Oct 28, 2014, 2:19 pm
Last edit by: 18sas
This thread is to discuss the historically annual premium class fare sales that occur for travel (mostly TATL) during the US Thanksgiving holiday period.
FAQ
Q: When is Thanksgiving? What travel dates are covered in the Thanksgiving Day sales?
A: Thanksgiving in the United States is observed on the 4th Thursday of November.
The week of Thanksgiving and the weekend after are considered to be the busiest period for US domestic air travel due to large numbers of people traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones. As a result business travel demand, especially for international business travel, is unusually weak. This drop in demand is believed to be the origin for the Thanksgiving holiday international business class fares.
Typically these fares are offered for travel outbound from the US in the period from the Sunday before to the day after Thanksgiving. Return travel is usually valid for the day after Thanksgiving to the following Wednesday.
Q: When do the Thanksgiving fare sales start?
A: Sometime in the summer with an average start date of Aug 4.
The first reports, by year, posted on the message boards of Thanksgiving holiday sales are as follows:
2015: Jul 25**
2014: Aug 9
2013: Jun 18
2012: Jul 11
2011: Aug 8
2010: Aug 18
2009: Aug 11
2008: Jul 2
2007: Sep 22
**In 2015, on Sep 30 OW initiated a very brief 2nd round of discounted fares. It only lasted about 18 hours.
Q: How good are the Thanksgiving sales? What are some typical prices?
A: Many times the Thanksgiving airfare deals are the lowest TATL premium class fares offered the entire calendar year.
The lowest prices reported to the board each year are as follows:
Note: All prices from here on out are all-in round-trip/return prices in J unless otherwise noted.
2015: $1608 NYC-LIS on OW
2014: $1625 JFK-MAD on a combination of US/AY. Sample dates: 11/27-12/02
2013: $1400~ NYC-LHR/DUB/MAN on UA/DL/AF/KL
2012: $854 EWR-DUB on US
2011: $1380 NYC-DUB on *A
2010: $1272 EWR-LHR on CO
2009: $1309 EWR-OSL on CO
2008: $1560 PIT-FRA on AA
2007: $1100~ EWR-ZRH on UA
Some other notable deals reported:
2015
$1795 NYC-LIS on ST
2014
$1700 JFK-ARN on AY
$1800 JFK-BCN/MAD on ST/OW
$1940 MIA-MAD/MAD-JFK on OW/*A
$1950 MCI-MAD/BCN on OW
$2050 EWR-OSL/ARN on *A
$2000-$2100 BOS-MAD/ARN
$2074-$2120 MIA-MAD/BCN on ST/OW/*A
$2088 BOS-MAD
$2100 NYC-OSL on ST
$2157 DFW-MAD on OW
$2800 LAX/SFO-MAD/BCN
2013
$1417 JFK-LHR/DUB-JFK on ST
$1444 PHL-FRA/MUC on US
$1448 JFK-LHR/LIS-JFK on ST
$1486 EWR-BRU on *A (+9W)
$1500 JFK-LHR on VS
$1514 JFK-LHR/BCN-JFK on ST
$1519 JFK-LHR/MAD-JFK on ST
$1537 JFK-LHR/BSL-JFK on ST
$1539 JFK-LHR/GVA-JFK on ST
$1544 JFK-LHR/BRU-JFK on ST
$1563 JFK-LHR/DUB-BOS (booked Oct 30)
$1600+ NYC-FRA/MUC/VIE/GVA on *A
$1612 JFK-LON (booked Sep 19)
$1613 NYC-LHR on *A
$1629 JFK-BCN
$1673 EWR-AMS (booked Jun 30)
$1753 LGA-AMS on *A
$1900 RSW-LIS/CPH/LHR/OSL on *A
$1965 JFK-CDG on ST
$1986 BOS-VIE on *A (booked Sep 15)
$2025 IAH-LHR on OW/ST/*A
$2050 NYC-IST
$2115 JFK-MLA on *A?
$2120 AGS-LHR/AMS-SFO on ST
$2200-$2300 LAX/SFO/SEA-???
