Knowledge Hub · Glossary
Close-In Booking Fee
A close-in booking fee is an extra charge some airline programs add when you book an award flight shortly before departure. It usually applies within a set window, often around 21 days out. The fee is paid on top of the points and any taxes, raising the real cost of last-minute award travel.
What it means in practice
Not every program charges this, and several have dropped it entirely. Where it exists, the fee tends to be a flat amount per ticket and may be waived for members with elite status. The takeaway is to check whether your program applies one before you assume a last-minute award is as cheap as an early booking.
Example
A program might add a 75 dollar close-in fee to an award booked 10 days before departure. So a flight that costs 15,000 points plus 6 dollars in taxes early on could instead cost 15,000 points plus around 81 dollars when booked at the last minute.
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