Today only, new subscribers can currently get 50% off their first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts using promo code THANKS! Sign up now and you'll get dirt-cheap domestic and international flights, discounted business and first class fares, and award alerts to use your points and miles, too – all sent straight to your inbox.

Use promo code THANKS to get 50% off your first year of flight deal alerts. That's just $49.99 for a full year of amazing alerts to help you travel more for even less in 2024 and beyond! This huge sale ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST – sign up now for huge savings! 

Use code THANKS for 50% off your first year of flight deal alerts!

Check out some of the best deals we've found for a trip this year or next – and the best award alerts to use your points and miles!

Airlines are going all-out with their “best” deals for Black Friday … but airlines never advertise their cheapest airfare. We find them anyway – and now you can get a year full of dirt-cheap alerts for 50% off! 

With this sale, you can get every cheap flight, award alert to use your points and miles, mistake fare, unicorn deal, and discounted business class fare we send to Thrifty Traveler Premium members. Trust us: You'll get that money back (and then some) after you book your first deal.

These aren’t last-minute deals that leave you scrambling to pack and plan, either: They’re for trips as far as 11 months out, all the way into fall 2025. You can fine-tune your settings to get alerts from only the airports you want – and pick from 200-plus in the U.S. and Canada, too. You can get deals from as many (or as few) airports as you want. 

So what do Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts get you? Take a look.

Save Hundreds (or More!) on Flights with Premium

Thrifty Traveler Premium finds and sends more flight deals than any other service on the market – including both cheap cash fares as well as award alerts to redeem credit card points and airline miles. We're biased, but we're confident it's the best flight deal subscription you can get. And today, you can get it for cheaper than ever.

Our team of flight deal experts is constantly digging up the hottest mistake fares, flash sales, and flight deals to save Thrifty Traveler Premium members $250 (or much, much more) on each and every deal we find.
 

In the last month alone, we've sent Thrifty Traveler Premium members more than 120 flight deal alerts and counting, including:

• Cheap domestic fares to destinations like Seattle (SEA) and Denver (DEN) for less than $100 – even passport-free beach destinations like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands under $399 
• Mind-blowing fares to Hawaii like Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Maui (OGG) for $249 roundtrip or lie-flat suites to Honolulu (HNL) bookable for just 29,000 points each way
• Nationwide sales on flights to Europe this winter and next year for under $500 roundtrip – and sometimes even under $400 – to destinations like London, Paris, and even Greece or Croatia 
• Super-cheap Delta SkyMiles flash sales like Europe for 27,000 miles or all the way to Australia for just 66,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Award alerts for hard-to-book premium cabin deals like Qatar Qsuites to the Middle East or Cathay Pacific First Class to Hong Kong (HKG) and back
• A resurgence of deeply discounted Delta One deals like 85,000 SkyMiles to Seoul (ICN) or Brisbane (BNE) from 127,000 SkyMiles each way

Sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to get deals like this in your inbox – use promo code THANKS to save 50% on your first year!

Our service is getting better and better all the time, too. Thrifty Traveler Premium members can now quickly log in and scroll through all the deals we find in their online hub … whether they're from one of your departure airports or not! You can filter for cash or points and miles deals, set price limits, and even search for specific destinations.
 

All our members get a ton of other benefits that make it the best flight deal service on the market, including:

• Instant email alerts for one to five flight deals a day!
• Only get deals from your preferred airport(s) – we cover 200+ airports, more than any other service!
• Direct links to book with the airline
• Personalized consulting with our experts to help you pick the best travel credit card for you
• Access to our members-only Facebook group
• 100-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you aren't loving your flight deals within the first 100 days, you can cancel for a full refund! 

What Current Thrifty Traveler Premium Members Say

Like I said: We might be just a tad biased, but we're confident Thrifty Traveler Premium is the single-best flight deal service on the market. Don't just take our word for it, though. 

Tens of thousands of travelers are getting our flight deal alerts each and every day, and they're loving it. Take it from subscriber Joelle:
 

We got a recent shoutout on Reddit for a slew of amazing (and easy-to-follow) award alerts from user u/pierretong.
 

We're not the only flight deal service on the market, but fellow travelers say we're better than our competitors – and cheaper, too … especially right now!
 

Bottom Line

You won't find a better way to save on your next year of travel.

Don’t believe us? See for yourself: Get 50% off your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts and get the cheapest fares sent straight to your inbox. Just use promo code THANKS to start traveling more for even less! This sale ends soon, sign up now for huge savings! 
 

Use promo code THANKS for 50% off your first year!

Day after day after day, we're sending spectacular flight deals straight to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers' inboxes, helping them travel all over the world in 2024 (and even 2025) for less. That includes cheap domestic flights, trips to Europe for under $500 (and sometimes even under $400), and tons of lie-flat business class fares you can book with your credit card points and airline miles.

Want a glimpse of just how good flight deals can get? These are the best flight deal alerts we've found and sent so far this year.  

It's our Black Friday sale! Get your first year of Thrifty Traveler Premium alerts for 50% off today – use promo code THANKS at checkout!

Europe in the $300s, Hawaii under $493, and more!

At Thrifty Traveler Premium, cheap flights are our bread and butter. And this year, we've dug up some stunningly low fares to some of the best destinations on Earth.

Here's the perfect example for travelers looking to visit Iceland this year or next … for under $400 roundtrip! 

These flights are long gone now – get the next alert with Thrifty Traveler Premium! Use promo code THANKS to get 50% off your first year of deals!

These nonstop fares to Iceland in the $300s are cheaper than some domestic flights – you might see higher fares to Los Angeles (LAX) than you will to Reykjavik (KEF) from some of these cities. 

Europe fares in the $300s are some of our favorite things, so you can imagine how excited our members were to see these fares from New York City (JFK) and Newark (EWR).

If you love roundtrip flights to Europe in the $300s, you're probably also fond of roundtrip fares to Europe in the $200s. We recently found these fares to Barcelona (BCN) just a few days ago and we still can't stop thinking about them! 

You know how I said you'd love Europe flights in the $200s better than $300? Well, somehow, it got even better in 2024.

Mistake fare! We love it when airlines screw up, leading to shockingly low flights. In this case, Air France forgot to tack on a fuel surcharge to these fares from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Dublin (DUB). The end result was some peak summer flights to Dublin (DUB) at mesmerizing prices.

But if you're looking for those elusive double-digit roundtrip flights, they're usually easiest to find with our friends at Southwest Airlines. 

Just last week, we found sub-$100 roundtrip flights to Arizona, Colorado, Las Vegas, and all of these flights to and from Florida! 

And then a few months later, JetBlue said “Hold my fare” with this insane sale with flights as low as the $50s roundtrip, too. 

Finally, there's no more popular destination than Hawaii. Yes, we've found cheap flight deals out to the islands, too.

Get alerts about cheap Hawaii flights in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium – sign up now for 50% off your first year of deals with promo code THANKS

Our latest Hawaii deal offered half-off fares to the islands from more than 150 U.S. and Canadian cities! It's not unusual to see $1,000-plus fares to Hawaii, so our subscribers in Pocatello, Idaho (PIH), El Paso, Texas (ELP), and Regina, Saskatchewan (YQR) must have been thrilled to see fares in the $400s instead. 

Tokyo from 34K SkyMiles, Europe from 24K Points

At Thrifty Traveler, we love giving our readers the inside scoop on the best ways to earn points and miles to fuel their travels. Because what's better than a cheap flight? A (nearly) free one. 

Here's a cocktail that our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers love: Japan, Delta and … 70% off SkyMiles fares. 

Get deals like this in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium! 

Flights to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) will typically run you close to 100,000 SkyMiles roundtrip or more. But not for our members: We found rates nationwide for half that – and sometimes even less!

From Allentown (ABE) in Pennsylvania to San Francisco (SFO) and countless cities in between, this was one of the cheapest Delta deals to Tokyo we've seen in years. Scope out the full list of just how widespread this Delta SkyMiles deal was.

We find flight deals from more than 200 U.S. and Canadian airports – more than any other service!