$2237 IAD-FCO on *A
$2344 MIA-LED on ST
$2400~ DEN-TXL on *A
$2464~ SFO-LHR
$2500-2600 LAS-LHR/CDG
$2566 SAN-AMS on ST
$2605 LAX-CDG on ST
$3000~ ORD-LHR on *A in F
$3663 SFO-LHR in F
$3666 SFO-LHR on UA in F
2012
$1050 BOS-DUB on *A
$1085 LGA-MAD on *A
$1250 JFK-LHR on VS
$1270 ORD-DUB on *A
$1659 JFK-BRU on *A/ST
$1696 AGS-LHR/AMS-JFK on *A/ST
$1754 BOS-LHR on ST/VS
$1936 LAX/SFO(?)-MAD
$1960 RDU-FCO on ST
$1977 RST-LHR on ST
$2000- AGS/BHM/CAE/CHA/GSP/SAV-LHR on ST
$2000+ LAX/SFO(?)-FCO/CDG/ATH
$2100~ MSY-OSL on ST
$2300~ SFO-LHR/FRA on *A
$2427 CMH-LHR on OW in F
$2540 JFK-IST on ST
$2571 ATL-LHR on ST
$2662 BOS-IST on ST? (booked Jul 31)
$3600 LAX-LHR on *A in F
2011
$1400 JFK-LHR/BRU/CDG on ST
$1414 JFK-BRU on OW
$1475 EWR-LHR on *A
$1491 JFK-BCN on OW
$1500- NYC-BRU/CDG/LIS/MAD/FRA/DUB/AMS/VIE/MAN/OSL/SNN/GVA/CPH/MUC on *A
$1650 EWR-FCO on *A
$1668 IAD-CDG on *A
$1700 IAH-DUB on *A
$1717 DCA-MAD on OW
$1860 CMH-MAD on *A
$1900 WAS-LHR on UA
$1907 BNA-BCN on ST
$2035 FNT-FCO on ST
$2033 BNA-FCO on ST
$2258 LAX/SAN-BRU on ST
$2285~ DEN/LAX/SFO-LHR on *A
$2297 SFO-MUC on OW
$2400 JFK-MUC on *A in F
$2916 WAS-LHR on *A in F
$3640 SFO-LHR on *A in F
$3740~ SFO-FRA/MUC on *A in F
$4000~ LAX-LHR on *A in F
FAQ
Q: When is Thanksgiving? What travel dates are covered in the Thanksgiving Day sales?
A: Thanksgiving in the United States is observed on the 4th Thursday of November.
The week of Thanksgiving and the weekend after are considered to be the busiest period for US domestic air travel due to large numbers of people traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones. As a result business travel demand, especially for international business travel, is unusually weak. This drop in demand is believed to be the origin for the Thanksgiving holiday international business class fares.
Typically these fares are offered for travel outbound from the US in the period from the Sunday before to the day after Thanksgiving. Return travel is usually valid for the day after Thanksgiving to the following Wednesday.
Q: When do the Thanksgiving fare sales start?
A: Sometime in the summer with an average start date of Aug 4.
The first reports, by year, posted on the message boards of Thanksgiving holiday sales are as follows:
2015: Jul 25**
2014: Aug 9
2013: Jun 18
2012: Jul 11
2011: Aug 8
2010: Aug 18
2009: Aug 11
2008: Jul 2
2007: Sep 22
**In 2015, on Sep 30 OW initiated a very brief 2nd round of discounted fares. It only lasted about 18 hours.
Q: How good are the Thanksgiving sales? What are some typical prices?
A: Many times the Thanksgiving airfare deals are the lowest TATL premium class fares offered the entire calendar year.
The lowest prices reported to the board each year are as follows:
Note: All prices from here on out are all-in round-trip/return prices in J unless otherwise noted.
