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
Jul 13, 2015, 12:37 pm
#121
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,144
I think I paid about $2700 for AF Affaires RT in 2014. I can't remember when I purchased, but had been watching it consistently at the usual $6K or so until both AF and UA dropped to that price. Maybe two months ahead. I've been watching this year and have not seen any drop yet. I'm expecting it, though. IAD-CDG those flights at that time have always been pretty empty.
Jul 14, 2015, 11:16 am
#122
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
I have always thought of the "Thanksgiving" premium deals as being between the USA and Europe.
If Israel is your goal, have your CC ready while watching the next month or 2 and something could certainly pop up...
As a starter (baseline), ORD-TLV can be had on AA/US for ~$2100ai right now in November.
If Israel is your goal, have your CC ready while watching the next month or 2 and something could certainly pop up...
As a starter (baseline), ORD-TLV can be had on AA/US for ~$2100ai right now in November.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:06 pm
#123
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,804
Oh, I see. It was a fare mistake that is now fixed.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:24 pm
#124
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
Oh, I see. It was a fare mistake that is now fixed.
Jul 14, 2015, 1:38 pm
#125
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,804
Here is the fare on Sunday, July 12.
Here is the same fare today. Note the additional "1" in the fare.
Last edited by izzik; Jul 14, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Jul 14, 2015, 3:48 pm
#126
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
I did not think $2000 was some great deal, I was just looking for a great trip over Thanksgiving with my family. We've been to Israel several times and a place we really enjoy so when I saw post above I jumped on this trip. There is a 2000 deal in F from DUB to ORD in another thread. I too was a little surprised it said fully refundable.
Jul 25, 2015, 8:36 am
#129
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,042
Jul 25, 2015, 8:55 am
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,502
Would support that.
Jul 25, 2015, 10:44 am
#132
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: Delta DDM 720, SPG Unobtainium, CC Adamantium, can I keep bragging now?
Posts: 306
I'm seeing the same SEA-LIS (DL). Works out to over 20k earned/MQM.
Also some SEA-ARN fares for ~$3000, earning about the same if you'd rather check out Sweden.
$1000 SEA-BDA for about the same ratio of cost->length traveled, not as nice of planes though.
Not finding anything too crazy, but I'm still tempted to hop up to Sweden for a few days, never been there.
Jul 25, 2015, 12:48 pm
#133
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 6,092
Last edited by Global321; Jul 25, 2015 at 1:15 pm Reason: Updated with link
Jul 25, 2015, 6:03 pm
#135
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,252
Weird. Just did an ITA search that brought up JFK-LHR nonstop for $1875 on DL, with a few options for $5 more that routed through BOS. Searched again a few minutes later and it was gone, back up over $2200.