How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points

Travelling can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little flexibility and knowledge, you can score a great deal on a last-minute flight with points.

Indeed, although the rule has always been to book as early as possible when you want to use points, you may have an unexpected trip to make or you may have recently started collecting points.

Here are a few tips to help you find an affordable last-minute flight with points, even if you book at one minute to midnight.

Transferable Points for Last-Minute Flight and Hotel Reservations

Transferable points are the most valuable currency you can and should accumulate. These versatile points offer exceptional options for booking cheap last-minute flights (or accommodations) with points. Here are some examples:

Thanks to these three programs, you have access to over 40 airlines, including major Canadian players such as Aeroplan,Avios and Flying Blue. What’s more, with American Express Membership Rewards, you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, as well as use them against a Statement credit. This gives you a variety of accommodation options, whether you prefer the big hotel chains or Airbnb.

If you’re looking for cheap last-minute flights, it’s also easy to earn points in Canada through welcome bonuses on credit cards and organic spending.

For example, the American Express Cobalt^® Card allows you to earn 5X per dollar on groceries and meals. If you combine this with a gift card strategy, you can easily earn 5x for many categories. What’s more, you can earn up to 3.25X points in these categories for a multitude of airline programs via Marriott Bonvoy.

The American Express^® Gold Rewards Card and American Express Platinum Card^® also offer generous welcome offers, so you can quickly build up your points balance.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Gold Rewards Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$250	Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months Up to 60,000 points After $12,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express Platinum Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months Up to 100,000 points After $10,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Travel Points To Cover Any Ticket or Last-Minute Offer (e.g. Air Transat)

Travel points are another flexible and practical way to save on your travel expenses. Unlike transferable points, they do not require conversion to a specific loyalty program. These points can be applied directly to any travel expense, such as airline tickets with Air Transat, Airbnb reservations, or even stays at independent hotels.

Here are a few examples of popular programs:

These programs reimburse travel expenses charged to your credit card directly in the form of a Statement credit. You can choose exactly where to apply your points, whether it’s a flight, car rental or on-site activity.

Plus, these programs are perfect for travellers looking to avoid the availability restrictions of rewards in traditional loyalty programs. For example, if you book a ticket with Air Transat or an Airbnb stay, you can simply apply your points to reduce or eliminate the cost of that expense.

Travel points are also easy to accumulate thanks to welcome bonuses and bonus spending categories on certain credit cards.

The CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card and the CIBC Aventura^® Gold Visa* Card offer generous welcome bonuses and earn up to 2 points per dollar on travel.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers 5 points per dollar for meals, ideal for foodies on the go.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card offers up to 6X points on everyday expenses such as groceries or restaurants for travel.

Although American Express Membership Rewards points can also be used in this way, it’s generally wiser to save them for occasions when their value will be maximized, if you can, particularly when they are transferred to other loyalty programs. So, if you have travel points like those mentioned above, it’s best to use them to cover expenses requiring cash payment.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
ExclusiveNational Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^® Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$150 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated First Year Annual Fee RebateEnds Nov 4, 2026 $150 annual fee rebated	Apply NowCompare
Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months Up to 50,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $7,500 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 4 months Up to 60,000 points After $5,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare

Flexibility Is the Key To Last-Minute Travel

Before we look at examples and strategies, it’s important to know that last minute means within the next two weeks.

When you’re between a month and 6 months before departure, the points strategy will be different and will vary according to your destination and dates.

The more flexible you are with your travel plans, the more likely you are to get a good deal. Consider departing at less desirable times or making a stopover if it saves you points, as direct daytime flights are often more expensive.

You can also fly to an airport further away from your destination if it’s significantly cheaper. By exploring all your options, you give yourself the best chance of finding an affordable flight.

If you’re looking to find reasonable point fares to Europe, try playing around with your dates and entry point. While you may want to travel to Italy, the best gateway for last-minute point flights could be London with Avios on Off-Peak dates.

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - Last minute flight with points avios off peak

Next, you need to get creative with your itinerary by completing with a low-cost carrier to Rome and checking the surrounding airports.

Similarly, you may want to explore Europe, but there’s nothing affordable; in that case, consider South America! It’s a big world out there, and if you can’t make it to Italy this year, you’ll have other opportunities.

This allows you to redeem your points at their best value later, instead of emptying your points bank for an expensive flight just because you don’t want to change destination.

If you’ve decided on a location and don’t want to change your mind, you either need to start planning early to get a reasonable price, or be prepared to use a lot of points.

Cheap Last Minute Flights From Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver – Aeroplan

I’ve noticed that there are always options with Aeroplan when you’re looking for affordable last-minute flights with points , especially if you’re departing from a hub like Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver. Air Canada has a dynamic points structure, so its system evaluates aircraft load as the date approaches and reduces the price accordingly.

In fact, if you look up fares to Japan from Montreal in a year’s time, you’ll see that they’re much more expensive than the usual 45,000 for this route. That’s because Air Canada’s algorithm sets the price as it is, given that it’s a popular route at this time (sakura season), and it’s certain that the plane will sell out even though it’s currently almost empty, given that we’re so far ahead of schedule.

