Review 2026

lastminute.com Review 2026: Budget Flight Booking With Caveats

Service Evaluation

Reputation
85
Services
90
Transparency
80
Customer Satisfaction
85
Scalability
90

BestGuide Score

4.3

out of 5

Methodology

Each company is evaluated across five criteria. Scores are weighted and combined into a single BestGuide Score out of 5. See how we rate the brands.

Key Takeaway

Our Rating: 4.3/5

lastminute.com earns a BestGuide Expert Score of 4.3/5.0, a solid pick for budget-minded travelers who prioritize package deals. Its strongest category is Services (90/100), reflecting access to over 400 airlines and 2 million hotels, while Transparency (80/100) is its weakest, held back by hidden add-on costs and a documented refund track record. Founded in 1998, it bundles flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages for travelers who value price over premium service.

Best For: Budget-conscious travelers who value package deals and stay flexible on dates and destinations.

Not sure if lastminute.com is the right fit? Compare the alternatives

About lastminute.com

lastminute.com is an online travel agency founded in 1998 and operated in the US by LMnext US Inc., part of the lastminute.com Group. It serves over 10 million customers a year and sells flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation bundles drawn from more than 400 airlines and 2 million accommodations worldwide. In this lastminute.com review, we look at how its services, pricing, and reputation stack up, and how it compares to other top-rated flight booking companies, so you can decide if it fits your travel needs.

Founded

1998

Airlines

400+

Customers Yearly

10M+

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How lastminute.com Works

  1. 1. Search and Compare Deals

    Enter your departure city, destination, dates, and traveler count, and the site returns available flights, hotels, and vacation packages, often bundling flight and hotel for extra savings. Rotating last-minute deals are highlighted up front.

  2. 2. Customize Your Package

    Mix and match flights, hotels, and car rentals, with support for partial stays and multi-city itineraries. Vacation packages can be filtered by beach, weekend getaway, or city break to narrow your options.

  3. 3. Book and Manage Your Trip

    At checkout you provide traveler details and payment. Accepted methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and Affirm. Support is available 24/7 by phone or help center, though you may need your booking ID to reach an agent directly.

Who Is lastminute.com Best For?

lastminute.com is built for travelers who care more about price than polish.

  • Budget-conscious travelers who value all-in-one package deals
  • Flexible bookers who can move on dates and destinations to chase a deal
  • Short-haul beach holiday and city break shoppers
  • Travelers comfortable bundling flight, hotel, and car in one checkout

It is not the right fit if you prioritize top-tier customer service, fully transparent pricing, or ski trips that need extras like lift passes and in-resort reps.

lastminute.com Features

400+ Airlines and 2M+ Hotels

A vast inventory makes it easy to find flights and stays almost anywhere, and it is a core reason the platform serves over 10 million customers a year.

Bundle and Save

Combining flight and hotel into one package often costs less than booking each separately, and packages stay customizable so you can tailor the trip.

24/7 Customer Care

Round-the-clock support is offered by phone and online help, though response quality can be inconsistent and reaching an agent may require a booking ID.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Competitive short-haul package pricing that undercuts many rivals
  • Vast inventory: over 400 airlines and 2 million hotels
  • Flexible packaging across flights, hotels, and partial stays

Cons

  • Poor refund track record, including regulatory pressure over delayed pandemic refunds
  • Hidden costs, such as car rental deposits and add-on fees not always shown upfront
  • Listings that do not always match the reality of the trip

Is lastminute.com Legitimate?

lastminute.com is a legitimate travel booking company founded in 1998 and operated in the US by LMnext US Inc., part of the lastminute.com Group. It holds a California Seller of Travel registration (CST# 2165376-50), a Florida Seller of Travel registration (ST45809), and a Washington UBI number, showing compliance with state travel-seller laws. Regulatory history: during the COVID-19 pandemic the company faced regulatory action over its failure to meet refund deadlines, and complaints about complex codeshare bookings and unclear add-on costs have persisted since. It is a real, long-established company with proper licensing, but its refund and service practices have generated significant complaints, so read the terms carefully before booking.

Founded:1998
US Operator:LMnext US Inc.
California Seller of Travel:CST# 2165376-50
Florida Seller of Travel:ST45809
Washington UBI:605926858 001 0001
Parent Group:lastminute.com Group

Final Verdict: lastminute.com Review

lastminute.com earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0, making it a solid option for budget travelers who prioritize low prices and convenience over premium service. Its main strengths are its vast inventory (over 400 airlines and 2 million hotels) and competitively priced short-haul packages. The trade-offs are real: a poor refund track record that drew regulatory pressure over delayed pandemic refunds, hidden costs on add-ons like car rentals, and listings that do not always match reality. If clear pricing and reliable support matter more to you than the lowest headline price, see how it compares to the best flight booking companies first. But if you are flexible and read the terms carefully, this lastminute.com review concludes the platform can genuinely save you money.

Researched & Verified by BestGuide
lastminute.com – Expert Score 4.3/5.0

Cheap packages and a huge inventory, best for flexible travelers who read the fine print on refunds and add-ons.

Compare Top Flight Booking Companies

lastminute.com — FAQ

BestGuide rates lastminute.com 4.3/5.0, praising its low package prices and vast inventory while flagging refund issues and hidden add-on costs as its main weaknesses.

For flexible budget travelers who book package deals, yes. If you need reliable customer service and fully transparent pricing, stronger options exist.

It offers wider package options than many discount sites, but its customer satisfaction trails top-tier providers. It is cheaper than average and less transparent.

Refunds are a major pain point. The company faced regulatory action over delayed pandemic refunds, and travelers still report difficulty getting money back on cancellations.

You can book ski trips, but the platform lacks extras like lift passes, in-resort reps, and snow guarantees that specialist ski operators include.

If you prioritize low prices and accept some risk on booking accuracy and refunds, it can be a good choice. Read the terms and consider cancellation-covering travel insurance.

An online travel agency founded in 1998, operated in the US by LMnext US Inc. and part of the lastminute.com Group, offering flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages.

lastminute.com
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