Emergency travel isn't cheap. 3 tools to cover a last-minute trip

Here are the tools that can help you save and how to pay for your trip without accruing debt. One minute you're in the rhythm of your regular workday; the next, you're scrambling to book a red-eye flight out of town. Emergencies don't wait for paydays and the price tag on last-minute travel can be steep. Typically, airfare booked closer to your departure date can cost more than when you plan in advance. That's because many airlines use dynamic pricing, which raises fares as demand increases and seat availability shrinks. In some cases, airlines offer bereavement fares, which are discounted tickets for travelers dealing with the death or imminent death of a loved one. To qualify, travelers are usually required to book directly through the airline and provide documentation, such as a death certificate, funeral home contact information or proof of relationship. CNBC Select outlines the tools that can help you save and how to pay for your trip without accruing debt. We want to hear your story. Do you have a financial success, goal or stressor you're comfortable sharing with a reporter? Please fill out this quick form. Start with flight price comparison sites like Hopper and Going. These platforms track airfare trends and show you whether the price you're seeing is a fair deal or inflated because you're booking at the last minute. These sites make it easier to compare prices than doing it yourself. Hopper uses predictive analytics to help customers save on flight, hotel and rental car bookings. Users are notified of price changes and they can freeze flights at a current price for a duration of time for a fee. Hopper_Select The Hopper app is free to download, but the company offers optional paid tiers such as Hopper Pro, an annual subscription available for $60 that provides additional discounts and benefits. Additionally, customers can join the waitlist for Hopper Premium, a $9.99‑per‑month subscription with perks like members‑only flash deals.To be sure, Hopper may also charge service fees on certain bookings. Going allows users to select multiple departure airports and receive alerts when deals pop up. While the company's free version is more helpful for long-term planning, its paid feature can be useful for emergency travel. Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights)_Select For example, Going's premium service costs $49 annually and aims to find economy flight deals for domestic and international travel, plus mistake fares from airlines. Its elite tier offers similar services, access to higher fare classes, and more perks with a $199 price tag. It's worth noting that when booking through third-party sites, travelers may face additional fees, stricter change policies or more limited customer service compared to booking directly with an airline. Reviewing the fine print before completing your purchase can help you avoid surprises later. Credit card points can be one of the fastest ways to reduce the upfront cost of emergency travel, especially if you've been earning rewards on everyday spending. Points can typically be redeemed for flights through an issuer's travel portal or transferred to airline or hotel partners. Even if you don't have enough rewards to cover the full trip, offsetting part of the cost can ease the financial strain. A popular card to consider is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards, which allows cardholders to earn flexible travel rewards that can be redeemed or transferred to travel partners. Having this in your wallet to begin with helps with emergency travel, but if you're looking to apply, you could wait roughly a few minutes to 10 business days to hear back. It could take another seven to 10 business days to receive your card. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card allows cardholders to earn 1.25X miles on every purchase. Among its standard travel benefits, last-minute travelers can access its price match guarantee, which could mean the difference between overpaying for an emergency flight and receiving a travel credit for the price gap if you find a better rate within 24 hours. With no annual fee and a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months -- followed by a variable APR of 18.49% to 28.49% -- this card is a low-cost entry point into travel rewards. However, it typically requires a credit score of 670 or higher. However, you may not have the cash or points for an emergency trip. When booking, find a way to cover the expenses without turning a last-minute trip into long-term financial stress. A credit card offering a 0% introductory APR -- like the Capital One VentureOne above -- can give you time to pay off your trip expenses without interest for 15 months. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, along with cash back rewards on dining, travel and everyday spending. The Citi® Double Cash Card also boasts a long introductory APR offer on balance transfers (and purchases) and allows cardholders to earn 2% cash back on all spending -- 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. For both cards, you may receive an instant decision when applying online, though it may take up to 30 days if your application requires a manual review. Once approved, it generally takes seven to 10 business days to receive your physical card in the mail. However, Chase cardholders can often add their new card to a digital wallet immediately upon approval or request free expedited shipping, whereas Citi typically does not offer expedited shipping for new accounts. Neither card has an annual fee, making them cost-effective options for long-term use. To qualify, you generally need a good to excellent credit score, typically ranging from 670 to 850. This approach works best if you have a clear plan to pay off the balance before the introductory period ends, since standard interest rates apply once the promotion expires. Money matters -- so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. 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