New travel data from Skyscanner suggests the cheapest time to book flights might not be Travel Tuesday after all. – Photo courtesy of Skyscanner
There’s a reason Travel Tuesday gets so much attention from deal-hunting travelers, but waiting for it could mean overlooking cheaper airfare earlier in the sales rush.
Last year, Cyber Monday was the cheapest day overall to book flights during the Black Friday sales period, according to new insights from Skyscanner. Travel Tuesday still delivered substantial savings, however, particularly on select domestic and international routes.
That distinction may be useful for anyone planning a winter getaway, spring break trip, or big international vacation: There doesn’t appear to be one sale date travelers should treat as the universal winner. Instead, last year’s Skyscanner data suggests a better strategy is to start tracking airfare early and compare prices throughout the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday sales period.
Ahead, learn more about how the prices and percentage drops from last year’s sales should influence your deal-hunting strategy this Travel Tuesday and beyond — plus how to save more on flights with Skyscanner:
Cyber Monday or Travel Tuesday? The cheapest time to book flights
Travel Tuesday may have the catchier name, but Cyber Monday came out ahead for overall value in Skyscanner’s analysis of last year’s sales period.
Bear in mind: that doesn’t make Travel Tuesday irrelevant by any stretch. In fact, the travel deals event delivered some of the steepest declines on individual routes. Fort Lauderdale saw a 28% price drop on Travel Tuesday, while Seoul dropped 24%. Honolulu, San Juan, Bangkok, and Madrid each saw fares fall 15%.
Put another way, travelers shouldn’t necessarily wait for Travel Tuesday to start shopping. If a flight on your wish list reaches a price you’re comfortable paying earlier in the sales period, last year’s results from Skyscanner suggest there’s no guarantee waiting will produce something better.
The flip side is also important: If you don’t find a compelling Cyber Monday fare, there may still be worthwhile opportunities ahead on specific routes. That’s why I’d treat the entire sales stretch as a window to shop rather than betting everything on a single date.
Which destinations saw the biggest Black Friday flight deals?
Travelers dreaming about an international vacation had several particularly interesting destinations in Skyscanner’s data.
Casablanca recorded the biggest overall price drop at 30%, followed by Lisbon at 28%. Sydney fell 21%, Seoul dropped 17%, and Honolulu declined 16%; those numbers aren’t a promise that the same destinations will see equivalent discounts this time around. Airfare can change constantly and depends on factors including your departure city and travel dates.
Still, the list provides a useful starting point if you’re flexible on where you want to go and your main goal is getting more trip for your money. Consider these two tips when seeking out the best deals:
- Keep your desired destination open. Rather than deciding on one destination and hoping it gets discounted, create a shortlist of places you’d genuinely be happy to visit.
- Compare and contrast. Then compare those routes throughout the sale period.
Here’s how to save on holiday travel and score top travel deals with Skyscanner. – Photo courtesy of Skyscanner
PSA: Domestic travelers should watch Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, and San Juan
You don’t need a passport or a long-haul itinerary to benefit from the sales period. Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, San Juan, Chicago, and Seattle were among the domestic destinations highlighted in last year’s deal data.
Fort Lauderdale was particularly notable, with fares dropping 28% on Travel Tuesday. Honolulu also appeared in both sets of data, recording a 16% overall decline and a 15% Travel Tuesday drop.
For travelers who can be flexible, expanding an airfare search beyond one airport may also uncover a better price. A traveler near several major airports, for example, can compare the savings against any extra cost and time required to reach a different departure point.
Cabo San Lucas was a breakout destination
Discounts weren’t the only indication of where travelers wanted to go. Cabo San Lucas recorded the biggest search surge in Skyscanner’s data, climbing 444% across the Black Friday sales period and 730% on Travel Tuesday.
Florence, Edinburgh, and Tokyo were also among the most-searched international destinations; and closer to home, Key West and Lihue drew attention from travelers.
Increased searches don’t necessarily guarantee cheaper flights, but the substantial jump illustrates how quickly interest in a destination can accelerate when travelers begin shopping for travel deals.
How to find Black Friday and Travel Tuesday flight deals
My biggest takeaway from last year’s numbers is simple: Don’t make your entire travel-shopping strategy about one date. Start searching before the major sales begin so you have a point of comparison when a fare drops. Otherwise, a big percentage-off message can look more impressive than the actual price.
Flexibility can help, too. Compare nearby departure and arrival airports when practical and check alternate dates around your preferred itinerary rather than limiting yourself to one exact combination.
Travelers can also use Skyscanner’s price alerts to monitor routes they’re considering through skyscanner.com. Skyscanner is a travel search engine that compares options from airlines and other travel providers, then directs travelers to a provider to complete a booking.
Even better: travelers can already find unmissable travel deals via Skyscanner’s “Drops” section, including flight prices that have fallen 40% or more, now through Dec. 1.
