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
Oct 20, 2014, 12:44 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,664
i gave up on a reasonable sale a long time ago. the fares to MAD and CDG were fine but not outstanding and not really of interest to me. we are hosting friends for Thanksgiving this year and it will be nice not to worry about flying, even in J.
maybe next year we'll get at it again, but probably not as we are planning a major mileage redemption for Christmas and New Years.
maybe next year we'll get at it again, but probably not as we are planning a major mileage redemption for Christmas and New Years.
Oct 23, 2014, 5:43 am
#78
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,052
Looks like Delta is releasing some $3000 fares in business class at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, I only see these from west coast cities to Europe AND the PACIFIC. $3000 round trip in Z from SEA, LAX, SFO, SLC to places like Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai are not bad I THINK.
Available on delta.com - just do an advanced search for business class seats and use the flexible dates feature. I think the first travel date outbound is Nov 23.
Available on delta.com - just do an advanced search for business class seats and use the flexible dates feature. I think the first travel date outbound is Nov 23.
Oct 29, 2014, 8:05 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,036
So as we approach the 28 day advance purchase deadline for this year's Thanksgiving sales, I decided to take stock of where we are, just as I did when we hit the 60 day mark.
The news is pretty bad and it looks like the airlines have pulled the fares early and replaced them with 14 day AP fares that are higher than the already lackluster sale fares that we've seen this year.
This was a pretty disappointing year for Thanksgiving TATL premium travel fares, and many of the flash sales that are being reported with few restrictions and wide open availability have presented a much better value than the paltry offerings for this year's holiday season.
The news is pretty bad and it looks like the airlines have pulled the fares early and replaced them with 14 day AP fares that are higher than the already lackluster sale fares that we've seen this year.
This was a pretty disappointing year for Thanksgiving TATL premium travel fares, and many of the flash sales that are being reported with few restrictions and wide open availability have presented a much better value than the paltry offerings for this year's holiday season.
Oct 29, 2014, 8:39 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 341
Oct 29, 2014, 9:33 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,572
There is no reason to lower fares simply because your costs drop. Those savings go to shareholders. The only way fares will drop is if supply and demand dictate a drop, and that would happen even if fuel costs went sky high.
Oct 29, 2014, 10:51 pm
#84
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: 100,417
Very generally, supply will increase when costs drop and supply will decrease when costs (such as fuel) go up. However, it's a bit more complicated to maximize profits as we need marginal revenue to equal marginal costs (so that it's the slope of the cost function rather than its level that matters).
Oct 31, 2014, 2:40 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,470
Fully agree, that this year has been dry. Tried to help a friend to get to Germany, but she ends up not going at all.
Still wondering, if we might see some action for X-mas. Have not been following that lately, so what's the take on that?
Still wondering, if we might see some action for X-mas. Have not been following that lately, so what's the take on that?
Oct 31, 2014, 7:52 pm
#87
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: 100,417
Also BCN. *Some* USA locations to LHR too.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Nov 4, 2014 at 1:11 pm Reason: typo
Nov 21, 2014, 6:41 am
#88
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 341
I haven't been quite able to let it go. Some people have a strong urge to line up for black Friday sales, me I can't shake the compulsion to board a long haul to Europe.
If you have all but given up, there are two consolation destinations still available for $2,050 - $2100 from EWR. A few hundred more from ORD.
*A Fare code / f ..PNC65S works for depart on 11/27 or 11/28 to CPH or OSL
The familiar date restrictions
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV 14 THROUGH 28NOV 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
INBOUND -
PERMITTED 30NOV 14 THROUGH 04DEC 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
This was strange:
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12DEC 14.
If you have all but given up, there are two consolation destinations still available for $2,050 - $2100 from EWR. A few hundred more from ORD.
*A Fare code / f ..PNC65S works for depart on 11/27 or 11/28 to CPH or OSL
The familiar date restrictions
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV 14 THROUGH 28NOV 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
INBOUND -
PERMITTED 30NOV 14 THROUGH 04DEC 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
This was strange:
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12DEC 14.
Nov 21, 2014, 1:06 pm
#89
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,318
Thanks. What airline is that on?
I haven't been quite able to let it go. Some people have a strong urge to line up for black Friday sales, me I can't shake the compulsion to board a long haul to Europe.
If you have all but given up, there are two consolation destinations still available for $2,050 - $2100 from EWR. A few hundred more from ORD.
*A Fare code / f ..PNC65S works for depart on 11/27 or 11/28 to CPH or OSL
The familiar date restrictions
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV 14 THROUGH 28NOV 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
INBOUND -
PERMITTED 30NOV 14 THROUGH 04DEC 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
This was strange:
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12DEC 14.
If you have all but given up, there are two consolation destinations still available for $2,050 - $2100 from EWR. A few hundred more from ORD.
*A Fare code / f ..PNC65S works for depart on 11/27 or 11/28 to CPH or OSL
The familiar date restrictions
OUTBOUND -
PERMITTED 22NOV 14 THROUGH 28NOV 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
INBOUND -
PERMITTED 30NOV 14 THROUGH 04DEC 14 FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
This was strange:
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12DEC 14.