Enhancing Last-Minute Travel with LastMin Trip
Radha Vaishnav
LastMin Trip: How AI & Gamification Made Last-Minute Travel Stress-Free
A Story of Stress, Smart Decisions, and a Travel App That Changed Everything
Life moves fast. So do travel plans. But why should last-minute bookings be a nightmare?
Some trips are carefully planned. Others happen unexpectedly — leaving travelers scrambling for bookings, comparing endless prices, and trying to make sense of options before they disappear.
This is the story of Radhika, a busy working professional who, like millions of us, faced an unexpected travel challenge and discovered how LastMin Trip turned a stressful experience into a seamless one.
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LastMin Trip is an AI-powered smart travel platform designed for spontaneous travelers from business professionals to adventure seekers who need hassle-free last-minute bookings.
With real-time price comparisons, AI assistance, offline ticket storage, and gamified rewards, it transforms last-minute travel from stressful to seamless.
This case study explores how LastMin Trip was designed to solve real travel challenges through the lens of Radhika, a user facing a last-minute booking dilemma
The Problem: Last-Minute Travel Chaos
It was a regular evening for Radhika. She had just wrapped up a long day of work and was finally looking forward to some downtime.
But then her father-in-law told her:
🗣️ “Radhika, we need to go to Hyderabad this week. Can you book tickets for everyone? You’re smart you’ll figure it out!”
And just like that, he walked away leaving her staring at her laptop, overwhelmed.
“A last-minute trip? Flights? Trains? Hotels? How am I going to do this in time?”
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⏳ Every minute counted. Prices were rising, options were vanishing, and stress was building.
She frantically started Googling:
🔍 “Train from Jaipur to Hyderabad time”
🔍 “Fastest way to reach South India”
🔍 “Last-minute flight deals”
She jumped between websites, scanning fares, routes, and timings. But nothing seemed easy.
Then suddenly her phone buzzed.
Oh ho… Kahani mein twist!” 🤩
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💡 “Last-minute booking? No stress, just savings! Find the best deals now.”
A notification from LastMin Trip.
“Wait… could this actually help?”
She tapped the notification. And that’s when everything changed.
The Business Vision:
The travel booking industry is highly competitive, and LastMin Trip aims to carve out a unique niche in the last-minute travel segment by offering:
✔ Seamless, one-stop travel planning — Flights, hotels, buses, and trains all in one place.
✔ AI-powered recommendations & smart price tracking — Helping users book better deals in real time.
✔ A gamified travel experience — Engaging users beyond just booking, increasing retention.
🎯 Business Goals for Year 1:
📌 50% growth in active users through AI-driven engagement.
📌 Increase retention & daily active users with personalized deals & rewards.
📌 Expand partnerships with airlines, hotels, and booking platforms for exclusive last-minute discounts.
Feel free to explore the sections that catch your eye:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Prototype Video
Section 3: Solution/Screen Explanation
Section 4: Critical Decisions
Section 5: UI/Component Architecture
Section 6: Use Cases Explanation
Section 7: Process Explanation
Section 8: Future Scope
Section 9: Learnings
See It in Action: The LastMin Trip Prototype 🎬
Before we dive into lets check out this quick video of LastMin Trip in action!
The LastMin Trip Prototype: The Final Solution
Let’s break down the app’s design through a story to better understand its flow
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Presenting the Solution & Screen Explanation
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✅ Instant results. No scrolling, no wasted time.
💡 Saves crucial time by providing quick, personalized recommendations.
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🏷️ Categorized Deals for Easy Selection
Prime Members Deals: Extra discounts for loyal users.
Top Destinations Crazy Deals: Special offers for popular routes.
Last-Minute Deals: Best rates for urgent travel.
💰 Savings Highlighted Clearly
Users can see exactly how much they save on each option (₹987, ₹812, ₹1200, etc.).
Encourages quick decision-making by showing the best-value deal instantly.
🎨 Color-Coded Layout for Fast Recognition
Each deal type is visually distinct, making navigation seamless.
Travelers can scan and immediately pick the most cost-effective option.
