Turning up to the airport

[Jamc93]

I have always wanted to do the fantasy of just turning up to the airport and booking a flight then and there. I'm considering doing this for my birthday in about a month, as just want to get away.

Has anyone actually done this? Is it worth it, or is it far more expensive than just booking online a few days/weeks before?

Have we transported back to the 1980s??

It’s an exciting notion but I’m not sure id be happy landing somewhere with no accommodation booked, would you? And you’d have to make sure you don’t arrive late at night.
or would you book online from the airport?
also in this online age do they even commonly sell flights at the airport?

If it was my local airport, which is a regional one, you'd probably turn up to find the airline sales desks empty with a placard on the counter telling you to visit their website

I don't know if this is even possible these days!

You're better off doing this at a travel agent. Admittedly years ago, I used to do this a lot. I had my bag packed, rocked in, and said "I can be at the airport in x minutes, where can I go?"

I had some stonking deals, and they were package deals, not just the flights.

As long as you genuinely don't care where you go, I expect those deals are still available.

I’ve seen travel bloggers on Instagram try this, and they had to book online while standing in the airport as you can’t really buy tickets at the airport anymore.

Depending on where you live, booking from home the day before might be fetter as you’d have a choice of which airport to travel to. Plus you’d be able to pack at least some suitable clothes. I know it’s less air of the moment but I’d be miffed if I went somewhere great and it was spoiled by being too hot, cold or wet.

It used to be a thing but don’t think it is these days. Airports had travel agent desks and you could fly on last minute deals that day for just a few pounds. I think it’s more likely to be expensive to fly anywhere last minute these days.

I was thinking about doing something similar at the local bus station with my senior bus pass.

I couldn't get past the logistics of unbooked accommodation and what to do with the dog.

Still it's nice to dream.

Worked in the business for years but never did this

closest I got was asking new boyfriend (c. 3 weeks) to meet me at airport and bring passport, some clothes etc. I whisked him off to Venice for 3 nights. But I’d booked it a few days before - only him that didn’t know where we were going

been married 21 years to him now

I did it years ago, I’m not sure you can now? Maybe Eurostar is an option?

You cant even buy a British Airways ticket at Heathrow any more- no ticket desks.

Unfortunately you need to submit passenger information ahead - not sure how late that can be done but sounds fun!

You could do this with an interrail ticket if you genuinely want to go where the wind blows you. Eurostar out of London and then see.

Thanks everyone - thought it would be far more hassle than it's worth, but thought worth asking just in case!

My parents went on 'mystery flights' in the 70's- but they lived abroad. I don't know of anything similar in the UK though.
What about looking up holidays (easy jet, tui, BA etc) clicking the 'anywhere' button? Or set an overall price and book the 1st option which comes up?

I love the idea of this.

It's a shame you can no longer do this and it's all online.

I love it in old films where they are at the desk with their credit cards, ready to pay.

whizz air are doing a mystery holiday where you buy the tickets but they don’t tell you where you’re going to until you land.

I have presented myself a few times at a travel agent to say I'd like to travel tomorrow- tell me your best deal.

I've ended up in New York, Dominican Republic and Jamaica as a result.

Awesome trips all of them.