Last updated on Jul 31, 2024

How do you leverage social media and email alerts to find flash sales and last-minute offers?

If you love to travel but hate to pay full price, you might be wondering how to find flash sales and last-minute offers for flights, hotels, and activities. These deals can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but they also require quick action and flexibility. In this article, we'll show you how to leverage social media and email alerts to catch these opportunities before they're gone.

1 Follow travel deal accounts

One of the easiest ways to find flash sales and last-minute offers is to follow travel deal accounts on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These accounts post the latest deals from airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and other sources, often with direct links to book or claim them. Some of the most popular accounts include @secretflying, @airfarewatchdog, @travelzoo, and @theflightdeal. You can also search for hashtags like #flashsale, #lastminute, or #errorfare to find more deals.

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Heidi Theis

Designing Travel Experiences that nurture cherished relationships with 💕loved ones & extraordinary destinations 🌍| Travel Matchmaker 😎 Compass Setter🎯MUCH more than a Travel "Agent"✈️ Benvenuto Travel Design Firm
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In my experience, this is not the best idea, especially as the internet has exploded. Often, these "deals" are lose-leaders or heavily restricted. As a professional Travel Designer/Advisor, I receive literally hundreds of emails a day with true deals that are NOT advertised on discount sites or social media accounts, and I do not post them anywhere to the masses. I do utilize these, however, to benefit my personal clients, and I share particularly good offers exclusively to my loyal email list subscribers. Almost every single colleague in the industry that I know also has the same philosophy. So the takeaway here is to develop a relationship with a true professional travel advisor!

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2 Sign up for email newsletters

Another way to find flash sales and last-minute offers is to sign up for email newsletters from travel websites, blogs, and apps. These newsletters often curate the best deals from various sources and send them to your inbox regularly. Some of the most popular newsletters include Scott's Cheap Flights, Travel Pirates, The Points Guy, and Next Vacay. You can also sign up for email alerts from your favorite airlines, hotels, or booking sites to get notified of their own flash sales and last-minute offers.

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Kourtney Emmert

💡 Learn Multiple Streams of Passive & Residual Income | 🌍 Passionate Traveler | Get Paid to Travel | Seamless Travel Planning for Busy Professionals & Families | 📚 Homeschooling Mom | ✝️ Faith-Driven Entrepreneur
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While leveraging social media and email alerts is effective, I recommend signing up for a newsletter from a trusted travel advisor. These newsletters often include exclusive deals and offers that are not broadcast to the general public. In other words, Travel advisors frequently have access to special rates and promotions through their industry connections and these deals are often shared only with their subscribers.

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3 Use flight search engines

If you have a specific destination or date in mind, you can use flight search engines to find flash sales and last-minute offers for flights. These search engines scan hundreds of websites and airlines to find the cheapest fares available, and some of them also have features that alert you of price drops, errors, or deals. Some of the most popular flight search engines include Skyscanner, Google Flights, Momondo, and Kayak. You can also use filters, alerts, and flexible dates to find the best deals for your trip.

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4 Join travel groups and forums

Another way to find flash sales and last-minute offers is to join travel groups and forums on social media or online platforms. These groups and forums are communities of travelers who share tips, advice, and deals with each other. You can ask questions, get recommendations, and learn from other people's experiences. Some of the most popular travel groups and forums include Travel Hacking 101, FlyerTalk, Reddit Travel, and TripAdvisor Forums. You can also join groups and forums specific to your destination or interest.

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5 Be flexible and ready

The final way to find flash sales and last-minute offers is to be flexible and ready to act fast. These deals are often limited in availability, duration, and dates, so you need to be willing to adjust your plans and preferences accordingly. You also need to be ready to book or claim the deal as soon as you see it, because it might be gone in minutes or hours. To be flexible and ready, you should have a valid passport, a travel budget, a packing list, and a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

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Heidi Theis

Designing Travel Experiences that nurture cherished relationships with 💕loved ones & extraordinary destinations 🌍| Travel Matchmaker 😎 Compass Setter🎯MUCH more than a Travel "Agent"✈️ Benvenuto Travel Design Firm
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When it comes to last-minute and "Flash" sales, this is the only way to take advantage of these offers. For example, one of my private jet travel suppliers sends me deeply discounted "empty legs" fairly frequently. But to take advantage of that half-price private jet to Hawaii, you must be ready to go, usually within a week or two, and willing to fly on a specific day. Spontaneity is key!

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you leverage social media and email alerts to find flash sales and last-minute offers?

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1 Follow travel deal accounts

2 Sign up for email newsletters

3 Use flight search engines

4 Join travel groups and forums

5 Be flexible and ready

6 Here’s what else to consider

Leisure Travel

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