Black Friday used to be about bargain price laptops and designer clothes, but now the travel industry is well and truly in on the act too.
Airlines, hotel chains and travel operators will be competing in a frenzy of offers this Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, which runs from Friday 29 November to Monday 2 December. While there’s the potential to save hundreds on your next big break, not all Black Friday deals are what they’re cracked up to be.
With hundreds of deals to choose, it’s worth doing a little homework to ensure you don’t get dazzled by the number in front of the percentage sign. After all, it’s the number behind the pound sign that counts.
What can we expect?
If last year’s sale was anything to go by, consumers can expect huge savings on international flights, plus a raft of ski discounts and cruise deals. Last Black Friday, Royal Carribean slashed its prices for cruises to France and Spain for up to 47 percent. Tui offered great deals with up to 64 per cent off to Europe, The Americas, and Asia, and Air New Zealand offered return flights to LA for £175.
Keep an eye on those destinations hit hardest by the collapse of Thomas Cook, who might be desperate to fill empty beds. The Canaries and Balearics would be a good place to start. As for operators, Hays Travel, which purchased almost all of Thomas Cook’s stores, and Tui, which has taken over some of its hotels and expanded its flight network, might be ones to watch for some compelling offers.
What about local deals?
Don’t forget to check out what’s being offered by local air and sea service providers. Aurigny has hundreds of ‘Black Flyday’ deals on offer this week for travel between 6 January and 31 March 2020, with flights to Bristol, Gatwick & Stansted from as little as £22.99, and Manchester and East Midlands from only £23.49.
Condor Ferries has confirmed it is planning to offer Black Friday deals which will likely cover all of its routes, so it’s well worth checking out the website. easyJet will definitely have a slew of deals, and Flybe has offered Black Friday deals in the past, so monitor its website closer to the day. Plus, Herm Island already has a raft of accommodation deals up for grabs.
Where can the best Black Friday offers be found?
To grab the best deal, it’s worth shopping around. Most of the major airlines will have a page dedicated to Black Friday deals. That said, it’s always worth using a price comparison site like Skyscanner to make sure you’re getting the cheapest offer.
Skyscanner will be updating its Black Friday page throughout the week with the latest offers, and if you have a specific destination in mind, set up a price alert so you can receive news of offers as they drop.
If you know what type of holiday you want – cruise, ski, beach, city break etc – the destination and duration, then do your research beforehand by checking the price that kind of holiday goes for at other times of the year. This way, you’ll know if you’re getting a great deal or not.
Here are some of airlines offering Black Friday flight deals, with a link to more details:
Aurigny – good for domestic flights between Channel Islands, plus a lifeline link between the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the UK.
British Airways Flight Deals – good for flights to European cities and far-flung destinations.
easyJet Flight Deals – ideal for bagging a bargain to some of Europe’s most exciting destinations.
Ryanair Flight Deals – keep your eyes peeled for cheap fares to destinations across Europe.
Virgin Atlantic Flight Deals – Great for trans-Atlantic travel to destinations including New York and Orlando.
TUI Flight Deals – from the Balearics to Barbados, it’ll be worth checking out Tui’s deals.
Be sure you’re getting a good deal
Consumer group Which? has urged Black Friday bargain hunters to exercise caution in light of analysing promotions by major airlines and holiday companies advertised last year. Research found that Ryanair and easyJet had promoted ‘potentially misleading’ flights and holiday offers during Black Friday 2018.
Rory Boland, Which? Travel editor, said: ‘Our research reveals that Black Friday travel deals aren’t always what they appear to be. Avoid disappointment by comparing prices and approach attention-grabbing saving claims with scepticism.’
Top tips for Black Friday travel deals
The more flexible you are on dates and destinations, the better deals you’ll find. Here are a few tips to bagging the good deals and avoiding the duds:
Consider flying out of further-away airports because they may have bigger discounts on certain routes.
If you have an airline of choice, keep an eye on their website throughout Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
Sign up for airline newsletters, so you are notified of any flash sales via email.
If you have a destination in mind, set up price alerts vi price compares sites to get the latest travel offer information.
Compare prices elsewhere by using price compares sites like Skyscanner.
Read the small print to make sure there aren’t any additional payments you will need to make.
Be wary of ‘free’ extras , because you may be overpaying for one element to subsidise another.