Looking for cheap flights for a last-minute late-summer trip? Tips on how to use your points, miles and more for a getaway without breaking the bank

CHICAGO (WLS) — There's still time to find a cheap getaway for Labor Day or during the warmer weeks of late summer and early fall.

Experts advise considering airline miles and being flexible with destinations to save more money.

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“The key is to be flexible. Instead of choosing a destination and then looking for flights to that destination, embrace the possibility of going somewhere new,” said Julian Kheel, travel expert and founder of Points Path. “It’s all about finding a good flight deal and finding places where you can get to for a very low price.”

Points Path allows consumers to compare airline points and cash options. Kheel said you can quickly find different destinations by searching Google Flights, and also said airline miles and points will earn you more than you think due to a new trend in many airline booking systems.

“Instead of blocking seats, having blackout dates, not making seats available, they’re going to make more seats available, but the price in miles will fluctuate,” Kheel said. “So on high-demand dates, it’s going to take more miles to get that seat. But when an airline is trying to get rid of seats on a less popular flight, that’s a great time to get a good deal on your miles.”

Also, keep in mind that some airlines partner with each other, which means points and miles can sometimes be interchangeable.

“Because American and Alaska are partners. They’re both part of what’s called the One World Alliance. You can use American miles on Alaska flights and Alaska miles on American flights,” Kheel said.

And it's not too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holiday travel, even if your plans aren't set in stone.

“What’s really cool is that most US airlines, since the pandemic, have created a main economy ticket that can be changed without any penalty. Now, if there’s a fare change, you’ll have to pay the difference in fare, but you won’t have to pay a fee to change your ticket. So your best bet is to lock in your vacation plans as early as possible,” Kheel said.

Please note: If you think you may need to change or cancel your travel plans, do not book a lower-cost basic economy flight.

Another money-saving tip: Instead of a round trip, you can book two one-way flights on different airlines, which can be cheaper.