Tips and tricks for (cheap) last minute ticket?

This is going to sound naive at best, and probably stupid too, but I only fly once maybe twice a year, and always book my flights way ahead. This time around, I need to come home (France) urgently, sometime this week. Are there any tips you recommend for getting a last minute ticket (doesn't have to be direct) at the cheapest price possible? Maybe some unsold tickets can be found somewhere, maybe with the airlines directly?

Told you this was naive... Let me know, thanks.