2015: $1608 NYC-LIS on OW
2014: $1625 JFK-MAD on a combination of US/AY. Sample dates: 11/27-12/02
2013: $1400~ NYC-LHR/DUB/MAN on UA/DL/AF/KL
2012: $854 EWR-DUB on US
2011: $1380 NYC-DUB on *A
2010: $1272 EWR-LHR on CO
2009: $1309 EWR-OSL on CO
2008: $1560 PIT-FRA on AA
2007: $1100~ EWR-ZRH on UA
Some other notable deals reported:
2015
$1795 NYC-LIS on ST
2014
$1700 JFK-ARN on AY
$1800 JFK-BCN/MAD on ST/OW
$1940 MIA-MAD/MAD-JFK on OW/*A
$1950 MCI-MAD/BCN on OW
$2050 EWR-OSL/ARN on *A
$2000-$2100 BOS-MAD/ARN
$2074-$2120 MIA-MAD/BCN on ST/OW/*A
$2088 BOS-MAD
$2100 NYC-OSL on ST
$2157 DFW-MAD on OW
$2800 LAX/SFO-MAD/BCN
2013
$1417 JFK-LHR/DUB-JFK on ST
$1444 PHL-FRA/MUC on US
$1448 JFK-LHR/LIS-JFK on ST
$1486 EWR-BRU on *A (+9W)
$1500 JFK-LHR on VS
$1514 JFK-LHR/BCN-JFK on ST
$1519 JFK-LHR/MAD-JFK on ST
$1537 JFK-LHR/BSL-JFK on ST
$1539 JFK-LHR/GVA-JFK on ST
$1544 JFK-LHR/BRU-JFK on ST
$1563 JFK-LHR/DUB-BOS (booked Oct 30)
$1600+ NYC-FRA/MUC/VIE/GVA on *A
$1612 JFK-LON (booked Sep 19)
$1613 NYC-LHR on *A
$1629 JFK-BCN
$1673 EWR-AMS (booked Jun 30)
$1753 LGA-AMS on *A
$1900 RSW-LIS/CPH/LHR/OSL on *A
$1965 JFK-CDG on ST
$1986 BOS-VIE on *A (booked Sep 15)
$2025 IAH-LHR on OW/ST/*A
$2050 NYC-IST
$2115 JFK-MLA on *A?
$2120 AGS-LHR/AMS-SFO on ST
$2200-$2300 LAX/SFO/SEA-???
$2237 IAD-FCO on *A
$2344 MIA-LED on ST
$2400~ DEN-TXL on *A
$2464~ SFO-LHR
$2500-2600 LAS-LHR/CDG
$2566 SAN-AMS on ST
$2605 LAX-CDG on ST
$3000~ ORD-LHR on *A in F
$3663 SFO-LHR in F
$3666 SFO-LHR on UA in F
2012
$1050 BOS-DUB on *A
$1085 LGA-MAD on *A
$1250 JFK-LHR on VS
$1270 ORD-DUB on *A
$1659 JFK-BRU on *A/ST
$1696 AGS-LHR/AMS-JFK on *A/ST
$1754 BOS-LHR on ST/VS
$1936 LAX/SFO(?)-MAD
$1960 RDU-FCO on ST
$1977 RST-LHR on ST
$2000- AGS/BHM/CAE/CHA/GSP/SAV-LHR on ST
$2000+ LAX/SFO(?)-FCO/CDG/ATH
$2100~ MSY-OSL on ST
$2300~ SFO-LHR/FRA on *A
$2427 CMH-LHR on OW in F
$2540 JFK-IST on ST
$2571 ATL-LHR on ST
$2662 BOS-IST on ST? (booked Jul 31)
$3600 LAX-LHR on *A in F
2011
$1400 JFK-LHR/BRU/CDG on ST
$1414 JFK-BRU on OW
$1475 EWR-LHR on *A
$1491 JFK-BCN on OW
$1500- NYC-BRU/CDG/LIS/MAD/FRA/DUB/AMS/VIE/MAN/OSL/SNN/GVA/CPH/MUC on *A
$1650 EWR-FCO on *A
$1668 IAD-CDG on *A
$1700 IAH-DUB on *A
$1717 DCA-MAD on OW
$1860 CMH-MAD on *A
$1900 WAS-LHR on UA
$1907 BNA-BCN on ST
$2035 FNT-FCO on ST
$2033 BNA-FCO on ST
$2258 LAX/SAN-BRU on ST
$2285~ DEN/LAX/SFO-LHR on *A
$2297 SFO-MUC on OW
$2400 JFK-MUC on *A in F
$2916 WAS-LHR on *A in F
$3640 SFO-LHR on *A in F
$3740~ SFO-FRA/MUC on *A in F
$4000~ LAX-LHR on *A in F
Thanksgiving premium fare discussion
Sep 4, 2014, 3:19 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Manhattan (JFK)
Programs: Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 67
I was able to get a $1500 upper class ticket on virgin atlantic (JFK-LHR R/T) for thanksgiving in 2013 and $1250 in 2012. Those fares were out in July/August. Under $1800 has been the norm for that route during the holiday in previous years. Wishing they were showing up now.....
