Okay, so we know we’ve been expounding the wisdom of booking flights early, and we stand by that, but according to Timothy Martin of the Wall Street Journal, booking hotels and rental cars late via mobile apps can actually save you money. The idea is that some hotels offer last-minute discounts to fill empty beds, and travelers save time by booking their rooms during their flight. The risk, of course, is that you end up without a room for the night, but more and more travelers seem willing to take that chance. According to Martin, “travel analysts and executives estimate the percentage [of mobile bookings out of overall travel bookings] could reach 15% by the end of 2012.”
Martin warns not to try chasing last-minute discounts for flights—there, the savings remain with the early booker. Booking late also doesn’t make much of a difference for rental cars, but booking on a mobile app instead of in person can save you up to $20. Mobile travel apps may offer other perks, too: Expedia searches for hotels with free breakfasts, and Travelocity looks for the best local tours.
There are downsides, particularly for hotels. They might turn a smaller profit if more people take advantage of late deals. They also fear an increase in last-minute cancellations when smart phone users find better-priced options on the way to their destination. So the ultimate effects of this mobile-booking trend are still questionable.
For now, though, go ahead and wait for the savings—if you’re up for the risk. Make sure you check out Martin’s article at the Wall Street Journal online for your mobile app options.
