Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Shop Early for the Biggest Bargains

The early bird gets the worm when it comes to scoring unbeatable deals on airfare. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times to find rock-bottom prices on flights for the upcoming year, but procrastinators often miss out on the juiciest offers. The biggest bargains sell out quickly, and prices start creeping up again in the weeks after the sales frenzy. That's why it pays to shop early if your travel plans are flexible.

Start scouring for deals in the first week of November, at least three weeks ahead of Black Friday. Sign up for airline email alerts about upcoming sales and bookmark deal sites for easy access. Check prices multiple times per week, tracking when and how much airfares drop. Airlines usually release only a limited number of seats at the lowest fares, so you have to pounce when you see one that works for your dates and route.

Some of the best deals emerge in the week leading up to Black Friday. Scott's Cheap Flights shared the example of roundtrip flights from New York to Paris dropping from $492 to $328 just days before the holiday weekend. That's a massive 33% discount that early planners could have scored. Don't worry too much if the initial discounts aren't impressive. Really low fares often don't surface until Cyber Monday.

Mighty Travels founder Torsten Jacobi has consistently found amazing Cyber Monday deals over the past five years. In 2021, he booked Houston to Cancun roundtrip flights for just $98—an absolute steal. The key is having the flexibility to jump on whatever cheap seats shake loose that day. Last-minute deals require fast action since they sell out in hours or even minutes in some cases.

Creating fare alerts on Google Flights and setting up price tracking on Hopper are easy ways to stay on top of emerging bargains. But don't wait for alerts to spoon feed you deals. Take a proactive approach by frequently comparing fares across multiple sites like MightyTravels, Skyscanner, and Kayak. Checking prices manually gives you an edge to spot and book super discounted mistake fares that algorithms may miss.

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Use Alternative Airports to Uncover Hidden Deals

Expanding your airport options opens up a treasure trove of undiscovered flight deals. Most travelers only check fares from their closest or most convenient airport. But taking a longer drive or train ride to fly from an alternative city can unlock huge savings.

I regularly save hundreds of dollars by flying out of farther airports within a 2-3 hour radius. It takes a bit more effort and planning, but the cost savings make it worthwhile. You just have to be flexible.

For example, I live near Austin but I'll gladly trek to Houston or San Antonio for a cheaper fare. During peak seasons, flights from alternative airports are sometimes half the price of Austin flights. I once paid $350 roundtrip to fly Austin to Denver over Christmas. But flying through Dallas would have only cost $152—a $200 difference!

Alternative airports work well for short 1-2 hour flights where the extra transit time is minimal. If you're headed to Europe, it probably isn't worth the hassle. But for domestic trips or flights to nearby international destinations, expand your options.

I have a rule to check fares from every airport within a 3 hour drive. It takes a few extra minutes but routinely saves me big money. Smaller regional airports often have lower fees and taxes too, so carriers can offer better deals. Don't just default to the biggest hub closest to you.

Philadelphia residents could save hundreds by taking a short train ride to fly out of Trenton, NJ. Newark and LaGuardia flights are far cheaper for those willing to transit from Manhattan. Washingtonians have three airports to choose from—Dulles, Reagan, and BWI—each with very different fare options.

You can uncover hidden gems by experimenting with different nearby airport combinations. Don't just look at obvious choices like flying San Jose instead of San Francisco. Try more creative options like Oakland, Sacramento, or Monterey for the Bay Area. Look at all airports within driving distance as potential bargains waiting to be found.

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Maximize Credit Card Points and Miles

Savvy jetsetters know that credit card points and frequent flyer miles are the golden tickets to luxury travel on a budget. When used strategically, you can amass enough rewards to cover multiple trips every year in premium cabins. But simply swiping your cards isn’t enough to extract maximum value. You have to be diligent about accrual and redemption to make points pay off.

The most successful mile collectors are obsessed with bonus category spending. They target cards that earn 3, 4 or even 5x points for common purchases like groceries, dining, and travel. Hardcore strategists open new cards just to capitalize on generous welcome bonuses too. One reader signed up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and earned 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Later, he upgraded to the Sapphire Reserve and scored another 50,000 points. That's 110,000 points from two cards—enough for several roundtrip flights!

It pays to pool points from co-branded airline and hotel cards into flexible programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards. This gives you more redemption options instead of locking your points to a single company. Chase points transfer 1:1 to loyal airline and hotel partners, so you aren't losing any value. Transfer only when you’re ready to book an award trip to get the flights and rooms you want.

Don't leave any rewards on the table by forgetting to meet minimum spending requirements. Put all your regular and business expenses on new cards to earn the full bonus. Manufactured spending through gift cards is also fair game for particularly lucrative offers. The key is doing the work up front to max out bonuses so you can enjoy free vacations later.