Sep 27, 2014, 6:17 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,052
I don't think you should assume that. It is hard to imagine the airlines letting hundreds (thousands?) of business class seats go empty over Thanksgiving. But, it sure seems like they are delaying the announcement this year. I wonder if one airline has started these sales (and the others quickly matched) in the past? If so, which airline?
Sep 27, 2014, 9:01 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 341
Already too late for me. I already booked my travel to see family. Last year, when it was earlier, I routed to see family near ORD on T-day, and then onto TATL. Without good price options for this year, I'm just returning home.
Sep 27, 2014, 9:08 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat 2MM
Posts: 692
Don't forget, as previously reported, UA has changed their schedules and moved 767 and 777 planes off international and on domestic routes for 2 weeks around Thanksgiving. Therefore, they have quite a bit less Biz seats to sell.
We decided just to stay local and will take the train into NYC this year then relax at home. Too bad, was looking forward to going to Europe.
We decided just to stay local and will take the train into NYC this year then relax at home. Too bad, was looking forward to going to Europe.
Sep 29, 2014, 8:37 pm
#51
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,042
We're getting very close to the end of the 60 advance purchase window for the few Thanksgiving sale fares that are out there. I believe that tonight at midnight might be the end since most of the Thanksgiving fares were for departures before 11/28. Already fares for departures for 11/27 and earlier have already evaporated.
Now there's nothing to stop them from refiling fares but the current filing is going away.
From my casual observations, loads still seem very weak in business class and economy.
Now there's nothing to stop them from refiling fares but the current filing is going away.
From my casual observations, loads still seem very weak in business class and economy.
Sep 30, 2014, 4:34 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,678
We're getting very close to the end of the 60 advance purchase window for the few Thanksgiving sale fares that are out there. I believe that tonight at midnight might be the end since most of the Thanksgiving fares were for departures before 11/28. Already fares for departures for 11/27 and earlier have already evaporated.
Now there's nothing to stop them from refiling fares but the current filing is going away.
From my casual observations, loads still seem very weak in business class and economy.
Now there's nothing to stop them from refiling fares but the current filing is going away.
From my casual observations, loads still seem very weak in business class and economy.
Sep 30, 2014, 4:48 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,766
this is NOT a Thanksgiving sale! Thanksgiving is something like $1200-1400 a/i ... these fares have been around for various holidays and they are much higher than historic fares
Sep 30, 2014, 5:34 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,042
Code:
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV14 THROUGH 28NOV14
INBOUND -
OR 27NOV14 THROUGH 03DEC14 FOR EACH TRANSATLANTIC
SECTOR. SEASON IS BASED ON TRIP DATE.
I understand that these fares are not as good as typical Thanksgiving fares that we've seen in years past. And I understand that there are various sale fares for other time periods for similar prices. Which should be obvious by the number of times I've posted on them in the Good Deals Premium thread.
But the fact that they aren't as good as we'd like doesn't change the fact that these fares are for Thanksgiving.
As I said earlier, loads seem to me to be low and they may decide to cut prices further. It isn't out of the question that they may, but it would be historically late for them to do that at this point.
Sep 30, 2014, 5:43 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,766
From the fare rules for AF/KL ZP63US
That's period that Thanksgiving falls in, is it not?
