urgent- need flight, no seats

[Saltedcaramel78]

Posting for traffic.

I urgently need to fly home (working abroad) but there are no bookable seats until next weekend. There's a couple of business class spots available but I definitely can't afford them.

Has anyone been in this situation? Whenever I fly there always seems to be free seats (I'm guessing from people not turning up), is there a reliable way to check availability? Can I go and wait around at the airport? I need to carry on working via my laptop, so don't want to go unless there's a reasonable chance I can get a flight. Very emotional so might be missing something obvious!

Thank you so much for any help

Try skyscanner there may be an alternative

Skyscanner, and select the box for "nearby airports" under your destination and departure preferences.
We had a nightmare getting DH flights for this week. He has 2 changes tomorrow...

Try and avoid Dubai, as they have a runway closed at the moment.

By all means try the airlines, but if there are no seats, it would be waiting for a no show, which will be last minute.

Would you be comfortable putting the cities up, so people can try and look for you?

I hope you can get home soon.

Can you let us know where you are and where you need to get to? I am sure we can all help you.

If the only flights available are business class then OP is clearly not somewhere so remote that there's only one flight there/back a week on a rusty two-seater.
As PP have said, other airports, do part of the journey by boat or train? And it really would help to state which country/city you are in and which country/city you need to reach: that shouldn't be too outing.

Try skyscanner there may be an alternative

Definitely this if you haven't already. Good luck.

I would turn up at the airport, I have done this many times when flying for work, mostt flights have no shows, if you have no check in luggage there is a fair chance you will get a seat.

flying with changing planes rather than direct? do you mind telling a us what connection you need?

Def try the airport or calling the airline. Although there may only seem to be seats available in business they may give you a seat in economy and upgrade a frequent flyer.

If the reason is a family emergency, medical reason etc then either your insurer or work travel service will help - they will know how to get 'emergency' seats etc. Call them.

What about if you split the cost with your work eg they pay whatever your contract says and you make up the difference to upgrade?

If it's only business class available I am guessing it's a long haul flight. If you go to Skyscanner and put in the departure airport and then destination as everywhere that will give you all the routes and an idea of prices. Then it's a case of working out which of the destinations is best for your second flight home. So work backwards, new tab put in your home airport as the departure and select everywhere again and that will give you the routes, compare the list with the list of where you can fly to from the previous search and then look for any matches. Then work through the matches to find flights at reasonable prices and times days that match your first leg. Sounds like a lot of work but it's actually pretty quick to do, am sure people will even do this for you if you post where you need to get to and from.

Also phone/email tweet the airline which has the full flight, explain the situation and urgency and ask if they can help?

Travel agent might also be able to do the legwork for you if that is an option?

Get a connecting flight. Try other airports, train. Call a travel agent.