“No more jumping between ten tabs? This is a game-changer!”
💡 Users can make faster, cost-effective decisions without effort.
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“Finally, a travel app that understands real-world problems!”
💡 Many travelers lose connectivity during trips — offline access ensures a stress-free journey.
Inspiration Behind the “Play & Earn” Feature
The idea for “Play & Earn” in LastMin Trip was inspired by a memorable Makar Sankranti celebration. After a fun day of kite flying, I played UNO with family, intending to stop after 20 minutes. But the excitement was so immersive that I lost track of time, playing for 1.5 hours without feeling distracted or tired.
This sparked a thought — what if travel bookings could feel just as engaging? By adding a gamified rewards system, users can play fun activities, earn points, and redeem discounts on their next trip. This feature brings an element of joy, motivation, and engagement to the booking experience, making travel planning something users look forward to!
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“Wait… I can actually earn rewards just by playing a game?”
🚀 Why Gamification Matters?
🎯 Boosts User Engagement — Keeps travelers engaged beyond just booking trips.
🎯 Encourages Repeat Usage — Users return to play and unlock better deals.
🎯 Adds an Element of Fun — Travel planning becomes more enjoyable and interactive.
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With LastMin Trip’s UNO Game, users don’t just book trips — they play, win, and save! 🏆✈️
🛬 Critical Decisions I Took in This Project ✅
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Notification Screen with Version A and B
From Ordinary to Impactful: Elevating Notification UX
Enhanced Readability — Improved layout with better spacing, making the text easier to scan and understand at a glance.
Emotional Connection — Added emojis ✈️💰 to create excitement and make the message feel more relatable and engaging.
Persuasive Language — Used action-driven words like “amazing deals now” to create urgency and encourage immediate interaction.
Visual Appeal — Structured the notification for better clarity, ensuring key information stands out effectively.
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Onboarding Screen with Version A and B
Bringing Travel to Life: The Power of Realism in UI
Version A relies on an illustration, which, while visually appealing, lacks emotional depth and fails to immediately engage users.
Version B, with a real traveler in motion, evokes spontaneity and connection, making it more immersive and compelling for the audience.
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Home Screen with Version A and B
From Flat to Engaging: Elevating the Travel Search Experience ✈️
Enhanced Visual Appeal — Added a cityscape background image to create emotional appeal and make the interface more engaging.
Brand Identity — Introduced a logo (“Lastmin Trip”) for a more professional and recognizable look.
Improved CTA Visibility — Made the search button more prominent with a stronger contrast to ensure users can quickly take action.
Refined Iconography — Enhanced icons to improve clarity, making navigation more intuitive and visually polished.
User Engagement — Integrated a more structured layout with visual hierarchy, ensuring key sections (search bar, filters, and CTA) stand out.
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AI Voice assistant Screen with Version A and B
Enhancing User Choices: Balancing Visual Appeal & Quick Comparisons ✨
Visual vs. Data-Driven Approach — Tested two layouts:
Version A: Focused on imagery to create an engaging experience but required more scrolling.
Version B: Prioritized quick comparisons with a list view, reducing cognitive load.
Efficient Decision-Making — Version B allows users to scan multiple options faster, making it easier to compare ratings and distances.
Map Integration — Added direct navigation support, enhancing user convenience for finding restaurant locations.
Content Density Balance — Optimized information hierarchy to ensure users get relevant details without overwhelming visuals.
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Facing Real User who is unknown to me made this part a game changer and made it more impactful for user.
Booking Last minute Flights with Confidence
Smart Filters for Quick Selection — Added tabs (Cheapest, Discounted, Non-Stop) to help users prioritize cost or speed.
Urgency-Driven “Last Minute Deals” — Highlighted time-sensitive offers with countdowns to encourage quick action.
Color-Coded Pricing — Used green for lowest and red for peak prices, making date selection effortless.
Clear Price Summary — Displayed Lowest, Average, and Peak prices to boost confidence in decision-making.
Instant Savings Validation — Showed original vs. discounted prices to reassure users they’re getting the best deal.
