Black Friday Flight Deals 2026: Airline Sales & Booking Tips

Updated November 2026

Black Friday flight deals in the US are usually smaller and later than shoppers expect. Most US airline sales arrive on Cyber Monday (November 30, 2026) and Travel Tuesday (December 1, 2026) rather than on Black Friday itself, and they are almost always for off-peak travel in January to March. As of November 5, no major US airline had announced a 2026 Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale, though Southwest has just run a $59 fare sale and several European airlines have launched theirs.

This guide covers what airlines and travel sites have announced so far, the Cyber Week 2025 airline sales (clearly labelled) that show what to expect, whether fares are actually cheaper on these days, and the rules that protect you after you book.

Black Friday Flight Deals 2026: Quick Facts

Item	What we know (as of November 5, 2026)
Black Friday	Friday, November 27, 2026
Cyber Monday	Monday, November 30, 2026
Travel Tuesday	Tuesday, December 1, 2026
US airline Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales	None announced yet
Southwest	$59 to $129 one-way sale, book by November 5, travel December 1, 2026 to March 3, 2027 (now ended)
Europe	Jet2 up to 20% off from October 29; Eurowings "Black Flydeals" November 23 to December 1; Lufthansa Group offers on selected routes
Spirit Airlines	Ceased operations on May 2, 2026, so it will not run a sale
Typical travel window (2025 pattern)	Early January to early March

Airline Sales Announced So Far in 2026

Southwest: $59 fare sale (ended November 5)

Southwest ran a sale with one-way fares from $59 to $129 for travel between December 1, 2026 and March 3, 2027. Tickets had to be bought by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on November 5 and at least 21 days before travel. Reports listed blackout dates around the holidays and limited seats on each route. The sale has now ended, but it shows the usual shape of an airline sale: low headline fares, limited seats, an advance purchase rule and a winter travel window.

European airlines

If you are flying in or from Europe, more sales are already live or scheduled. Jet2 launched a Black Friday sale with up to 20% off flights from October 29. Eurowings has scheduled its "Black Flydeals" campaign from November 23 to December 1, 2026. Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian and Brussels Airlines are part of a Lufthansa Group Black Friday promotion, but only on selected routes. easyJet and Vueling are expected to start sales on November 27, but had not published terms when we checked.

US airlines: what to watch for

American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and Frontier all ran Cyber Week sales in 2025. None had announced 2026 offers by November 5. Based on 2025, expect announcements in the days just before Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday, with short booking windows of one to five days.

Cyber Week 2025 Airline Sales (For Reference)

These sales have expired. They are listed to show what US airlines offered last year, as collected by Autopilot from airline announcements:

Airline	2025 offer	Book by	Travel window
American	Domestic one-way fares under $100, from $46 on some routes	November 28 to December 2, 2025	January 6 to February 11, 2026
Delta	Domestic round-trip fares from $97	December 3, 2025	January 6 to March 6, 2026
United	Award flights from 12,000 miles one-way	December 5, 2025	January 12 to May 6, 2026 (Chase United cardholders only)
Southwest	50% off base fares with a promo code	December 1 to 4, 2025	January 6 to March 4, 2026
JetBlue	35% off base fares with a promo code	December 2 to 3, 2025	January 6 to March 11, 2026
Alaska	One-way fares from $39 to $129 on selected routes	December 4, 2025	Not stated
Frontier	100% off base fares on round trips with a promo code	December 2, 2025	Through February 28, 2026

Three patterns stand out. First, almost every sale started on or after Black Friday weekend, with most on Cyber Monday or Travel Tuesday. Second, the travel windows started in early January, so these sales rarely help with Christmas or New Year trips. Third, the percentage discounts at Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier applied to the base fare only, so taxes and fees were still charged, and Frontier's "100% off" deal needed a round trip, a 7-day advance purchase and travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.

Are Flights Actually Cheaper on Black Friday?

Sometimes, but less than the marketing suggests. The best-known study is a KAYAK analysis of 2018 search data, which found median Black Friday fares about 6% to 10% lower for Asia and Caribbean destinations, and Cyber Monday fares about 5% below the surrounding Mondays. That data is old and measured searches, not tickets sold. Hopper, which created Travel Tuesday in 2017, reports the number of deals on offer rather than average fare drops, and its biggest percentage discounts are usually on hotels and packages rather than flights.

