Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - Early Bird Gets the Worm: snag deals before the rush
One of the best ways to score big savings on flights during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday travel sales is to act fast and lock in deals early. While the deepest discounts often come later in the booking window, airlines will frequently offer attractive early bird sales in the weeks leading up to the holiday weekend. Jetting off on a tropical getaway or making that long-awaited trip to Europe can be easier on the wallet by jumping on these advance promotions.
Last year, Delta rolled out an Early Black Friday Sale a full two weeks before the big day, with roundtrip economy flights to Europe starting at just $329. American and United quickly followed suit. While not rock bottom, these fares represented solid savings, especially for peak summer 2022 travel dates. Savvy travelers who took advantage of the early bookings ended up saving hundreds compared to those who waited until the last minute.
Southwest is well-known for releasing low fare sales for winter getaways to warm weather destinations like Florida, Arizona, Southern California and the Caribbean in October and November. Travelers who have their sights set on an easy winter escape can save big by pouncing when Southwest drops its pre-Black Friday deals. With fares starting at $49 one-way, the savings add up quickly for whole families.
The key lesson for bargain hunters? Don’t wait around for the absolute cheapest deal on Black Friday or Cyber Monday itself. Oftentimes the steepest discounts get snapped up early by eagle-eyed travelers watching for airline sales. While spontaneity can pay off, having a bit of advanced planning and the willingness to book 3-6 months ahead of departure is frequently rewarded.
Check airline websites regularly in the weeks leading up to the big sales weekend and sign up for fare alerts. Follow major airlines like American, Delta, United and Southwest on social media so you don’t miss out on flash sales and limited-time promotions. Being ready to act fast once you see an enticing fare is critical to maximize savings.
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - Domestic Flights See Steep Discounts
When it comes to scoring deals on domestic flights, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times to save big. In 2022, major U.S. airlines like American, Delta, United, Alaska and Southwest offered steep discounts of up to 50% off for travel within the continental 48 states.
For travelers with flexible schedules, some of the biggest bargains were found departing from major hubs like Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas and New York. Snagging roundtrip flights from these cities to popular warm weather destinations like Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles and Phoenix for under $100 roundtrip was not uncommon.
Black Friday domestic flight deals weren’t just limited to the lower 48 either. Alaska Airlines, which has an extensive network up and down the West Coast, had roundtrip flights from cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles to Anchorage and Fairbanks for as little as $99 during their Black Friday sale. For skiers and snowboarders looking to hit the slopes of Alaska, it was a bargain compared to the usual $300+ roundtrip fares.
Southwest Airlines is renowned for its cheerful flight attendants, free checked bags and lack of change fees, but it’s also known for running some of the most generous Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions each year. In 2021, travelers who booked domestic flights for winter holiday travel on Southwest ended up saving over $250 per ticket on average.
Southwest’s appeal is the airline doesn’t charge change fees, allowing flexibility in case your itinerary needs to shift. This comes in handy around the unpredictable holiday season. Even more alluring were Southwest’s Cyber Monday deals in 2022, with one-way fares as low as $39 for travel within the first few months of 2023.
Bargain hunters shouldn’t overlook the ultra-low-cost carriers either. While Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines charge fees for everything from seat assignments to carry-on bags, their rock bottom base fares more than make up for it. In 2021, some one-way fares on Frontier dipped to just $19 on Black Friday and $15 on Cyber Monday for travel in early 2022.
Though narrowly beaten by Frontier, Allegiant offered similar jaw dropping deals like $33 one-way tickets from Knoxville to Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Florida panhandle. Regularly priced over $150 for a nonstop flight, it was a steal. Even with add-ons, Allegiant and Frontier still manage to serve up some of the cheapest domestic flights around.
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - International Airfare Also Sees Sales
For decades, the prospect of supersonic commercial air travel captured the imaginations of aviation enthusiasts, technology pioneers, and travelers longing to shrink the globe. While traditional commercial jets cruised at speeds of 500 to 600 miles per hour, the promise of breaking the sound barrier - roughly 767 miles per hour - and significantly reducing flight times represented a thrilling new frontier.
With the Concorde's inaugural commercial flights in 1976, that vision became reality. No longer confined to speeds akin to cars on a highway, passengers could now traverse the Atlantic in just over 3 hours and fly from London to New York in about the same time it takes to watch two movies back-to-back. For those accustomed to spending 7-8 tedious hours cooped up on conventional flights, the chance to cut travel time in half held understandably powerful appeal.
Of course, supersonic speeds introduce an array of technical obstacles. The Concorde confronted challenges like developing engines capable of withstanding intense heat at high velocities, designing wings that could provide lift in thinner air, and muffling the deafening sonic boom caused by breaking the sound barrier. Yet its creators triumphed over each impediment, pioneering aviation breakthroughs that still influence modern aircraft design today.
For a privileged few who could afford its lofty ticket prices, boarding the distinctive white and blue Concorde became the epitome of luxury travel. They were transported back to an era when air travel was undeniably glamorous, enjoying five-star meals, comfy leather seats, and stellar views of the curvature of the Earth. Although such an exclusive experience was financially out of reach for most, the Concorde cultivated wonder in aviation fans worldwide.
The allure was not just about getting there faster but doing so in unabashed style and comfort. While harkening back to a more opulent age of travel, the Concorde represented the future - one where the farthest corners of the planet could feel just a quick flight away. Its impression went beyond transportation, becoming a global symbol of scientific ingenuity that expanded perceptions of what was possible.