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User Flow Architecture: A Blueprint for Seamless Travel & Engagement
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User Flow Architecture: A Blueprint for Seamless Travel & Engagement
1️⃣ Flow 0 — Flow 1: AI Voice Assistant & Search
Users can search for flights, hotels, or deals using AI-powered voice commands.
The system processes inputs and provides instant recommendations.
2️⃣ Flow 2 — Flow 3: Booking Process & Price Comparison
Includes flight selection, pricing comparisons, and deal selection.
Ensures users get the best possible price for their bookings.
Highlights payment options, booking confirmation, and offline trip access.
3️⃣ Flow 4 — Flow 6: Gamification & Rewards (UNO Game)
Introduces interactive gaming experiences where users earn points.
Rewards can be redeemed for discounts on future trips.
4️⃣ Flow 7 — Flow 8: Second Game Experience & Engagement Boosters
Additional game features to increase app engagement and retention.
Encourages users to return and continue benefiting from rewards.
5️⃣ Flow 9 — Flow 10: Component Library
A centralized repository for UI components like buttons, cards, icons, and layouts.
Ensures design consistency across the app.
User Feedback: What Others Had to Say
To ensure LastMin Trip truly met user needs, I conducted interviews with real travelers — both known and unknown users. Here’s what they had to say:
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A game changer for the app! By connecting with real users and understanding their pain points, I made impactful improvements, especially for price comparison. How tested the app (usability testing with 2–4 participants, A/B testing
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User Engagement & Preferences from Research Findings
📝 From Pen & Paper to Research & Insights! 🎨📖 Tracking work, making notes, and uncovering key findings — every great design starts here!
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My mood board captures the journey from inspiration to execution, featuring screen replications, low-fidelity designs, and insights from user interviews conducted over video calls.
Low fidelity designs to make it easier for users to understand and connect with the app
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Location Permission — The app asks for location access to provide personalized travel suggestions and deals.
Explore Destinations — Users can search for destinations, apply filters, and explore recommendations based on mood or discounts.
Category Selection — Users can browse different travel categories such as last-minute deals (LMD), budget trips, and hotels.
Departure City Selection — Travelers input their departure city to find relevant flight options.
Flight Search & Filters — Users select their departure and destination cities, choose airlines, and view last-minute or popular flight deals.
Flight Selection — A detailed flight list displays options, allowing users to compare prices and choose the best deal.
Traveler Information — Users enter passenger details and contact information for booking.
Add-ons Selection — Optional add-ons like extra baggage, meals, or seat preferences can be selected.
Trip Review — A summary of the booking allows users to verify details before proceeding.
Payment Details — Users input payment information and confirm the transaction.
Payment Success — A confirmation screen assures the user that their booking is successful.
Trip Dashboard & Packing Checklist — The “My Trip” section provides trip details, and a packing checklist helps users prepare.
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Usability testing with 2–4 participants, A/B testing
The Final Impact: Making Last-Minute Travel Stress-Free
✅ 3× Faster Bookings — Users now complete bookings in under 5 minutes, significantly reducing stress and last-minute panic.
✅ 20% More Savings — Smart AI-driven price comparisons ensure users get the best deals, optimizing their travel budget.
✅ Higher Engagement & Retention — Gamified rewards and AI recommendations keep users coming back, enhancing long-term loyalty.
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Lessons in Learning: What This Project Taught Me
One of the most valuable lessons was realizing how direct user feedback shapes a product. Talking to real travelers helped me:
✅ Refine core features based on actual pain points
✅ Prioritize AI assistance & offline access for practical use cases
✅ Understand how gamification improves engagement
This journey was driven by empathy & user interaction, ensuring that every feature solved real problems.
It was challenging but rewarding, pushing me to grow as a UX designer & problem-solver.
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I’d love to hear your feedback to help me improve and enhance LastMin Trip. Your ideas, suggestions, and insights will make a huge difference in shaping a better experience
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Posted Sep 29, 2026
Improved UX for LastMin Trip, enhancing last-minute travel booking with AI and gamification.