I understand that these fares are not as good as typical Thanksgiving fares that we've seen in years past. And I understand that there are various sale fares for other time periods for similar prices. Which should be obvious by the number of times I've posted on them in the Good Deals Premium thread.
But the fact that they aren't as good as we'd like doesn't change the fact that these fares are for Thanksgiving.
As I said earlier, loads seem to me to be low and they may decide to cut prices further. It isn't out of the question that they may, but it would be historically late for them to do that at this point.
Code:
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV14 THROUGH 28NOV14
INBOUND -
OR 27NOV14 THROUGH 03DEC14 FOR EACH TRANSATLANTIC
SECTOR. SEASON IS BASED ON TRIP DATE.
I understand that these fares are not as good as typical Thanksgiving fares that we've seen in years past. And I understand that there are various sale fares for other time periods for similar prices. Which should be obvious by the number of times I've posted on them in the Good Deals Premium thread.
But the fact that they aren't as good as we'd like doesn't change the fact that these fares are for Thanksgiving.
As I said earlier, loads seem to me to be low and they may decide to cut prices further. It isn't out of the question that they may, but it would be historically late for them to do that at this point.
this is the MR forum or the good deal premium thread ... either way we are looking for good deals and for that we don't really care if a fare is valid at a particular time of the year but rather care whether this is historically (or by cpm) speaking is an outstanding deal. These fares are neither IMO. Thanksgiving for the past several years has been MUCH lower and there have been MUCH better TATL fares this year in C as well.Yes, this fare is valid is valid for Thanksgiving, so is a $15k F fare on LH ... doesn't make that fare a 'Thanksgiving' fare IMO and YMMV
Sep 30, 2014, 6:33 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,042
this is the MR forum or the good deal premium thread ... either way we are looking for good deals and for that we don't really care if a fare is valid at a particular time of the year but rather care whether this is historically (or by cpm) speaking is an outstanding deal. These fares are neither IMO. Thanksgiving for the past several years has been MUCH lower and there have been MUCH better TATL fares this year in C as well.Yes, this fare is valid is valid for Thanksgiving, so is a $15k F fare on LH ... doesn't make that fare a 'Thanksgiving' fare IMO and YMMV
I've contributed a lot to this discussion in this thread and other people have been appreciative of that. I've already solidified my Thanksgiving plans for this year, so none of this is for my own immediate benefit in any case. I do think that this will help for future reference, since Thanksgiving sales are a perennial topic of discussion.
I'm not apologizing for posting about $1800 TATL fares though.
Sep 30, 2014, 7:40 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,042
JFK-MAD $1625 on US/AY (IB/AA metal)
The fare basis is the same as other airlines but YR on AY is a lot lower. I think this is the best Thanksgiving TATL fare to date.
Found this on ITA, so not sure if it's one of those notorious "The price has changed." fares when you try to actually book it however.
ETA: Checked it out on Big O and can find it there, and it appears to be bookable.
The fare basis is the same as other airlines but YR on AY is a lot lower. I think this is the best Thanksgiving TATL fare to date.
Found this on ITA, so not sure if it's one of those notorious "The price has changed." fares when you try to actually book it however.
ETA: Checked it out on Big O and can find it there, and it appears to be bookable.
Last edited by 18sas; Sep 30, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Oct 1, 2014, 4:20 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,052
I apologize if my last message came across as catty, which I admit it was, but I didn't think that it was very helpful for you to shoot the messenger here. You keep saying "This isn't a Thanksgiving sale." when it actually is, just not as good as you'd like it to be.
I've contributed a lot to this discussion in this thread and other people have been appreciative of that. I've already solidified my Thanksgiving plans for this year, so none of this is for my own immediate benefit in any case. I do think that this will help for future reference, since Thanksgiving sales are a perennial topic of discussion.
I'm not apologizing for posting about $1800 TATL fares though.
I've contributed a lot to this discussion in this thread and other people have been appreciative of that. I've already solidified my Thanksgiving plans for this year, so none of this is for my own immediate benefit in any case. I do think that this will help for future reference, since Thanksgiving sales are a perennial topic of discussion.
I'm not apologizing for posting about $1800 TATL fares though.