Airline deals

[birdmom]

Anyone else waiting for black Friday or cyber Monday to buy their flights? Has anyone found great deals on these days before?

 

[MunFam]

I am a corporate air broker, meaning I sell 500+ airline tickets at a time for companies that are having meetings in a different city, so I watch airfare daily all over the world. There are deals to be had, but "typically" they are not universal sales. They are specific routes on specific dates. You may get lucky and get something, but I have found that after Thanksgiving airfare (in general) goes up until mid January, and it doesn't matter what your travel dates are. If I had specific travel dates, I would not wait for a Black Friday deal. I would shop now, or wait til spring. If I just wanted to go on a vacation to somewhere, I would hold out for BF/CM and see what deals were published.

 

[ksucats]

I am a corporate air broker, meaning I sell 500+ airline tickets at a time for companies that are having meetings in a different city, so I watch airfare daily all over the world. There are deals to be had, but "typically" they are not universal sales. They are specific routes on specific dates. You may get lucky and get something, but I have found that after Thanksgiving airfare (in general) goes up until mid January, and it doesn't matter what your travel dates are. If I had specific travel dates, I would not wait for a Black Friday deal. I would shop now, or wait til spring. If I just wanted to go on a vacation to somewhere, I would hold out for BF/CM and see what deals were published.

I agree that you shouldn't expect to find a Black Friday deal for airfare. I don't book near the travel that you do, but I do watch airfare for my personal business travel as well as leisure travel for my family as well as about 10 other relatives.

 

[birdmom]

so if I am looking to buy a flight from Vancouver to San Diego in May should I wait till after the holidays or just take what they are offering now?

 

[PhiSigKris]

so if I am looking to buy a flight from Vancouver to San Diego in May should I wait till after the holidays or just take what they are offering now?

Sidenote: I think we may be on the same cruise! I paid $110 per person for Vancouver to LAX about 2 months ago, to give you a point of reference.

 

[birdmom]

its up to $180 now but its always more expensive to fly into San Diego over LAX.
PhiSigKris May 18th repo cruise?

 

[MunFam]

Are you looking at Alaska Air? I would say one way, anything under $150pp one way is good enough to "buy now" for YVR>SAN

Another way to skirt around airfare is to open an Alaska Air Credit Card. You should have enough bonus miles for 2 one way tickets YVR to SAN...then you also get a free companion ticket if you need 2 more tickets.

 

[birdmom]

I did check out Alaska, they were almost $100 more per ticket looks like I am going to be stuck on United.

 

[AquaDame]

so if I am looking to buy a flight from Vancouver to San Diego in May should I wait till after the holidays or just take what they are offering now?

We're on the 3 night in May... I bought our airfare a couple weeks ago. Personally I wouldn't wait since my luck has always been a constant rise in rates/sold out planes. YMMV but I like having my ducks in a row reasonably early.

 

[PhiSigKris]

its up to $180 now but its always more expensive to fly into San Diego over LAX.
PhiSigKris May 18th repo cruise?

Yup! So excited!!!