Just 50,000 SkyMiles or so could have gotten you to Tokyo this fall, during peak ski season in Japan, and into the early cherry blossom season next spring. Plus, with a Delta SkyMiles credit card, you get 15% off those listed rates. 

Travelers based in cities like Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL), and Seattle (SEA) lucked out with the lowest rates.

Many of our subscribers have told us that they have Delta SkyMiles, and they're looking to use them. Fear not, Delta flyers. We've got you there, too. How does Tahiti (PPT) sound? 

Sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to get the next Delta SkyMiles deal in your inbox – use promo code THANKS for 50% off your first year!

Just 70,000 Delta SkyMiles (or less if you have a Delta SkyMiles credit card) can get you a roundtrip fare to Tahiti from all of these airports. Some of these flights were as low as 50,000 miles from the West Coast!

And for even fewer SkyMiles, you can tick Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada off your bucket list, too! This deal included peak summer availability from all cities as well. 

It's been an embarrassment of riches for Delta SkyMiles deals this year. Here are some of the best ones we've sent in 2024: 

• Maui (OGG) under 39,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Denver (DEN) from 7,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Santiago, Chile (SCL) under 69,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Anchorage, Alaska (ANC) under 39,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Europe from 27,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Taipei (TPE) under 54,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Cabo (SJD) & Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Mexico under 22,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Miami (MIA) under 19,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Sydney, Australia (SYD) under 66,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• Brisbane, Australia (BNE) under 80,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
• and more!

But if you don't have SkyMiles, don't worry. Travelers who earn American Airlines miles had their chance at two incredible flight deals earlier this year, too. 

Europe for just 38,000 miles roundtrip? It doesn't get much better than that. The best part: These fares all book into Main Cabin, meaning you get a free checked bag and the ability to select your seat. Plus, you can change or cancel these fares anytime and get your miles redeposited into your account and your taxes and fees refunded, all for free! 

It's one of the reasons why we love American miles so much. Another reason? These flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America for just 10,000 AAdvantage miles roundtrip! 

Whether you're booking an all-inclusive in Cancún (CUN), a bougie getaway to Aruba (AUA), or you're looking to cross anywhere else in American's network off your bucket list, these 10,000-mile roundtrips are as cheap as you'll find using points and miles. 

But American miles holders don't get to have all the fun. These flights to Europe and some cities in North Africa were bookable for just 30,000 Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles roundtrip, too!

Don't think you have Flying Blue miles? Think again. If you've been earning points on cards from American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, or even Wells Fargo, you can transfer them to Flying Blue to book these flights. Plus if there's a transfer bonus, you can book these flights for as few as 24,000 points roundtrip.

Lie-Flat to Europe, Hawaii & the World's Best Biz Class

Booking a roundtrip flight in economy for as few as 10,000 points is great, but the best value in using points and miles is flying up front. And you might be surprised how few points you need to make it happen. 

When it comes to lie-flat business class, our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers are always clamoring for Delta One business class. So when we found a ton of Delta One seats bookable through Virgin Atlantic earlier this year, we sent our subscribers a Unicorn Alert – a text message alert for the rarest, most time-sensitive flight deals – so they could be the first to book. 

The Minneapolis (MSP) to Dublin (DUB) route and the New York (JFK) to Munich (MUC) routes were outstanding because they featured Delta's new closed-door suites. But Delta's old business class offers plenty of comfort, especially for just 50,000 points each way. That's what we found on these routes. 

This deal was so good, in fact, that it's been killed off: Virgin Atlantic scrapped these dirt-cheap Delta One deals earlier this year … but not before our Thrifty Traveler Premium members locked in a lie-flat Delta flight to Europe for 50,000 points.

But sometimes, all you need are Delta SkyMiles to snag these wonderful suites. It's rare, but it's possible. So when we found such ultra-rare availability flying Delta's new route to Taipei (TPE), we sent out another Unicorn Alert text message to our members. 

This deal got all of our members buzzing, and for good reason! Among a recent slew of deeply discounted Delta One deals, this remains one of the best.

These deals were a huge boon for our members, especially considering how hard it is to secure a Delta One seat for cheap. 

But Delta One isn't the world's best business class. That honor goes to Qatar Airways Qsuites, so go figure it's become nearly impossible to book using points and miles.

That's why we search for availability day, day out, sending alerts to our Thrifty Traveler Premium members any time we find some. And as tough as it is, we've sent nearly a dozen such alerts so far this year. But one stands out.

Something different happened: While searching for that vaunted Qsuites award space you could book with points, we found that you could fly business class to Doha (DOH) … then connect onward to destinations like the Maldives (MLE), Thailand, or even Australia in Qatar Airways first class … for the same rate as flying business class the whole way!

This deal is long gone – join Thrifty Traveler Premium to get the next amazing award alert! Use promo code THANKS and get 50% off your first year, bringing the price to just $49.99!

Think of it as a free upgrade to first class after a Qsuites journey across the Atlantic to destinations like Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), the Maldives (MLE), and Perth (PER). Best of all, that gets you access to the Qatar Al Safwa Lounge – widely considered the finest airport lounge on earth. 

This deal was so good we dubbed it a “Unicorn deal” and sent a text message alert to our subscribers so they could run – not walk – to book this bucket list air travel experience. 

The Unicorns have been well represented in 2024, the latest of which was some brand-new – and shockingly cheap – pricing flying Virgin Atlantic's fancy new A330-900 business class. 

How cheap? How about just 21,000 points and $250 for a lie-flat seat across the pond?!

When Virgin Atlantic announced it would shift its Virgin redemptions to dynamic pricing, we all groaned. We expected rates to start skyrocketing. That's not what happened at all! Instead, rates went down to as low as 29,000 points each way! Throw in an excellent 40% transfer bonus from Chase, and it got even cheaper!

In fact, almost all of the members of our team booked this deal right when we sent it to our subscribers. 

If a trip to Japan is on your list, Japan Airlines business class has long been one of the best ways to fly to Tokyo. But it got even better when Japan Airlines (JAL) unveiled its brand-new first and business class suites. Award availability has been tough to come by… 

… until this month, when we sent this alert to Thrifty Traveler Premium members.

That's right: We unearthed some rare availability to book Japan Airlines business class early next year for just 60,000 American AAdvantage miles each way. And while four U.S. cities got in on the action, the ability to book the brand new suites from New York (JFK) for the long ride to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) set off alarm bells at Thrifty Traveler HQ.

Air France had really stepped up its business class game, too, just in time for France to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Because everyone seemingly wanted to go to Paris this summer, we thought finding award space would be impossible. We were wrong…

We couldn't believe our eyes on this deal: Peak summer (including the Olympics) lie-flat seats flying nonstop to Paris (CDG) for just 50,000 miles each way. Especially considering economy rates were $1,200 roundtrip or more, this was an amazing deal.

Nearly every single Air France and KLM gateway was included in this sizzling deal, which we had no choice but to declare a Unicorn Alert, too. 

You never see an airline just open up all of its business class seats like this during the middle of summer. We couldn't believe our eyes.

Speaking of high-demand destinations, finding a lie-flat seat out to the Hawaiian Islands isn't a walk in the park, either. These brand-new suites from Hawaiian Airlines just rolled out this year, but we've already found some stellar deals to fly them. 

Just 40,000 points (transferred to Hawaiian or Virgin) could put you in one of these seats for your flight to or from Hawaii. It's a pretty remarkable deal. But if you add a transfer bonus like recent 30% bonus from Capital One to Virgin Atlantic, then you're looking at just 31,000 points each way. 

Finally, let's look at the only thing better than business class: First Class flights … and Emirates First Class, at that!

Emirates First Class is about the fanciest way to fly in the world, and everybody knows it. That's why it typically costs $10,000 a ticket and is usually so hard to book using credit card points.

Until earlier this year. Check this out. 

During our daily searches, we found the unthinkable: Availability next year for two passengers to use points and miles to book these snazzy suites flying Emirates' route between New York City (JFK) and Milan (MXP) on the airline's signature double-decker A380. 