In practice, a Black Friday or Cyber Week fare sale is a good deal if:

• your travel dates fall inside the sale's travel window,
• your route is included (sales often cover selected routes only), and
• the total price, including bags and seat selection, is lower than what the same flight cost before the sale.

If you need to fly at Christmas, New Year or during spring break, do not wait for a Black Friday sale. Those dates are rarely included, and fares for peak dates tend to rise as the date gets closer.

Travel Sites: Expedia, Priceline, Hopper and Google Flights

Online travel agencies

Expedia has a Travel Tuesday 2026 page but had not listed its offers as of November 5. In 2025, Priceline's Cyber Week offers included up to 50% off select flights and car rentals, up to 30% off hotels and up to 60% off vacation packages, mainly for members of its free VIP programme. The biggest savings at travel sites usually come from flight-plus-hotel packages rather than flights alone, so price your flight separately before you assume a package is cheaper.

Price tracking tools

Google Flights and KAYAK let you track a route and get an email when the price changes. Set alerts now for any trip you are planning, so that when a sale is announced you already know what a normal fare looks like. Fare alert services such as Going send deals from your home airport, but some deals need a paid plan.

Booking direct or through a site

Airline sale fares and promo codes are often only available on the airline's own website or app. Booking direct also makes changes, cancellations and refunds simpler if your flight is disrupted. If a travel site is cheaper, check the fare class and the change rules before you pay.

Browse our travel coupons for current hotel, car rental and booking site offers.

How to Read an Airline Sale Before You Book

Term	What it means for you
Booking window	Often only one to five days. Have your dates ready.
Travel window	Usually January to March. Check that your dates are inside it.
Blackout dates	Holidays and school breaks are often excluded.
Days of the week	Many sales cover only Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday flights.
Advance purchase	For example, 7 or 21 days before departure.
Base fare only	Percentage codes do not reduce taxes and fees.
Fare type	Basic economy fares may not include a carry-on bag, seat choice or changes.

Compare the full trip cost

A low-cost carrier fare that looks $40 cheaper can cost more once you add a carry-on bag, a checked bag and seat selection for each flight. Add these costs for each traveller before comparing airlines. If you fly with children and want to sit together, check the seat rules too.

Protect Yourself After You Book

• The 24-hour rule: under US Department of Transportation rules, if you book a flight to, from or within the US at least seven days before departure, the airline must let you cancel without penalty within 24 hours (or hold the fare). If you see a better sale fare the next day, you can cancel and rebook.
• Refunds for cancellations: if the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant change and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a refund under DOT rules, even on a non-refundable ticket.
• Price drops: some airlines give a travel credit for the difference if the fare falls after you book, depending on the fare type. Check your airline's policy.
• Spirit tickets: Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 2, 2026. Be wary of any site still advertising Spirit fares.

Other Ways to Save on Flights This Season

• Miles and points: in 2025, American offered bonus miles on miles purchases and United ran an award sale for its credit card holders. Compare the cash price before using or buying miles.
• Gift cards: some airlines and travel sites offer bonus credit on gift card purchases during the holidays. Check the expiry and terms.
• Luggage and travel gear: Black Friday is a better time for suitcases, headphones and travel adapters than for flights. See our Amazon coupons, Walmart discount codes and Target coupon codes.

Our Black Friday deals page lists current store offers, including travel brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do airlines have Black Friday sales?

Some do, especially in Europe. In the US, most airlines wait until Cyber Monday or Travel Tuesday. In 2025, American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and Frontier all ran sales between November 28 and December 5.

Is it cheaper to book flights on Black Friday or Travel Tuesday?

Based on 2025, Travel Tuesday (December 1, 2026) and Cyber Monday had more US airline sales than Black Friday. Whether it is cheaper depends on your route and dates, so compare with the fare you tracked before the sale.

Can I use Black Friday flight deals for Christmas travel?

Usually not. In 2025, most US airline sales were for travel from early January, and holiday dates are often blacked out.

What happens if the fare drops after I book?

If you booked at least seven days before departure, you can cancel within 24 hours without penalty and rebook. After that, it depends on the airline and fare type; some give a travel credit for the difference.

Which travel sites run Black Friday deals?

Expedia, Priceline and Hopper all run Cyber Week or Travel Tuesday offers. Their biggest discounts are usually on hotels and packages rather than flights alone.

Conclusion

For flights, Black Friday is mostly a time to prepare. Set fare alerts now, decide which winter or spring trips you are flexible on, and be ready when US airlines announce their Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday sales. For the latest offers, see our Cyber Monday deals page.