Looking to score cheap flights? We’ve prepared the ultimate guide for finding the best Travel Tuesday flight deals.
After the shopping rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes a different kind of event—one that’s making waves in the travel world: Travel Tuesday. Rather than filling carts with more things, this day shifts the focus to experiences, offering travellers the chance to snap up deals on getaways all over the world.
What is Travel Tuesday?
Travel Tuesday, the day after North America’s Thanksgiving weekend, was born as a response to the increasingly apparent shift in consumer behaviour toward experiential spending rather than on material possessions. The anticipation for Travel Tuesday has become a post-Thanksgiving tradition for many travel enthusiasts. If you’re looking to snag a great deal, Tuesday is your ticket to savings. Most airlines start to roll out their discounts on Monday night, and Tuesday morning you’ll find some of the lowest prices, saving on average between 15% and 25% per ticket. This year, Travel Tuesday will take place on 2 December.
Tips for finding Travel Tuesday flight deals
The following 11 tips will help you uncover the best Travel Tuesday deals.
1. Activate Price Alerts
Activating Price Alerts on Skyscanner for your favourite destinations or potential travel dates is a game changer when it comes to making the most of Travel Tuesday. Once you’ve selected your destination and travel dates, Skyscanner monitors flight prices and sends you notifications when there’s a drop, helping you pounce on the perfect deal at the right moment.
2. Verify deals
When looking at a flight deal, consider more than just the ticket price. Check the inclusions to see if checked bags, carry-ons, or in-flight meals are included or if there are extra fees. Some flight deals might have blackout dates.
Additionally, consider in-flight entertainment options, WiFi availability, and seat comfort, especially for longer journeys. Airlines like British Airways, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic may have varying levels of amenities, so understanding what you value most can help you choose the best deal for you.
Lastly, check the airline’s change fees and cancellation policies. Some airlines offer less flexibility with lower fees, but know the terms if your travel plans might change.
3. Apply promo codes and credit card offers
Watch for promo codes from airlines, travel agencies, or even your inbox. These little gems can unlock big savings on flights, hotels and holiday packages, especially around major sales like Travel Tuesday.
Don’t forget your wallet can work harder for you too. Some credit cards come with travel perks that go beyond points and miles, like airline credits, lounge access or generous sign-up bonuses (all of which can help cut down the cost of your next trip).
4. Compare flights, hotels, and car rentals
With Skyscanner, you can compare flights, hotels, and car hire from all the big names in one place—always with upfront prices and no sneaky fees. That way, you’ll know the bargain flight you’ve found isn’t undone by an overpriced hotel or car rental down the line.
You’re free to mix and match the flights, hotel deals, and car hire options that suit your style and budget, making it easy to piece together a trip that’s affordable and the trip you want.
5. Compare domestic and international flights
Exploring domestic flight and international flight deals broadens your travel horizons. You may find something closer to home that suits you better, and allows you to discover your own country’s charm, from city breaks to coastal vacations. Conversely, sometimes you will find international trips are a lot more affordable than selecting a domestic option.
When you search for flights on Skyscanner, you can filter flights by price, duration, number of layovers, and more. Plus, get detailed information on baggage policies, amenities and user reviews to help you make the best choice.
6. Explore alternate destinations
Flexibility with your travel destination is key, especially on Travel Tuesday. It lets you capitalise on discounts and explore unique, crowd-free experiences. Use Skyscanner’s “Search Everywhere” feature to find lesser-known gems and savings. For example:
Instead of Paris, try Lyon or Marseille for affordable French culture.
Opt for Eindhoven or Rotterdam in the Netherlands instead of Amsterdam.
7. Be flexible with travel dates
Flexibility in your travel dates can help you find the best deals. Skyscanner offers a “Whole Month” search feature that allows you to find the most affordable dates to fly within a specific month. Adjusting your travel days, such as flying on a Tuesday or during off-peak seasons, can further help you achieve significant savings on both flights and accommodations.