By transferring 102,000 credit card points to Emirates – or sending even fewer Capital One miles to Qantas, thanks to a transfer bonus available at the time – you could take one of the coolest flights in the world of travel. Bottomless caviar and an onboard shower, anyone?

It was a stunning deal that allowed travelers to use 102,000 Emirates miles each way, or just 108,000 Qantas miles. 

No Points, No Problem: Cheap Biz Class Fares to Europe

Flying business isn't just achievable for travelers with points and miles. Over the last few months, we've found cheap business class flights flying to some of the most tried-and-true destinations paying cash, too. 

Buying a business class flight will almost always be more expensive than buying an economy ticket, but you might be surprised at just how close to the economy price some seats can get. 

Take this JetBlue Mint Business class deal, for example. 

These prices are gone now – sign up for Thrifty Traveler Premium to get the next deal delivered to you! Use promo code THANKS for 50% off your first year!

Flying nonstop from Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) to Dublin (DUB), you can get a roundtrip, lie-flat fare for just $1993!

For our neighbors to the north, it was even better. Check out these cheap business class fares flying mainly Air France and KLM. 

Some of these fares are unbeatably cheap – plus, it's rare to see so many connections throughout Europe for such cheap prices, too. 

Your next lie-flat seat doesn't have to cost $5,000 roundtrip! With Thrifty Traveler Premium, you'll get an alert when prices dip.

Nerd Alerts: Our Weirdest, Coolest Flight Deals

We strive to find and send easy-to-book, useful, and valuable flight deal alerts to our Thrifty Traveler Premium members every day, but for our fellow aviation geeks, we have something we call Nerd Alerts. 

Nerd alerts are tailor-made for those who travel … differently. These deals range from incredible last-minute award space to unique aircraft to some of the best seats in the world on routes wholly outside the U.S. and Canada. For some seats, like this one offered up by Etihad, this exception can help you book something once-in-a-lifetime. 

There's first class, and then there's the Etihad First Class Apartment. Just look at this thing. Yes, that's on an airplane!
 

These ludicrously spacious first class seats are widely viewed as among the best in the world, firmly earning their place on the bucket lists of many aviation geeks. There's just one problem: Etihad only flies the Airbus A380 – the so-called Whale Jet – equipped with these Apartments on a handful of routes, including just one U.S. destination: New York City (JFK). And finding award availability to book these seats with points and miles is incredibly difficult. 

Your best bet at finding affordable award rates for The Apartment is on the on the route between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and London (LHR). When we sent this Nerd Alert to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers, 62,500 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles was all you needed to make this apartment your home for a six-hour flight.
 

Just a few days ago, we found the same seat flying to and from Mumbai (BOM) in India for just $921 each way, too. That's the cheapest fare for Etihad  Apartment we've ever seen, so we sent it as a Nerd Alert, too. 

Want to fly First Class to Australia instead? This nerd alert was an all-timer. 

What makes this a nerd alert? This deal featured incredibly low rates to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney for just 70,000 points one-way – just with no availability for return flights. 

Another bucket-list worthy first class flight? ANA's The Suite First Class. We sent this as a Nerd Alert because it included availability for only one seat. But if you're traveling across the Pacific alone or you want to upgrade a friend or family member, this was the cheapest way to book these seats. 

Get alerts more Nerd Alerts with Thrifty Traveler Premium!

Bottom Line

It's been a year to remember at Thrifty Traveler Premium, and we're not done yet!

We've sent hundreds of cheap flight alerts, points and miles availability alerts, Unicorn Alerts, and Nerd Alerts to our members in 2024 and there's so much more to come.

Sign up now during our Black Friday sale and get a full year's worth of flight deals like this for less – use promo code THANKS for 50% off your first year!

Every year, the airlines of the world unveil Black Friday sales. Sometimes they're eye-rollingly called Black “Flyday” sales, and if you've ever signed up for an airline's emails, those sale announcements or teasers are likely in your email inbox already. These sales typically extend through “Cyber Monday” and into “Travel Tuesday” – but it's usually all the same deal. 

The problem is: Black Friday isn't always the best day to find the cheapest fares. And in some cases, these airline “sales” can just be regular rates disguised as good deals. 

Tucked into some of these sales can be some good value, though. So it's worth checking some of them out. We always vet every Black Friday sale that comes around to see if the savings are good enough for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members, so if you're a subscriber, you don't have to worry about discerning these splashy promo pages. 

If you're trying to figure out where to get the best deal and if you're getting the best deal, use this guide. 

The Best Airline Black Friday Sales 

Black Friday sales seem to start earlier and earlier every year, and last longer, too. Airlines are no exception. Some airlines, like Singapore, Turkish, and TAP Air Portugal are well into their Black Friday promotions that will last weeks. Other airlines, like Aeromexico or Cathay Pacific, always run Black Friday promotions that start during Thanksgiving week. 

Either way, if you know where you want to travel in 2025, it's worth checking out Black Friday sales to see if there's something cheap. But not all sales are created equal. 

These are the sales we've found value in so far this Black Friday season. 

TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal's Black Friday sale yielded dozens of amazing fares flying to Europe in 2025, including this lowest fare from Miami (MIA) to Madrid (MAD). 

The savings extended to many of TAP's North American gateway cities, showing off fares in the $300s and $400s to tons of destinations. 

Turkish Airlines 

The best Turkish Airlines promotions come in the form of points and miles sales, and this latest sale is no different for travelers based in Boston (BOS). 

This deal was just a teaser for the Black Friday deal to come, so keep an eye out on Turkish's website (or on your inbox, Premium subscribers) for more savings. 

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines kicked off its Black Friday sale by offering some outsized value on flights down to New Zealand (AKL) next year. 

The majority of the fares on this list were bookable through Alaska during this promo period that ends in early December.

On Black Friday, Alaska added a 30% off discount for all flights to and from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California. 

That led to some fantastic fares into Alaska hub Seattle (SEA) and several others. 

ZipAir

ZipAir, the ultra-low cost carrier flying to and from Tokyo (NRT), is an amazing way to save on Asia flights if you're aware of the taxes and fees. 

Thanks to promos like this one, you could find yourself flying to Japan next year for way, way less. 

If you add the cost of a carry-on bag each way, the lowest fare comes out to $577 roundtrip. Plus, you could find half-off fares from Vancouver (YVR) and San Francisco (SFO), too. 

Read our review of ZipAir.

All Black Friday Sales This Year (Good, Bad, and Meh)

Here are all of the Black Friday airline sales as of publication. We'll do our best to update this list throughout the week. 

• Air Europa
• Alaska Airlines 
• American
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Condor
• Delta Air Lines
• Iberia
• Icelandair
• LATAM
• LEVEL
• Norse Atlantic
• PLAY
• Qatar Airways
• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
• Singapore Airlines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• ZipAir

Most of these sales end sometime between Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, so if you're planning to book, make sure to check-in by Monday the latest to make sure you can get the best deal. 

How to Determine if You're Getting a Good Deal

Don't take the airlines' word for it that the price you're seeing is a great deal. We never do. And we're vetting all these sales for our members this week and every day of the year.

But even if you aren't a subscriber, we all have access to this wonderful product called Google Flights. That's how you're going to find out if the fare you find is great. 

Here's what you should do: 

1. Find the sale fare on the airline's website

Dig into these sales to find some great value. Many of the promo fares will be showcased in bright colors or be next to the old fare that is crossed out. Other times, they'll just blend right into the airline website. 

Either way, take a look around and see if you can make something work. Then find the lowest fare like this one from TAP Air Portugal. 

2. Double check with Google Flights

Next, you're going to take the departure city, the destination city, and the dates from the promotional fare you found and put them right into Google Flights to see how it all compares. 

This is the beauty of Google Flights: The comparisons. Here, you can see that TAP Air Portugal is actually offering the best rates on your desired days between your desired two airports. 

But Google Flights will also show you that, for $120 more, you could fly nonstop. Is that worth it to you? It very well could be. 