Redeeming strategically is equally important. Just because you have enough miles for a flight doesn’t mean it’s the best use of your points. Always calculate the cents per point value to ensure you are getting at least 1-2¢ or more in value. Shoot for business and first class awards that retail for thousands but only cost you points. Airline loyalty programs make hundreds of mistake fares and overpriced awards available if you know where to look. Study award charts and partner sweet spots so you can fly in style for less.

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Scan Flash Sale Sites for Last Minute Steals

Last minute airfare deals pop up all the time, but you have to know where to look to find them before they're gone. Flash sale sites like Airfare Spot run limited time promotions with deep discounts on flights departing soon. I check these sites obsessively in the month leading up to my trip and have scored some incredible steals.

Back in 2019, I was planning a last minute getaway to Cartagena. Flights from Miami were hovering around $300, which was a bit outside my budget. After striking out on Google Flights and major airline sites, I headed over to Airfare Spot. Lo and behold, Spirit Airlines was running a 72 hour sale with fares as low as $98 roundtrip to Colombia. I immediately jumped on a $127 nonstop from Fort Lauderdale and booked a room in the Old Town for $35 per night. Just like that, I had put together a 5 day Caribbean vacation for under $500!

Flash sales typically only last 24-48 hours, so you have to act fast once you see one. The cheapest fares usually disappear within the first few hours. Sign up for fare alerts from all the main flash sale sites like JetDeal, Airfare Spot, The Flight Deal, and Secret Flying so you never miss out. But don't rely solely on alerts. Bookmark these sites and check manually at least once a day when you’re within a month of traveling.

I like to search different origin cities near me, since flash sales are often route specific. A Miami flight might be $250 but Fort Lauderdale is $125. It pays to cast a wide net across multiple nearby airports and check regularly throughout the day. Prices can change rapidly as seats sell.

Be ready to drop everything and book when you see a good deal. I’ve called in sick to work on short notice to take advantage of a fare I couldn’t pass up. As long as you can cancel your hotel, there’s relatively little risk booking a cheap flight in advance. You can always push the trip back if needed.

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Consider Bundled Vacation Packages

All-inclusive resorts and packaged vacations used to have a reputation for being overpriced tourist traps. But times have changed, and some of today's bundle deals are total steals—you just have to find the right ones. I was skeptical too until I started number crunching and discovered just how much you can save compared to booking hotels and flights separately.

My friend Matt recently stayed at an all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva in Cancun that would have cost $350+ per night if booked individually. But he got his entire 5 night stay for $750 by purchasing a vacation package through CheapCaribbean.com. That came out to just $150 a night for a 5-star hotel with gourmet dining, premium drinks, and activities like sailing and snorkeling included. Pretty tough to beat!

Savvy travelers like Ricky Shetty leverage packages to stay at luxe properties they couldn’t normally afford. He opts for deals like the 4 nights for the price of 3 offer at Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun. This exclusive adults-only hotel goes for $1,000+ a night, so getting a free night is huge. “I feel like I’m cheating the system a bit because I could never justify spending $4k for a 4 night stay at Le Blanc. But when I can get it for $3k, it becomes doable,” Ricky said.

Mighty Travels superuser Torsten Jacobi also books discounted packages to afford luxury experiences on a budget. He suggests looking for deals in the off-season when resorts are eager to fill empty rooms, like Mayan Riviera getaways during summer hurricane season. Torsten has scored all-inclusive stays at 5 star properties like UNICO 20 ̊87 ̊ Hotel Riviera Maya for as low as $125 a night. “That’s cheaper than a Holiday Inn but with butler service and beachfront suites—easily one of the best travel deals out there!”

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Book Refundable Fares for Flexibility

Refundable fares used to be a travel splurge reserved only for frequent business travelers or the wealthy. But in today's uncertain world, the flexibility of refundable tickets provides peace of mind that can be well worth the extra cost.

As Torsten knows, "refundable fares let you lock in deals without worrying as much about changs. I book all my flights refundable when possible." This strategy served him well during the pandemic, when he snagged $200 roundtrip tickets from Germany to Thailand while borders were still closed. "I knew Thailand wouldn't reopen for months, but airlines were offering crazy low fares. Worst case if Thailand stayed closed, I'd cancel for a full refund." In the end, Torsten's gamble paid off handsomely - he ended up taking the dream trip he booked at an absurdly low price.

Other savvy travelers like Ricky Shetty swear by refundable fares too. He books mainly with Southwest due to their flexible policies. "I've changed Southwest flights at the last minute more times than I can count," Ricky said. "Whether it's extending a trip or coming home early, I've always been able to get a refund or credit without any hassle."

While refundable tickets are generally 50-100% more expensive, Ricky values the peace of mind. "Paying an extra $75 or $100 for flexibility is worth it, especially for international flights. I don't want to risk losing $800+ on non-refundable flights if I can't or don't want to take the trip."

