Which Airline Sales Aren't Worth the Hype? Here's What You Need to Know
Worth A Look = THE SILVER NUGGETS
AMERICAN AIRLINES
American Airlines shines during Black Friday and January sales, but you don’t always need a big sale to find deals. With fares that fluctuate often, there are plenty of opportunities if you keep an eye out. Their winter sales are worth checking, especially since they codeshare with British Airways, making multi-centre holidays a breeze. Earlier this year, I managed to score my customers a free upgrade home from Las Vegas via Cancun by mixing the two! In January, expect a few standout routes with fantastic fares.
ALASKA AIRLINES
Alaska Airlines runs frequent sales, not just for big events like Black Friday, but also on holidays like Labor Day. However, their Alaska routes aren’t included as often as flights to Hawaii or hot Mexican spots like Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo. If you’re planning a multi-centre trip along the US West Coast, check their deals but don’t expect every sale to be a showstopper – discounts can vary!
AER LINGUS
Mid-November (before Black Friday). A solid sale for flights between Europe & North America, including the Caribbean! Plus, with Aer Lingus offering plenty of short-haul routes across Europe, you’ll find destinations that other airlines overlook. That said, aside from Black Friday, their sales can feel a bit underwhelming compared to the price swings you’ll see year-round. The best strategy? Let me know the routes you’re interested in and I’ll keep an eye on them.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Cathay Pacific consistently runs a sale during Black Friday. Before the pandemic, Cathay was always one to watch for exciting sales, but lately, they’ve been a bit hit or miss. That said, with travel bouncing back, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on them! Their top-notch non-stop flights to Hong Kong are a favourite, but you’ll also find great deals on routes to Southeast Asia and Australia during their sales. Pro tip: get price alerts for their flights because they love throwing surprise, unannounced sales – you just never know when a great deal will pop up!
FINNAIR
They always do something over Black Friday. If you’re heading to Helsinki? Finnair’s Black Friday sale is one you’ll definitely want to mark on your calendar! But when it comes to their other routes, don’t expect mind-blowing deals every time. Finnair has a pricing strategy that moves in “phases,” with prices swinging from pricey to average to insanely low over a few months – and most of the time, there’s no official sale in sight. If you're after a great deal to Asia from Europe, waiting for a sale isn't the way to go.
LUFTHANSA GROUP
(SWISS/Austrian/Brussels Airlines). Lufthansa Group tends to roll out their best sales in early winter (November) and late winter (February) so keep an eye out! Every now and then, Lufthansa runs a “companion deal,” where you can book nearly half-price flights when you buy two or more tickets together (on the same flights). Their most recent offer, ended on 3rd September 2024, but was only available for Premium Economy, Business Class, or First Class – a real treat for those looking to upgrade! Plus, Lufthansa Group airlines occasionally host small, surprise sales to select international destinations throughout the year. So, if you’re after a great deal, it’s worth staying alert!
RYANAIR
They pretty much have a “sale” every week! Ryanair is the undisputed king of flight sales, constantly “having a sale” – it feels like all the time! They’re quicker to react to market demand than any other airline, and while most of their sales (about 75%) aren’t anything to get excited about, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for those rare, jaw-dropping fares they throw into the mix! Just be warned that according to a Which? survey conducted this year, Ryanair offers worse value for money than Air France and Scandinavian Airlines.
Don’t Hold Your Breath = THE ROCKS
AIR FRANCE–KLM GROUP
Rare, special event sales. KLM and Air France aren’t exactly known for their sales. Sure, KLM had a 100th Anniversary sale a few years back, but let’s be real – how often can we expect one of those? Every now and then, they’ll send out promo codes, usually offering a small percentage off. The catch? The terms and conditions often limit them to flights that are already priced too high to make the discount worthwhile. On the bright side, their regular prices are usually pretty reasonable and tend to stay steady, so you can often find a good deal without the sale drama!
EMIRATES
Elusive, Almost never. The last big Emirates sale I saw was in November 2018. That doesn’t mean you can’t score a deal on Emirates flights, but their announced sales aren’t exactly game changers. Take their current Earn Double Tier Miles promo, which kicked off on Boxing Day and ends on December 31st. Honestly, it’s not something to get too excited about unless you were ready to book a flight before the new year and travel by the end of March. Most of the time, their discounts only apply to a few routes, and they seem to pop up at random.
THAI
Black Friday is your best bet. Thailand’s official airline loves to claim they have deals or sales all the time, but let’s be real – they’re rarely anything to write home about. Luckily, they’ve been improving over time! Their Black Friday sale in recent years has actually featured some solid deals to Thailand and even New Zealand with a connection. That said, most of the time, it’s just not worth your time so save yourself the hassle!
What Makes Me the Expert?
For more about my airfare’s expertise, check out my previous post! In a nutshell, before diving into travel agency life, I studied airfares and ticketing, completed advanced training in round-the-world fare construction, and even trained staff on flight reservation systems and creative thinking when planning tailored packages. With over 15 years in the industry, I’m pretty passionate about sharing what I know to make YOUR holiday planning easier.
If you're thinking of booking travel during the sales, feel free to get in touch using the email link in the sidebar (to the right) or call my direct line 020 7112 9961 – I’m always here and ready to help, with the expertise, passion, and attention to detail I’ve garnered over the years.
Let’s make those sales work for you!