Either way, you're getting the full picture on Google Flights. So double-check!

Note: The best Black Friday promo fares won't always show up on Google Flights. Some airlines, like Singapore Airlines for example, will only offer the best fares on their website and they aren't searchable on Google Flights at all. 

It's still important to check Google Flights, though! Even if the price doesn't match the airline website, at least you'll know that, and can compare with other airlines anyway. 

Bottom Line

Black Friday airline sales can hold outsized value for travelers, but many times they hold very little value at all. That's why you have to check the so-called “sales” with Google Flights before you book. 

Many airlines want your holiday spending dollars during Black Friday, and discerning customers can get great value if they know where to look and how to check. 

It's a deal the brand is calling their biggest sale ever, and while we have seen them offer bigger discounts in the past, it's never been this widespread. From now through Monday, Dec. 2, get 25% off Away's full lineup of bags! 

If you're unfamiliar, Away offers some of the best travel gear on the market. Several members of our team have these bags and swear by them for their travels. If you're in the market for new luggage, Away's Black Friday sale is a great way to score a deal on Away's full catalog. 

Shop Away's 25% Off Everything Black Friday Sale!

With this sale, you can score their iconic and well-reviewed carry-on bags for as low as $206 – down from the norm of $275.

Or maybe Away's snazzy aluminum bags are more your style. The discounted price of $468 for the standard carry-on is one of the best deals we've ever seen, down from the normal $625 price tag. 

And this very well could be the last suitcase you ever need to buy. Away offers one of the best warranties you'll find from any luggage brand, offering to repair or replace any functional damage you may incur for the life of your bag. Note, this doesn't cover cosmetic damage or resold items. 

Ready to pull the trigger on a new bag for yourself or your favorite travel partner? Don't forget to start by visiting a shopping portal like Rakuten first. You can currently earn an additional 2% cashback (or 2x Amex points) through Rakuten – plus, if it's your first time shopping through Rakuten, you can score a $40 bonus when making a purchase of $40 or more!

Be sure to take advantage before this big 25% discount ends on Monday, Dec. 2!

 Shop Away's 25% Off Everything Black Friday Sale!

There are tons of Black Friday deals on luggage, technology, accessories, and more today so we've put together this guide rounding up all the best Black Friday travel gear deals to help you out.

And there are always to save even more. Rakuten is offering an outstanding 12% cash back at hundreds of stores today for Black Friday – plus, you can earn an easy $40 cashback for your first purchase through Rakuten.

If you're shopping through Amazon, be sure to check Amazon's Black Friday page and don't forget to see if you're targeted for this huge money-saving promo via American Express.

Without further ado, here's our list of the best travel gear deals for Black Friday 2024.

Headphones

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) for $153

You can currently score a pair of Apple's brand new, second-generation AirPod Pros for just $153. That’s the best price we’ve seen for Apple’s newest and best Bluetooth wireless headphones, which have better noise cancellation and longer battery life than their predecessors.

Buy them on Amazon for $153 (was $249)

Unlike the standard Apple AirPods (which are also on sale for just $79), the Pros are noise-canceling, they’re water-resistant, and come with custom ear tips. Our team swears by them: They’re well worth the additional money over the standard AirPods if you ask us.

Bose QuietComfort Noise-Canceling Headphones for $199

Bose makes some of the best noise-canceling headphones for frequent travelers in the world. Prices on one of their best Bluetooth headsets don't get cheaper than this.

You can currently buy a pair of Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones for just $199 via Amazon and via Bose for the same price, too. That's more than $100 off the list price and the lowest price we've ever seen on these top-notch travel headphones.

These headphones are incredibly comfortable with unbeatable noise cancellation. You can pair them to any device using Bluetooth, though they also come with a cable should you need one to catch a flick on the plane.

Both the black, blue dusk, chilled lilac, cypress green, sandstone, and white colors are available at this ultra-low price.

Buy them on Amazon from $199 (was $329)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones with Spatial Audio

Want Bose's latest and greatest noise-cancelling headphones at the lowest price we've seen? Amazon has the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones on sale for $329 (normally $429). 

This model just launched last year, and they're the only Bose over-the-ear headphones with built-in spatial audio, best-in-class noise cancellation, and they promise 24 hours of battery life.

Both the black and white smoke colors are available at this ultra-low price.

Buy them on Amazon for $329 (was $429)

Electronics & Other Travel Accessories

AirFly Pro to Connect Your BlueTooth Headphones

A set of Bluetooth headphones alone won't do you much good on the plane – few airlines offer Bluetooth connectivity with their seatback screens. Here's the solution. 

You can buy the AirFly Pro Deluxe Bluetooth transmitter and receiver kit for just $51.99. That's 20% off its normal $64.99 price tag. 

Buy it on Amazon for $51.99 (was $64.99)

Just plug this handy dongle into the audio port on your screen, connect your Bluetooth headphones of choice, and enjoy! This version comes with a handy carrying case as well as an audio adapter you may need on some planes.

Anker Power Banks 

Anker makes some of the best power banks to keep your devices charged while on the go. And a metric ton of them are on sale for Black Friday, including:

• A 10,000 mAh Powerbank (which will recharge an iPhone 15 twice) for just $17.99!
• A 5,000mAh charger (good for up to one full iPhone recharge) that triples as a magnetic stand and phone holder for as low as $29.92 – down from $49.99!
• The GaNPrime PowerCore 65W – a 10,000mAh battery pack and wall charger hybrid that doubles as a way to keep three other devices powered up via USB and USB-C outlets – for $58.99, down from $99.99.

4 Pack of Apple AirTags for $72.99

Concerned about your luggage getting lost? Apple AirTags are a must-have travel accessory – and they're about to get even more powerful. Plus, they're on sale for Black Friday!

You can buy a four-pack of AirTags for $72.99 – down from the $99.99 list price. This is one of the lowest prices we've ever seen on this location-tracking technology.

Buy them on Amazon for $72.99 (was $100)

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for $129.99

Amazon almost always has Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day deals on their own products. If you don't own a Kindle, this is a great opportunity to pick one up at a steep discount.

The newest model of the Kindle Paperwhite has a higher resolution display with a built-in adjustable light. Best of all, this generation is now fully waterproof, includes double the storage space of older models, and can be charged wirelessly. It's normally $189.99, so you can save $60 by picking this up today.

Buy it on Amazon for $129.99 (was $189.99)

EPICKA Universal Power Travel Adapter

Long gone are the days when you needed a four-piece system to stay plugged in across the globe. There are plenty of single-unit options that allow you to charge your devices no matter where you rest your head. Our favorite is the EPICKA Universal Power Travel adapter, a compact cube that offers not just a power port, but four USB ports as well – plus even a fast-charging USB-C slot.

Unless if you’re traveling with heavy-duty electronics, this can be the one-and-done solution for staying powered up on international travels. It's the one I have in my bag at all times.
 

Buy it on Amazon from $19.99 (was $25.99)

Amazon Fire 8 Kids Tablet in Kid-Proof Case for $74.99

Need to keep your kiddo entertained? Amazon is selling its Fire 8 Kids Tablet for just $74.99 – 50% off! These can be a lifesaver on your next trip, whether by air or car.

Buy it on Amazon for $74.99 (was $149.99)

Luggage Deals

25% Off Away Luggage

Years after taking the travel scene by storm, Away Luggage seems as popular as ever. The company is celebrating Black Friday with one of its biggest sales ever.

You can get 25% off almost any Away bag on the market. While these aren't the lowest prices we've ever seen on Away gear, this is the broadest sale. For example, you can buy:

• An Away Carry On for $206 – down from $275
• The Away Bigger Carry On for $221 – down from $295
• The Away Carry On Aluminum for $468 – down from $625
• The Carry On Flex (with a zipper extender for more room) for $243 – down from $325

Buy Away bags starting at $206

Thrifty Tip: Shop through Rakuten and get up to 2% back (or 2x Amex points per dollar you spend) on your Away purchase!

40% Off Monos Luggage

Not to be outdone, popular luggage company Monos is out with its own Black Friday sale, with discounts of up to 40%.