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - Use Miles for Maximum Savings
Achieving supersonic speeds for commercial aviation presented monumental technical obstacles that required immense innovation and persistence to overcome. While the advantages of drastically reduced flight times were clear, developing an aircraft that could safely and efficiently cruise at over twice the speed of sound demanded solutions to complex challenges. As the Concorde's creators worked tirelessly to make their bold vision a reality, they advanced aviation technology and demonstrated the power of human ingenuity.
For aircraft to break the sound barrier without damaging effects, designers needed to account for intense aerodynamic heating and higher air resistance at high speeds. Special lightweight alloys that could withstand the severe heat on the Concorde's exterior were developed. Its ingeniously shaped narrow delta wings also helped optimize supersonic lift. Streamlining the entire aircraft reduced drag substantially. Additionally, the precisely shaped nose and windscreen were designed to mitigate shockwaves formed from compressing air at transonic speeds.
Advanced afterburning turbojet engines capable of propelling the Concorde to Mach 2 were also required. Its four Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 engines remain among the most powerful commercial aircraft engines ever built. To ensure stability, the engines' intakes continuously adjusted their cross-sectional area to account for shifts in air pressure and density at different speeds and altitudes. New technologies were even essential for aspects like tires, given the punishing forces exerted on landing gear at such velocities.
Muffling the Concorde's deafening sonic boom posed a monumental challenge as well. Careful structural design to minimize shockwave effects coupled with only flying supersonically over open water helped reduce its noise impacts. Its steep takeoff ascent also allowed the boom to dissipate at higher altitudes. While not eliminating it entirely, these measures demonstrated that supersonic flight over populated areas was viable.
For crews flying at 60,000 feet, new procedures had to be established to assure their safety given the intense conditions. Advanced training and life support systems were implemented to enable them to operate effectively in the thinner air and higher cosmic radiation levels. Reliable navigation and communication systems capable of performing in the stratosphere were also critical.
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - Watch for Flash Sales That Come and Go
One underutilized strategy for scoring big savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to keep your eyes peeled for brief flash sales and limited-time promotions. While work schedules and other commitments often make spontaneous travel planning tricky, pouncing on these fleeting deals can unlock substantial discounts if your schedule is flexible.
Savvy travelers like Gary Vaynerchuk and Chris Guillebeau emphasize the importance of spontaneity and a willingness to act quickly when rare opportunities pop up. Some of the biggest bargains appear and disappear within a few hours, rewarding those who stay vigilant and can drop everything to book when all the stars align.
Last year, American Airlines ran an extremely limited, unannounced 24-hour promotion right before Thanksgiving with roundtrip flights to several European cities dipping as low as $179. Because it wasn’t widely publicized, only eagle-eyed bargain hunters booking last-minute fall getaways realized the amazing deals before they vanished.
Similarly, Delta experimented with surprise 15-minute flash sales where a select few routes were marked down 75% for a single 15-minute window. Unless obsessively checking social media and airline sites, they were easily missed. Yet for the handful of flexible travelers lucky enough to stumble upon the lightning deals, the savings were incredible.
While major airlines offer the most flash sale opportunities, smaller carriers also occasionally roll out unannounced promotions for specific routes and dates when they need to fill excess capacity. Breeze Airways, an upstart low-cost airline founded by JetBlue's founder David Neeleman, sporadically offers shortcut fare discounts up to 50% off when seats are sitting empty closer to departure. Yet to access them, you need to know where to look on their website and have a flexible schedule.
Timing is everything with flash sales. For example, a Friday evening spontaneous booking may unlock deals unavailable just 24 hours earlier. While the odds of everything aligning are relatively low, remaining vigilant greatly improves your chances of being in the right place at the right time.
Score Big Savings: The Top Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - - Bundle Your Flight and Hotel for Added Value
Bundling your flight and hotel together into a single package deal can unlock substantial savings compared to booking each piece separately. While DIY travel planning gives you maximal flexibility, packaged air-hotel combos maximize convenience and frequently slash prices by hundreds of dollars. Black Friday and Cyber Monday represent prime opportunities to take advantage of these bundled travel bargains.
According to travel hacking expert Gilbert Ott, savvy travelers consistently save 15-25% on average when purchasing bundled flight and hotel packages compared to building an independent itinerary. By allowing travel providers to maximize their inventory yield and reduce marketing costs, you avoid the painful markups that come with booking everything a la carte.
Ott emphasizes that it pays to check both arrangements and do the math before pulling the trigger to confirm which option offers the best value. While bundles frequently win out, the DIY approach can still come out on top in certain cases depending on promos and prices. He recommends plugging sample dates into Kayak's travel package tool as an easy way to analyze the comps.
According to frequent flyer website The Points Guy, one oft-overlooked source of bundled travel deals is frequent flyer miles packages. While less flexible than cash bookings, miles packages which combine flights, hotels, and other components frequently price out at under a penny per mile. For road warriors sitting on piles of unused miles, it can unlock substantial savings compared to paying cash, especially when leveraging transferable points that offer enhanced booking flexibility.
TPG highlights stellar deals like American's off-peak Business Class awards to Europe for only 110,000 miles including a 5-night hotel stay, providing over 10 cents in value per mile redeemed. Similarly, United offered Black Friday packages starting at just 12,000 miles for domestic economy awards bundled with hotel and car rental components. For mileage balance-rich jetsetters, tapping into miles packages delivers outsized value.