But before you book that flight, do a quick hotel search to ensure that what seems like an off-peak season really will be slow. Popular destinations like Las Vegas, for example, have conventions and big events year-round, so it’s worth checking to see if anything is going on nearby that might drive up hotel prices or cause them to book up quickly.
8. Book round-trip flights
Booking round-trip flights rather than one-way tickets can often result in substantial cost savings.
Here’s why round-trip fares often offer better value:
Pricing structure. When you book a round-trip flight, you’re committing to both legs of your journey with the airline, allowing them to offer a bundled fare at a lower per-flight cost compared to booking each leg individually.
Consistency in pricing. Airlines often maintain consistent pricing for round-trip flights, which can lead to predictability in your travel expenses. In contrast, one-way fares can be subject to dynamic pricing, making it challenging to secure a fixed, budget-friendly rate for each leg of your journey.
Promotions and discounts. Airlines frequently offer promotions and discounts on round-trip fares. These can include seasonal sales, loyalty program rewards or special deals for specific routes.
Reduced fees. Booking a round-trip flight typically incurs fewer fees compared to booking two separate one-way tickets. You may save on fees such as booking fees, change fees, and baggage fees, as airlines often bundle these costs into the overall round-trip fare.
9. Check for airline partnerships and alliances
Airline partnerships and alliances offer an array of benefits that can lead to better deals, reduced fees and shared loyalty points.
One advantage of airline partnerships is the ability to earn and redeem loyalty points across multiple carriers within the same alliance. You can benefit from reduced fees when connecting between airlines within the same alliance, offering smoother travel experiences, particularly during layovers.
On Travel Tuesday, these alliances often leverage the shopping frenzy to roll out special promotions and discounts, making it an ideal time to explore their benefits.
Airline alliances include:
Oneworld. Include American Airlines, British Airways and Japan Airlines.
Star Alliance. Featuring airlines like United Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
SkyTeam. With members such as Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM.
Note that some budget airlines, like easyJet and Ryanair, are not part of any major airline alliances.
10. Consider nearby airports
Flying into or out of nearby airports is a smart strategy for finding better flight deals and potentially saving on airfare. It offers travellers more flexibility and the opportunity to explore different airport options, especially if you live in an area with multiple airports nearby or are flying to a destination with more than one option. For example, if you want to fly to Barcelona, you can choose Barcelona-El Prat airport or fly into Girona-Costa Brava airport, which is just 32 kilometres miles northeast. And if you’re heading to London, there are five London area airports.
It’s easy to compare prices at nearby airports with Skyscanner. Enter your cities, choose your dates and click “Add nearby airports” for a comprehensive search.
11. Prepare for future Travel Tuesday flight deals
Monitoring flight price trends is wise for future travel planning. Set up Price Alerts, use “Cheapest Month” to find budget-friendly times, and explore deals with “Search Everywhere” for flexibility.
Destinations with the biggest airfare price drops on Travel Tuesday
If you’re eager to take advantage of Travel Tuesday savings but aren’t sure where to go, check out the destinations that we’ve seen the biggest airfare drops on this past Black Friday and Travel Tuesday period.
Destination Country | Average saving % |
|---|---|
20.9% | |
14.6% | |
14.2% | |
13.8% | |
13.6% |
*Based on 2024 Skyscanner data
Top travel hacks for even more deals
Real deal hunters don’t wing it. They train for this. Here’s how to sharpen your booking game before Cyber Weekend kicks off:
Hack 1: Set the Alerts
Price Alerts track fares for you and let you know the moment prices drop. Smart, simple, essential.
Hack 2: Explore Everywhere
Not fixed on a destination? Explore Everywhere shows our best-value trips from your airport in seconds.
Hack 3: Spot the Real Drops
Use the Drops feature in our app to see all prices from your airport that have dropped 20% or more that day.
Hack 4: Play the Date Game
Flex your travel dates by a day or two and watch hidden deals appear. Small shift, big difference.
Hack 5: Filter Fast
Before you dive into endless results, use filters to cut the clutter. Less scrolling, more booking.