Just be sure to use promo code BLACKFRIDAY (though it should automatically apply to anything you add to your cart at Monos.com) and you'll get a hefty discount. For example, you can buy a Monos carry-on bag for just $180 – down from the usual $255 price tag.

Buy Monos luggage from $180 (was $255)

Samsonite Luggage up to 61% Off

Samsonite has a number of 2-piece and individual luggage sets on sale for up to a 61% discount. There's an amazing deal on the Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage Set on sale for $174.93. This normally retails for $409.98 (57% off). 

That set and others are well-reviewed on Amazon.

Visit Samsonite's Amazon store to shop these Black Friday Deals! 

Other Deals

The Trtl Travel Pillow: $45.49

If you've taken a long-haul flight in economy, you know the struggle of finding a decent travel pillow. Travelers swear by the trtl Travel Pillow.

I picked this one up on Amazon Prime Day a few years ago, and while it looks odd, it is certainly far more comfortable than your average plush neck pillow. Better yet, it easily fits in a backpack or other carry-on bag.

It normally retails for $59.99, but you can pick it up today for $45.49 while supplies last.

Buy it on Amazon for $45.49 (was $59.99)

Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector 

Yes, really. A portable carbon monoxide detector is the travel accessory you hope you'll never need but should consider throwing in your bag for your next trip. Better safe than sorry, right?

Today only, you can get 20% off the Haotestite travel carbon monoxide detector, bringing the price down to just $16.44.

Simply throw it in your bag and plug it in at your final destination.

Buy it on Amazon for $16.44 (was $26.09)

Rain-Mate Compact Travel Umbrella

Having an umbrella with you during your travels can save you a lot of headaches should the weather take a turn for the worse.

This Rain-Mate compact travel umbrella is a great addition to any carry-on bag for your next trip, and it's discounted by 25% for Black Friday. Some colors are cheaper than others, but it's a great deal no matter which design you choose.

It comes in a multitude of colors and weighs less than one pound. It's also windproof with a reinforced canopy.
 

Buy it on Amazon for $14.99 (was $19.99)

Bottom Line

Don't wait on any of these deals:  Some are the lowest prices we've ever seen, and they could disappear at any moment.

We will be keeping this page updated throughout the day, so make sure to bookmark and check back frequently for the latest and greatest travel gear deals we find for Black Friday.

Nerd alerts are tailor-made for those who travel… differently. Want the heads up on when you can book an Etihad Apartment or Qatar Airways First Class, even if those flights don't touch U.S. soil? Happy to book within the last few weeks (or even days) if it means you can snag ultra-rare award space like flying ANA business class? Want to fly lie-flat for cheap, even if it's just for a quick two-hour flight within the Caribbean? Nerd alerts are for you.

These deals are all bucket-list-worthy experiences in the sky that you can book for cheap if you know where to look. And in some cases, it might be more about the journey than the destination. It's an exclusive feature of our Thrifty Traveler Premium service that members can turn off and on.

From incredible last-minute award deals to unique aircraft to some of the best seats in the world on routes wholly outside the U.S. and Canada, these are our best Nerd Alerts.
 

An Apartment in the Sky for 63K Points (or $597)

There's first class and then there's the Etihad First Class Apartment. Just look at this thing. Yes, that's on an airplane!
 

These ludicrously spacious first class seats are widely viewed as among the best in the world, firmly earning their place on the bucket lists of many aviation geeks. There's just one problem: Etihad only flies the Airbus A380 – the so-called Whale Jet – equipped with these Apartments on a handful of routes, including just one U.S. destination: New York City (JFK). And finding award availability to book these seats with points and miles is incredibly difficult. 

Your best bet at finding affordable award rates for The Apartment is on the on the routes between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and London (LHR) and Paris (CDG). When we sent this Nerd Alert to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers, 63,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles was all you needed to make this apartment your home for a six-hour flight.
 

Just a few weeks ago, we found the same seat flying to and from Mumbai (BOM) in India for just $593 each way, too. That's the cheapest fare for the Apartment we've ever seen, so we sent it as a Nerd Alert, too. 

Qantas First or Biz Class from 95K Points

The coolest seats on the coolest plane on one of the coolest routes on earth. This deal…is cool. 

Qantas First Class is about as fancy as it gets in the sky, and that's especially so on the famous A380 double decker airplane. 

And to top it all off, this 14-hour flight is between South Africa and Australia, making it one of the most unique routes in the southern hemisphere, too. This one's really for the nerds, because you have to do a lot of work to get to either Sydney or Johannesburg, but this is an unforgettable experience to be sure. 

As you can see, you. an also snag business class on these routes for 95,000 points each way, too if you want to save a few points. 

Emirates First Class for 53K Points (Or $940!)

From bottomless Dom Perignon and caviar in your private suite to an onboard bar and even a shower, flying Emirates First Class is one of the most incredible experiences you can have in the sky. Emirates outdid itself with its Gamechanger First Class suites featuring floor-to-ceiling walls for unparalleled privacy.

But finding an affordable way to book these ridiculously cool suites is elusive … unless you know where to look.

While it's nearly impossible to find Emirates First Class flights using points and miles to and from the U.S. for more than passenger, you can find it abroad. This year, Emirates is flying planes equipped with these Gamechanger suites to Brussels (BRU), and lo and behold…

There are other flights where you can book Emirates first class for less, too. Including a strange one…
 

These normally $10,000 suites can be booked for less than $1,000 sometimes when you snag them on one of Emirates' unique fifth-freedom routes, like this one from Christchurch, New Zealand (CHC) to Sydney (SYD)!

These seemingly random routes that allow airlines to fly between two cities where the carrier itself isn't based can be a great way to fly some of the best seats in the sky – often for substantially less than what you'd pay on a “normal” route. Speaking of which…

SWISS First Class … in South America?

SWISS First Class suites are among the hardest to book in the world. Flying to and from its hub in Zurich (ZRH), you'll never be able to book it using points and miles.

That's why it pays to look far, far away from Switzerland if you've got these swanky first class suites on your bucket list. How about a flight within South America?
 

Sure, it's a short flight from São Paolo (GRU) to Buenos Aires (EZE). But you can't beat getting the full first class experience for just 39,000 miles each way. You could have easily transferred points from Chase or Bilt Rewards to United put yourself in one of these seats.

Cathay First Class on Air New Zealand?!

How about flying Cathay Pacific First Class with Air New Zealand between Auckland (AKL) and Melbourne (MLB) for just $490 each way?

If you need to read that again, I understand. Let's back up: Air New Zealand recently leased an old Cathay Pacific plane with these first class seats onboard. But because Air New Zealand does not have first class itself, they're pricing these luxurious pods much like business class seats instead.
 

Just $490 one-way would put you in what Air New Zealand is calling “Business Preferred.”  That's some insane value for an incredibly comfortable ride between Australia and New Zealand.

British Airways Club Suites for 15K Points!?

All but the nerdiest travelers will be surprised to hear British Airways flies a fifth-freedom route between the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. Best of all, you can fly lie-flat for that short two-hour flight.

Flying in a bonafide business class suite doesn't get cheaper than this.

You can book British Airways' amazing Club Suites business class from just 15,000 points each way between Nassau (NAS) and Grand Cayman (GCM) and only $1 in taxes and fees. British Airways is a transfer partner of almost all the major banks – Amex, Chase, Capital One, and even Bilt.

That's the crazy value you can find on this hilarious fifth-freedom route, which gets you all the bells and whistles of business class travel, without the long flight.

Qatar First Class to Thailand and Australia

Qatar Airways is best known for its Qsuites Business Class, which is among the best in the sky. But did you know Qatar also operates a first class cabin on some routes?

While rare, Qatar First Class can be found on routes flying this leased Boeing 777 from Cathay Pacific. It's the same exact seat from that Air New Zealand I mentioned earlier, decked out in Qatar's signature maroon colors instead.
 

Best of all, you can fly this seat from Qatar's hub in Doha (DOH) to Bangkok (BKK), too! It might be the long way around the globe if you're trying to get to Bangkok from North America, but it's possibly the most stylish.
 