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - One year out with aeroplan tokyo

But if you’re looking for last-minute flights with points to Tokyo for the same season, you’ll find prices closer to 45,000 points.

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - Last minute flight with points tokyo aeroplan

With Aeroplan, partner airlines operate in the same way: they release a limited number of award seats well in advance, but closer to the date, they open up more according to their load.

United Airlines usually releases extra seats in the month before departure, while Swiss, Lufthansa and Austrian seem to have a T-14 model (14 days before departure), to name just a few partner airlines.

Swiss and Lufthansa are also excellent airlines for cheap last-minute flights with business class points. As for Lufthansa First Class, I’ve already seen it within 2 weeks, and sometimes on the very day of departure!

The trick to getting these flights without having to wait until the last minute to book and plan your trip is to book another acceptable flight and consider a change fee to get an upgrade, or fall back on a partner airline that wasn’t available in the first place. If the new flight is cheaper, which is usually the case with partner airlines, you’ll be reimbursed the difference in points.

So it may be worth paying a change fee, depending on what’s available closer to your date. Likewise, schedule changes are desirable! You can wait for this opportunity and get better or more affordable flights without paying any fees.

Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points – Avios

Thanks to its distance-based award chart, the British Airways Executive Club program is ideal for last-minute flights with points. This charter often results in better fares on partner flights than those obtained by booking directly with them.

For example, here’s the result of a flight between Tokyo and Osaka for just 7,500 Avios, whereas taking the train costs over $150, and Aeroplan is also more expensive in terms of points and taxes.

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - Last minute flight with points tokyo osaka

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - Last minute train tokyo osaka

How To Find Cheap Last-Minute Flights With Points - Last minute flight with points tokyo osaka aeroplan

British Airways Executive Club has partnered with three major transferable programs in Canada, namely Membership Rewards, RBC Avion Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Transfer bonuses are also recurring, so keep an eye out for them!

Finding cheap last-minute flights with points to Europe is also possible with them at 50,000 Avios and $200 taxes, but you need to find availability on their Off-Peak dates. Finding them so close to your travel date is risky if you’re traveling when demand is highest, such as in summer and during vacations.

The Best Ways to Travel to London Using Points & Miles - Cheap flights to europe with points avios

Other Tips for Last-Minute Vacations

One of the easiest ways to save on a flight is to travel on days when demand is lowest, especially when you’re looking for a last-minute flight with points, as award seats may have been booked long ago. This means avoiding weekends and holidays when everyone is trying to leave. By extending your trip by a day or two, you can often achieve significant savings. For example, flying home from spring break on the following Tuesday instead of Sunday can save you a lot of points.

When Is the Cheapest Day to Book a Flight?

Statistically, Tuesday and Wednesday are often the cheapest days to book a flight. These days coincide with fare adjustments made by airlines to compete with their rivals. By combining this tip with flexibility in your dates, you’ll maximize your chances of finding a low fare.

If you’re booking a last-minute flight with points, you may not have the luxury of choosing the most convenient departure time. However, some airlines allow you to change flights for a fee if a seat is available on a plane with a standby on the same day.

What’s the Best Time to Book a Flight?

The best time to book a flight is often early morning, between 5 and 7 am. Airlines adjust their fares at these times, giving you access to fresh offers before demand pushes up prices. For last-minute flights, you should also check availability continuously in the two weeks prior to departure.

Additionally, many airlines offer special fares for people with family emergencies. If this applies to your situation, call customer service to inquire and book. Then you can use your travel points on that flight.

What’s the Best Site for Last-Minute Holidays?

For last-minute flights, platforms such as AwardFares and Seats.Aero for awards, or Skyscanner and Google Flights, allow you to compare cash prices quickly. Airline apps, such as Air Canada and WestJet, also display last-minute offers. These tools are invaluable for maximizing your chances of finding affordable flights with points or cash.

Finally, even if you’re travelling with other people, it’s advisable to search for just one ticket, as there may be only one ticket left at that price at the last minute (for example, only one seat available on the partner airline). If the inventory cannot cover the whole group, the result will not appear if you enter more people in your search. If there’s only one seat available at this price and you’re travelling with a companion, you may need to separate bookings and flights.

Travelling separately (with dates and airlines via mix-and-match programs) can be the solution to finding cheap last-minute flights with points.

How to get cheap round-trip flights at the last minute?

The key to finding last-minute budget flights is to be flexible. Consider itineraries with stopovers, alternative airports or less popular departure times. Using transferable points, such as those in the American Express or RBC Avion Membership Rewards programs, also offers great flexibility for booking discounted flights, even at the last minute. Last but not least, fixed-fare awards should not be overlooked either.

Bottom Line

Finding cheap last-minute flights with points takes a little effort, but it’s worth it. By being flexible and exploring all your options, you can save a lot of money on your next trip. Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, a little extra cash and points in your pocket is always nice.

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American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is a versatile American Express card, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer valued at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, and home food delivery. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores (Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	1
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,675

2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
Etihad GuestAirline
Flying BlueAirline
Hilton HonorsHotel
Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Go further with American Express Membership Rewards

To maximize your Membership Rewards earning, check our complete American Express Membership Rewards program guide and our best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards ranking, updated monthly by the Milesopedia team.

For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express^® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.