flight times quickly get booked up by keen beans… high demand = spennier price tags. This means that later departures are often emptier and less expensive – a major W for budget-conscious babes. Saving serious ££ isn’t the only benefit, either… The airport will be a bit quieter, so you’ll basically breeze through security and have plenty of time to try all the duty-free samples. Plus, it’s more likely you’ll have an empty seat next to you on the flight or get moved to a row with extra legroom. If you’re on a plane with different classes, there’s even a higher chance you might get ✨ upgraded ✨ too.
Our pick
This deal has late flights going out AND coming home, so you can make the most of those precious last hours in Majorca. That’s a whole extra day of pool time and All Inclusive drinks… it’s not over ‘til you say it’s over.
Late flights 🤝 last-minute legends
Want to get away, like, now? Those late flight times are your new bestie. There are usually seats available right up until they depart, so you could pretty much book a last-minute holiday today and be on the plane tomorrow evening… better cancel that pilates class. If your annual leave is looking a little stretched, just book a Friday evening flight and head straight to the airport after work, then catch the last return on Sunday night – you’ll be back in the office at 9am on Monday like it never even happened.
Planning to work while you’re away? Flying late also won’t eat into your working day, which’ll keep your manager sweet so they’ll let you go on more workations… you’re welcome.
Our pick
If you need a trip ASAP, this deal’s all yours. Beat the winter slump with four nights by the beach in Paphos. Plus, you’ll get a full day in before flying home Friday evening and straight into the weekend.
From the cabin to the club
If you’re going on a city break or a party holiday, you won’t be landing late… you’ll be right on time for a big night out. Places like New York, Reykjavik and Barcelona basically don’t sleep – the locals love a late one and will stay out in bars and clubs until the AM – and if you’re heading to somewhere like Ibiza, you might even get there before things get really lively. You’ll still be able to grab food in late-night spots, or you could speed things up and start pres on the plane with in-flight service. Or, squeeze in a snooze and you’ll feel ready for an all-nighter by the time you touch down.
Our pick
You’ll land in Malia around 11pm, AKA when the town’s high-energy nightlife is just about waking up… Then, it’s only an eight-minute taxi back to the hotel, which is in a more peaceful spot right by the beach.
Get a full night’s sleep
For long-haul holidays, night-time flights are the way to go. Depending on where you’re travelling to, you could get your full eight hours or more and wake up ready for the first day in your destination. This will massively help your body clock adjust to the time-zone shift. If you struggle to nap on planes, it’s all about the sleep set-up. Make sure you’ve got something cosy to snuggle into, invest in a decent travel pillow that supports your neck (like that one you’ve seen all over your socials, IYKYK) and pack an eye mask and noise-cancelling ear plugs. You might even have time to do your full skin-care ritual, so you’ll feel extra fresh when you land – doing a sheet face mask is the perfect prep for that holiday glow.
Picking an evening return flight makes a huge difference when you’re going home, too. Getting a good sleep in will help you beat the post-trip blues and make it easier to get back into your routine, without feeling like you need another holiday.
Our pick
You actually gain time when you fly to Mexico from the UK as you’ll be travelling east to west, so it’s usually on the return journey that the jet lag hits harder. You’ll be able to get around 10 hours sleep in on your way home with this deal, before landing back in Birmingham bright and early – you could even be back at your desk ready for 9am if you’re hardcore…
Late flight tips and tricks
Here are a few extra things you can do to make late flights work harder…
- Add transfers to your holiday – unless you’re somewhere well-connected like a city, it’ll cut out a lot of faff if you know you’ve got a taxi or a coach waiting for you when you land. You can add these when you book or add them after on our Holiday Extras page.
- Late check-in – if you’re booking your stay and flights separately, it’s worth making sure the check-in times line up with your expected arrival time. You can find this info under the facilities section on our hotel-only pages.
- Pack smart – buy some travel toiletries and keep them in your cabin bag so you can freshen up on the plane – toothpaste and some face wipes are a good shout. If you’re heading straight to bed when you get to the hotel, do yourself a favour and pack your PJs and anything else you need for sleeping so you don’t have to unpack your whole suitcase… that can wait until the next morning.
- Eat before you land – get dinner in the airport, stock up on plane snacks or eat something from the in-flight service and then finding food is one less thing to do if you’re landing late. If you’re staying in an All Inclusive hotel, most places prepare meals for late arrivals, but it’s usually not included for other board bases.
Now you’re officially a travel hacker… put this cheat code to work with the ‘evening’ and ‘night’ flight filters on our deals page.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Daisy Colley
Last updated: 27/01/2025
You may also like
Travel hacks)
)
)
)
)