And if you have 50,000 American Airlines miles or 75,000 Qatar Airways Avios (which can be transferred in from Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, or from your British Airways Avios account), you can make one of these seats yours for that long haul flight.

Plus, on a different Qatar First Class route, you can also use your points to fly all the way to Perth, Australia (PER). 

Just 100,000 American AAdvantage points is enough to book this seat … which is a lot better than almost $10,000!

ANA ‘The Room' Business Class

ANA's “The Room” Business Class is one of the best in the sky – maybe the best, period.

But it's hard to book, usually. Your only way to cross this one off the list from the U.S. is to book just a few days before departure. Plus, you'll have to pick one of the few routes where these latest-and-greatest suites are flying.

That's why we sent this unique flight deal flying from Asia back to the United States roundtrip. 

The pricing was so good that we had to send this. It would be worth it to book this fare and then either change or cancel your return flight or just keep pushing it out into 2025 and see if you can find a reason to go back to Asia! 

Japan Airlines Business Class One-Way or Last-Minute

We try to avoid sending our Thrifty Traveler Premium members last-minute flight deals. Typically, we're looking for something further out to help you plan more effectively.

But when seats like this become available – even at the last minute – we're going to send you a Nerd Alert about it.

The other reason a Japan Airlines flight would make our Nerd Alert list is if it's only available one-way, as was the case for these incredible new seats flying from Japan to Dallas (DFW) and New York (JFK). 

Best of all, you can book these with some connections within Japan, too. So if your trip through Japan ends in a place like Hiroshima (HIJ) or Nagoya (NGO), you can simply book the connection home in business class, too. 

The best way to book these seats is using your American Airlines AAdvantage miles, because you only need 60,000 of them and $45 in taxes and fees to make these seats yours. Alaska miles, Finnair Avios (or British Airways), and Cathay Pacific miles will all get the job done, too. 

Singapore Airlines First Class (& Singapore Suites!)

Singapore Airlines is one of the best airlines in the world, renowned for its luxurious business and first class cabins. To fly to Singapore (SIN) in first class from the U.S. is a tough ticket to find: It's expensive and extraordinarily rare to book it using points and miles. 

But Singapore flies these seats all around the rest of the world. 

If you want to fly between London-Heathrow (LHR) and Singapore, for instance, you can do so for 141,000 Singapore miles. That may seem like a lot – and it is! These seats are rare and expensive no matter what. 

And the same goes for Singapore's unbelievable Singapore Suites on the A380. Singapore Suites are like a flying hotel room with a double bed and two recliner chairs in a spacious, open room. It's the fanciest airplane seat in the sky, and the airline flies it on the flights between Singapore and India! 

Intra-Asia Business Class

Finally, there are also some super cheap ways to fly business class within Asia.

For travelers with Delta SkyMiles, the sneakiest best use of your points and miles might be intra-Asia business class flights on the likes of Vietnam Airlines. 

Just 40,000 SkyMiles can put you in a lie-flat seat from Vietnam to Osaka (KIX), and Tokyo-Haneda (HND) or Tokyo-Narita (NRT).

SkyMiles can also put you in one of Korean Air's brand new suites between Seoul (ICN) and Japan next year. 

Only 15,000 SkyMiles are required to secure these flights to either Tokyo-Narita (NRT) or Fukuoka (FUK) Japan on Korean's fancy new 787-10 airplane. 

No points? No problem! This fifth-freedom flight on Amsterdam-based KLM Airlines between Singapore (SIN) and Bali (DPS) is one of the funkiest flights out there, but it's also one of the cheapest ways to fly business class, period!

How to Get Our Nerd Alerts

Did one of these deals pique your interest? Have any of these aircraft or premium cabins on your travel wish list? Thrifty Traveler Premium members can get every Nerd Alert we send.

Simply log in to your Premium account online and go to “Settings” and “Deal Filters.” Scroll to the bottom, and toggle on “Nerd Alerts” to start receiving them.
 

You can also see any nerd alerts and all our recent flight deals in your Premium account. Scroll through the deals to find them or type “Nerd Alerts” into the search bar at the top.
 

Bottom Line

Not every flight deal has to be the easiest, simplest route between two destinations. Sometimes you have to look around the globe to find the strangest fifth freedom routes flying some of the coolest airplane seats in the world for prices you won't believe.

We label these Thrifty Traveler Premium deals “Nerd Alerts” but you don't have to be the nerdiest traveler to book them. It's all about what kind of experience you want to have in the sky – and what you're willing to do for it.

You can currently snag a pair of the latest and greatest Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones for just $199 via Amazon and via Bose for the same price, too. That's tied for the lowest price we've ever seen on these top-notch Bluetooth headphones that typically sell for $329 … but you can do even better.

In fact, this price is so good, it's unlikely this deal will last long. So if you've been on the fence about buying a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones, the time is now. Here's how.

Buy via Amazon for $120, Amex Cardholders

If you've got an Amex Membership Rewards card like the *amex gold* or *amex platinum*, you can get a great deal buying these via Amazon … and throwing in 1 Amex point.

You can currently save up to $80 by applying just 1 Amex Membership Rewards point to your cart. If you're targeted for one of these deals, it could drop the price as low as just $119 before tax. Not every Amex cardholder will get targeted for the best savings of up to $80, though.

Amazon currently has QuietComfort headphones available in Black, Blue Dusk, Chilled Lilac, Cypress Green, Sandstone, and White. 
 

Buy these Bose QuietComfort headphones for $199 via Amazon!

Use Rakuten to Buy for $135

If you've never used Rakuten for your online shopping, there's no better time to start. Not only will you get 12% cash back through Bose for Black Friday, but you'll also currently get a $40 bonus after your first purchase of $40 or more. Add it up, and that brings your net cost for these headphones down to just $135 and change before tax.

Alternatively, you could earn Amex Membership Rewards on your purchases through Rakuten: 6,399 of them, in this case.

Sign up for Rakuten, then buy these headphones from Bose!

Bottom Line

This is among the lowest prices we've ever seen on one of the best pairs of travel headphones on the market. We'd be willing to bet prices won't get any lower – especially if you can use one of these money-saving methods to bring your out-of-pocket cost even lower.

But don't sleep on this deal on Bose QuietComfort headphones: They won't last long at these ultra-low prices!
 

But some of those top-rated (and most expensive) SLH properties will now suddenly cost you more Hilton Honors points. Over just the last few days, we've noticed Hilton is quietly hiking standard award night rates at some of the best SLH locations.

A few examples include:

• Hermitage Bay, an all-inclusive resort on the Caribbean island of Antigua, jumped from 130,000 points per night to 150,000 points per night
• Sailrock South Caicos on the southern island of Turks and Caicos saw an increase from 130,000 points to 140,000 points 
• Milaidhoo Maldives, an incredible Maldivian property that even includes roundtrip plane transfers, jumped from 130,000 points a night up to 150,000 points a night
• Canaves Oia Suites on the dreamy Greek isle of Santorini went up slightly, from 140,000 points to 150,000 points per night
• Grand Hotel Victoria on the coast of Italy's Lake Como was originally 120,000 points per night. Now, it'll cost you 140,000 points nightly
• Furore Grand Hotel on the Amalfi Coast saw an even bigger jump: It previously cost 120,000 points per night but now vaulted to 150,000 points per night
• Cap Rocat in Mallorca went from 130,000 points a night up to 150,000 points
• Wentworth Mansion, a beautiful property in Charleston, saw a minor increase, too: from 100,000 points to 105,000 points

Odds are there are even more rate increases we haven't yet caught. And we wouldn't be surprised if even more are on the way.

It's a disappointing development … but not a huge surprise. 

Back when news broke that Hilton would steal away the SLH chain, we all braced for the worst: Hilton's reputation for valuable points redemptions is mixed at best. But that integration has surprised everyone, adding tons of cool properties – and shockingly excellent award redemptions – into the mix. It's been so good, in fact, that we're wondering if Hilton Honors is threatening to dethrone World of Hyatt as the best hotel loyalty program.

Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers who opted into our new Hotel Alerts add-on have benefitted from some of these amazing deals featuring nearly a dozen SLH properties – including a handful that just saw some substantial increases. 

For example, how could you top Hermitage Bay? What's not to love about a boutique all-inclusive in the Caribbean with five-star service, fresh sushi nightly at a beachside bar, amazing meals and cocktails? Oh, and a VIP airport meet-and-greet to whisk you through immigration upon arrival in Antigua (ANU), then a free ride to the resort and back, too?

This property typically sells for north of $3,000 a night … and yet it was bookable for 130,000 points: a phenomenal redemption for anyone with Hilton points. Now, that's jumped up to 150,000 points a night. 

A 20,000-point-per-night increase isn't the end of the world. While the points rate has increased, they're still bookable with Hilton free night certificates from cards like the Hilton Honors Aspire Card. And, at least for now, Hilton's standard award night rates remain capped at 150,000 points a night … though the hotel chain's dynamic pricing means you may also see “premium” nights selling for close to 1 million points or more.

Even after these increases, this SLH redemption and countless others remain stellar. Still, it hurts to see. 

Bottom Line

Devaluations always hurt. While many of these increases may seem fairly minor for the time being, only time will tell how far they'll spread.

But here's the truth: Whether it's Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday, or any old Tuesday … there's no best day to book flights. In fact, the best deals aren't the ones you'll see advertised on Black Friday or next week. Sure, some airlines have promos or offer some decent discount codes – and scan the list of early airline deals for Black Black Friday, and you'll see some decent promotions already. 

But these sales are laughable compared to some incredible flight deals that pop up year-round. Black Friday, Travel Tuesday, and the rest are more marketing gimmicks than money-saving realities: A way to trick travelers into thinking they're getting the best deal possible on a day (or days) Americans are ready to spend money.

Here's the truth: You can find cheap flights every day of the year. Between the unpredictable nature of airfare and the occasional mistake fare, the next amazing flight deal is always just around the corner. If you follow us or subscribe to our flight deal alert service, you know that the cheapest flights are just as likely to pop up on any old Wednesday or Saturday.

Want to save even more on travel? Get the heads-up on our big Black Friday sale!

To help you move past your obsession with Black Friday or Travel Tuesday, here are our best tips for getting a cheap flight – no matter when you're looking.

Use Google Flights to Start Your Search

Ditch Expedia, Hopper, and Kayak, and come to the light. Allow us to introduce you to our good friend: Google Flights.

Google Flights is the most powerful search engine when it comes to finding cheap flights, bar none. It's packed with powerful features and filters that can help you zero in on the best deal. It's an airfare price aggregator – not an online travel agency like many other popular flight search engines.

It's one of our favorite tools we personally use to find cheap flights. At the very least, start your search with Google Flights and use it to point you in the right direction, then head to your favorite online travel agency to see if you can snag an even better deal.

But Google Flights has a handful of features that make it our go-to, including:

• Book directly with the airline: Google Flights provides links to book straight with the airline, cutting out the middleman and making it easier to get a refund if your flight gets canceled, scrap your travel plans and get a voucher, or even rebook if prices drop and save even more!
• A handy two-month calendar that helps you zero in on the cheapest days to fly as well as pop-up notifications when shifting by a day or two can save you money
• Tons of filters to fine-tune your results by airline or alliance, nonstops or one-stop itineraries, departure and arrival times, and many more
• Search to and from up to seven airports at once to maximize your results and hone in on the best deals
• Use the Google Flights Explore map for those times when you just need a getaway to anywhere a cheap flight will take you

Read our in-depth guide to using Google Flights!

Get Flight Deal Alerts Year-Round Instead

What's better than one day of decent deals? A year full of amazingly cheap airfare delivered straight to your inbox.

We hunt for the cheapest domestic and international flight deals each day and instantly alert our Thrifty Traveler Premium members to the best deals we find. That even includes award alerts to use your points and miles!

We're talking domestic flights under $100, roundtrip fares to Mexico under $200, Hawaii under $250, European hotspots under $400, and more for travel through fall 2025. Then there are great points and miles deals like flying to Europe and back for under 30,000 miles, schlepping to Tokyo in Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 miles, or hitching a ride in Qatar Airways Qsuites for just 70,000 points.

Some of these examples are more than 50% off the normal prices … and in some cases, it's more like 90%. You won't find those savings on Black Friday sales from the airlines.

We'll alert you to the best domestic and international flight deals from your home airport (yes, even from small regional airports!) Plus, Thrifty Traveler Premium membership comes with tons of other benefits – more on that later.

The best part? We find flight deals up to 11 months in advance: we're already seeing awesome deals for travel through summer and fall 2025.

Want to start getting flight alerts … for even less?! Get the heads up on our massive Black Friday sale!

Other benefits of Thrifty Traveler Premium membership include:

• Domestic and international flight deal alerts
• Award alerts to use your points and miles like deeply discounted Delta SkyMiles flash sales and rare business class award space
• Deals for travel into October 2025 and beyond
• Links to book directly with the airline & fares that can be changed/canceled without fees
• Get only deals from your home airport(s) – you can pick as many as you want from 200-plus departure cities
• Price lock for life! Once you've signed up for Premium, your annual price will never increase!
• One-on-one travel credit card consulting with our experts to help pick the right travel credit card
• Join our Premium-only Facebook travel community of 20,000+ members helping each other travel smarter!

Rethink the Way You Book Travel

Looking to save big bucks on airfare? Some simple changes in the way you book flights can save you much more than any Black Friday flight deals.

• Follow The Flight First Rule. Search for your flights first, letting the cheapest dates guide you. Whether you’ve got a wide-open calendar or can only travel at certain times of the year, being flexible and searching for flights first can save you hundreds of dollars every time.
• Fly on off-peak days: Flight prices are unpredictable, and there isn't a best day to book a cheap flight (no, we don't only find cheap fares on Tuesdays at midnight). The cheapest flights typically depart and return on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Make a long weekend trip from Wednesday to Saturday, or fly in and out on Saturdays instead of Sundays. These small changes can save you a ton. Read the rest of our travel-timing tips to save on airfare!
• Book directly with the airline: Now more than ever, we urge you to skip the third-party online travel agencies like CheapOair or Expedia and book directly with the airline via Google Flights instead. You'll get better service if something goes wrong, and every major U.S. airline is currently offering fee-free changes or cancellation so long as you don't book the cheapest basic economy fares.
• Change the way you search: And finally, stop searching incognito for flights. And stop clearing your cookies, too. Seriously – it doesn't change anything.

Bottom Line

There may be some decent discounts on flights floating around on Black Friday and next week. But we want to break the myth that cheap flights only come around once a year. Here's the truth: You can find cheap flights any day of the year.

With the right tools and tips, cheap travel for 2025 is a real possibility. Use these tips above to score unbelievable flights on this commercial holiday … or any day of the year.

Chase recently rolled out a massive 40% transfer bonus when sending Ultimate Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic. That's up from the typical 30% transfer bonuses we see to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club once or twice a year. Aside from Bilt's occasional, one-day-only promotions, a bonus this big is practically unheard of.

But time is quickly running out: It ends Saturday, Nov. 30!

Keep in mind: As good as this bonus is, it's rarely a good idea to transfer points speculatively without a specific plan. But if you've scoped out a way to redeem Virgin points in the short term – and there are plenty of good options – this 40% bonus is fantastic and well worth taking advantage of while you can. 

Using transfer partners like Virgin Atlantic is one of the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for even more value. And these transfer bonuses make it even better – think of it as a way to get some free airline miles. Thanks to some excellent partnerships, you can use Virgin Atlantic miles to book Delta flights to Europe and save a ton of SkyMiles or even a lie-flat seat to Japan and back at an enormous discount, among other opportunities.

This bonus just makes things even sweeter.

Read our guide on Chase transfer partners and how they work!