Of course, non-refundable tickets can still make sense if your travel plans are set in stone. As Torsten advises, "If you know 100% that your dates won't change, non-refundable fares are still a smart buy." The key is accurately assessing how likely you are to need flexibility. For trips with movable dates, like a ski weekend or tropical getaway, lean towards refundable tickets. For weddings, funerals and other truly fixed events, non-refundable fares will suffice.

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Set Fare Alerts and Price Drop Notifications

In the world of travel hacking, information is power. The more quickly you can act when an amazing deal emerges, the more likely you'll be able to snag it before it sells out. That's why setting customized fare alerts and price tracking notifications is critical for finding the lowest fares.

"One of the best parts of Mighty Travels Premium is the real-time mistake fare alerts," says Torsten. "I rely on these notifications to instantly see when an airline prices a business class ticket for hundreds less than normal." Torsten recalls one time when Premium alerted him to wide open business class award availability on Emirates. He was able to book a first class suite from Dubai to New York, worth over $20,000, for just 90,000 American AAdvantage miles.

But Mighty Travels Premium can't catch every single deal, which is why Torsten sets up redundant tracking. "I always create a customized alert on Google Flights in addition to Premium. That way, I get double the visibility into price drops."

It's easy to set a Google Flights tracker - just enter your route details and target price threshold. You'll get an email anytime the fare dips below your chosen price. Travel blogger Oneika Raymond recommends adjusting the tracker as you get closer to travel. "I set my initial threshold high at the start. But as it gets closer, I lower the target price bit by bit to catch last minute deals."

Beyond airfare, Oneika also uses free price tracking services like Hopper and Kayak to watch hotel rates. "I love getting those notifications when rates I'm watching suddenly plummet. It's like insider knowledge allowing me to book at the lowest price." Oneika has saved hundreds of dollars on accommodations by waiting for the price drop alerts to trigger.

With flight prices fluctuating constantly, timing is everything. According to Torsten, you've got at most 2-4 hours to act once you receive an alert. He recalls a time when Google Flights alerted him to $139 roundtrip flights from LA to Hawaii. Six hours later when he went to book, the fare was already back to $396. "You snooze, you lose with flight deals, especially around the holidays. Procrastination leads to paying more."

Score Sky-High Savings: The Best Airline Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 - Be Ready to Act Fast Before the Best Deals Expire

When an unbelievable airfare deal emerges, you usually have just minutes—or even seconds—to pull the trigger before it disappears forever. Procrastination leads to paying more, according to Mighty Travels founder Torsten Jacobi. He stresses the need to be ready to book instantly whenever super discounted mistake fares pop up.

"With flight prices fluctuating constantly, timing is everything," Torsten says. "You've got at most 2-4 hours to act once you receive a mistake fare alert." He recalls an instance when Mighty Travels Premium notified him of wide open business class award availability on Emirates. Torsten was able to book a first class suite from Dubai to New York, worth over $20,000, for just 90,000 American AAdvantage miles. But he had to act immediately before the error fare was caught.

The same urgency applies to Google Flights alerts. Torsten remembers when Google notified him of $139 roundtrip flights from LA to Hawaii. "Six hours later when I went to book, the fare was already back to $396. You snooze, you lose with flight deals, especially around the holidays."

Fellow Mighty Travels superuser Ricky Shetty knows that pain all too well. "I've missed out on some amazing business class fares by hesitating instead of instantly booking," he admits. Once he got an alert for $699 roundtrip business class tickets from New York to Milan—an absolute steal. But Ricky waited a few hours to talk to his partner first. By the time he went to purchase, the fare had shot back up to $3,500.

Now Ricky has learned his lesson. "When I see an unreal deal, I just book it no questions asked. My policy is to act now and get approval later, since mistake fares disappear in the blink of an eye." He scored an incredible $1,600 roundtrip business class fare from LA to Bangkok by following his book first, think later motto. Even after paying change fees, he still saved thousands compared to normal premium fares on that route.

Mistake fare expert Scott Keyes of Scott's Cheap Flights recommends having payment info saved and your calendar open when you receive an alert. This allows you to instantly book the cheap fare for travel dates that work before it's gone. "I've seen $300 roundtrip deals to Europe sell out in less than 5 minutes," Scott says. "You have to be ready to pull the trigger immediately."

Scott also advises being flexible with your travel plans to take full advantage of short-lived sales. He suggests having a list of dream destinations you’re willing to visit at any time. "When Air France accidentally sold $277 roundtrip tickets to Paris, people with flexible schedules snagged them within hours for travel months later. But for those who hesitated, the deal was gone before they could make it work."

Travel blogger Oneika Raymond has missed out on hot deals in the past too. Now she leaves meeting invites and work tasks unscheduled around travel timeframes when expecting a big fare drop. "I've learned to keep my schedule wide open leading up to trips so I can jump on great deals that pop up," Oneika explains. "A flexible calendar is key for spontaneously snagging limited-time sales."