The Basics on Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is a quirky airline with a quirky frequent flyer program. The airline flies from several U.S. gateways to London-Heathrow (LHR), as well as between several international hubs like Dubai (DXB), Cape Town (CPT), or Mumbai (BOM).

Plus, you can book flights on more than a dozen other airlines using Virgin points … and save a ton of miles while paying reasonable fees, too. Add in this transfer bonus from Chase, and it’s a no-brainer. You can transfer points to a Virgin Atlantic account from Amex, Chase, Capital One, Bilt, Citi, and Wells Fargo, as well as Marriott. All of them (with the exception of Marriott which transfers at 3:1), transfer on a 1:1 basis.

However, with this current 40% bonus, Chase should obviously be your go-to. If you transfer 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you’d get 70,000 Virgin Atlantic points. These transfers generally clear immediately – meaning the points will be available in your Virgin Atlantic account as soon as you make the transfer. 

But there's one big exception. If you're just setting up a Virgin account, your transfer could be delayed by 24 hours or more. That's a recurring problem with Virgin, which requires new accounts to be verified before they can accept these transfers.

Read more: Points Stuck in Limbo? Why & What You Can Do?

Virgin Atlantic’s website can be a tad difficult to navigate. Getting award flights to show up on a given route can take a few tries. One good trick is to search for airports by country or region and pick them, rather than manually typing in the city name or airport code.

The Best Ways to Use This Transfer Bonus

So what can you book? In two words: A lot.

Big Delta Deals

We don’t need to tell you that trying to understand the value of Delta SkyMiles can be frustrating. There’s no award chart, so the airline’s pricing when booking a flight with miles can be all over the map. Often, a Delta award flight can be obscenely expensive – especially if you want to fly business class.

Enter Virgin Atlantic. You can often use Virgin Atlantic to book the exact same Delta flight and save a boatload of SkyMiles. The London-based airline offers a far more stable – and frequently cheaper – alternative to book Delta flights than using SkyMiles outright. 

Case in point, it’s next to impossible to find decent rates flying Delta One business class using miles. The airline regularly charges 400,000 SkyMiles or more for a business class seat to Europe, including a ride in Delta One suites.

Even after Virgin soured this longtime sweet spot, by raising rates, introducing peak and off-peak pricing, and tacking on hefty fees, you can oftentimes still find a better deal booking through Virgin – albeit with higher cash costs.

Still, there's value to be had with redemptions to Europe. Though you'll have to be flexible – finding these business class awards at such cheap rates through Virgin Atlantic has gotten much harder recently – it can be a steal.

Take a look at this: The airline is currently charging a whopping 375,000 SkyMiles for a flight in Delta One from Dublin (DUB) to Atlanta (ATL) in December … each way. Woof.

But you could book that exact same Delta One flight home from Ireland – same day, same plane, exact same lie-flat seat – for just 47,500 Virgin Atlantic points. That's nearly one-eighth of the cost! Factor in this 40% bonus, and you'd only need to transfer 34,000 Chase points to make it happen.

Just remember: Never transfer points to Virgin Atlantic (or any airline) until you know the flights you want to book are available. These transfers are a one-way street – once you send them to Virgin, you can't get them back to your Chase account.

Flying Delta economy to Europe using 30,000 Flying Club points each way is much, much easier. With this bonus, 43,000 Chase points miles is all you'd need to transfer and book flights that would otherwise cost $1,700 or more! 

There used to be far more Delta sweet spots you could book using Virgin points, but Virgin obliterated many of them late last year with another nasty devaluation. But booking short Delta flights – 1,000 miles in distance or less – through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club can still be a great deal!

For example, this short flight from Fargo (FAR) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) might otherwise cost you 20,000 SkyMiles. With Virgin Atlantic, you can still book for just 7,500 points each way – just under 6,000 Chase points after the 40% bonus kicks in.
 

 
Thrifty Tip: Use this workaround to pull up Virgin's old calendar-view of partner award availability, making it easier to book these deals! 

Lie-Flat to London for 21K Each Way 

We used to steer clear of using Virgin Atlantic points to book flights on Virgin Atlantic itself due to the hefty taxes and fees. Not anymore. 

Virgin's recent transition to dynamic award pricing has resulted in some outstanding deals for flying Virgin Atlantic itself … for a fraction of the miles and fees Virgin used to charge. 

Now, you can find Virgin business class flights to London-Heathrow (LHR)  from East Coast cities like Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK), Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), or Atlanta (ATL) for as low as 29,000 points and a much more reasonable $255 in taxes.

Factor in this transfer bonus and just 21,000 Chase points is all you need to book a lie-flat ride to London. 

There's deals to be had in the lower cabins now, too. 

• A roundtrip from the East Coast to London for as low as 12,000 miles – a little over 8,5000 Chase points with this transfer bonus!
• A one-way in premium economy isn't bad either, at just 10,500 miles – just 7,500 Chase points with this bonus.

Thrifty Tip: It’s much easier to search for Virgin Atlantic flights one-way rather than roundtrip – and unlike with many other airlines, it’ll often save you money on taxes and fees booking one-ways separately, too.

Fly in Style with ANA

You can also use this transfer bonus to score an amazing deal on a trip to Japan on one of the world’s best airlines. 

ANA is one of Japan’s flag carriers, and it lives up to its five-star reputation. Its first class cabin is spacious, private, and offers some of the best catering in the aviation world. And even ANA business class is outstanding, and rivals Qatar Qsuites for #1 in the world, too. 

Go figure Virgin Atlantic also has a sweet spot for booking ANA flights, and this transfer bonus makes it even sweeter. While Virgin raised award rates to fly ANA first class, it's still easily the best way to book these flights.

A one-way flight in ANA first class flight from Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo now costs 72,500 Virgin points – just 52,000 Chase points with this bonus. Or you could get from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) or New York City (JFK) to Tokyo for just 61,000 Chase points. That’s still substantially less than what United charges for a one-way fare in business class. 

Much like booking Delta One via Virgin Atlantic, finding award availability on ANA can be a chore. First Class availability is practically nonexistent lately, so focus on a business class booking. These days, booking within three weeks of departure seems to be your best bet.

You can't book these flights online through Virgin Atlantic, which means it requires a bit of extra legwork. You'll want to search for award availability through a site like United.com and then ring up Virgin Atlantic at 1-800-365-9500 when you're ready to book. On the plus side, you can now book these awards as one-ways.

Read our guide to booking ANA flights with Virgin Atlantic miles

Of course, ANA’s business class is nothing to scoff at either – especially if you can snag the brand new business class seats it calls “The Room.”

Read our full review of flying ANA's The Room business class from Chicago to Tokyo!

Virgin Atlantic recently raised award rates for these flights, too. But just as with booking first class, Virgin remains the cheapest way to book ANA business class: 

• Flights from West Coast cities like Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), or Seattle (SEA) to Japan now cost 52,500 points each way – just 38,000 Chase points with this transfer bonus.
• Longer flights from cities like Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and New York City (JFK) now cost 60,000 points each way, meaning you can transfer just 43,000 Chase points with this 40% bonus  

Fortunately, Virgin Atlantic has a reasonable $100 fee to cancel award tickets and get your miles back if plans change.

Business Class to Rome from 54K!

There's a great new way to get to Rome in lie-flat seats … and it might just be the best option on this list.

You can now book ITA Airways business class using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points, with flights between the U.S. and Rome (FCO) starting at 75,000 points each way. Factor in this transfer bonus, and this seat could be yours for just 54,000 Chase points!
 

You'll find those lowest rates flying from Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) straight into Rome, while nonstops from Miami (MIA) start at 85,000 miles – still a bargain after this transfer bonus: 61,000 Chase points. Even longer routes from Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) clock in at 100,000 miles, or 72,000 Chase points with the bonus.

Bottom Line

This Chase transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic can unlock some of the best deals in the world of points and miles.

Whether you want to save your SkyMiles when flying Delta or head across the pond to Tokyo or Rome, a 40% bonus to Virgin Atlantic can save you a ton of Chase points. Just make sure to use it before it ends on Saturday, Nov. 30!