FORGET BLACK FRIDAY: CYBER MONDAY COULD BE THE CHEAPEST DAY TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS
If you have been waiting for Black Friday to book your next big trip, you might want to hold off a little longer, because Cyber Monday could be where the real flight bargains are.
New analysis from travel search site Skyscanner shows that Cyber Monday was the cheapest day to book flights from Australia across last year's five-day sales period.
That period runs from Black Friday through to Travel Tuesday, and the findings were reported by Travel Weekly this week.
Mark your calendar for the Cyber Monday sales
This year, Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November and Travel Tuesday the following day, on 1 December.
According to Skyscanner's flight deals guide, Cyber Monday had the lowest average price per seat of those five days in 2025.
So while the weekend sales hype is hard to ignore, it may pay to keep your credit card in your wallet for a couple more days.
Where the biggest flight savings were
Skyscanner's 2025 data revealed some very tempting price drops across the sales period.
Among countries, Spain recorded the biggest fall at 27%, followed by Canada at 23% and the United States at 20%.
Italy and Türkiye were both down 13%, with Greece down 6%, France 4% and Singapore 2%.
When it came to cities, Calgary topped the list with a 35% drop.
Buenos Aires was down 29%, Barcelona 27%, Milan 26%, and both Honolulu and Santiago 25%.
New York fell 24%, while Madrid and Da Nang were each down 23% and São Paulo dropped 20%.
Skyscanner is careful to point out that past price drops do not guarantee future savings, so treat these figures as a guide rather than a promise.
The surprise destinations Australians are searching for
The data also showed where adventurous Australians are dreaming of heading next.
Searches for Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan jumped 175%, while Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, famous as the official hometown of Santa Claus, rose 85%.
Closer to home, searches for Hamilton in New Zealand were up 66%.
Tour operator G Adventures told Travel Weekly it had also seen more bookings to Central Asia, with travel to Uzbekistan up 165%.
What is Travel Tuesday?
Travel Tuesday is a newer addition to the sales calendar, imported from the United States, and it is aimed squarely at holiday bookings.
This year News Australia is running a month-long Travel Tuesday campaign that builds to a sales event on 1 December, according to Travel Weekly.
Brands taking part include Helloworld, Flight Centre, Jetstar, Intrepid Travel and Inspiring Vacations.
Skyscanner also suggests not overlooking it, as airlines and hotels often make strong offers on the day.
How to bag the best deal this sales season
Start by setting price alerts now for the routes you are interested in, so you know a genuine bargain when you see one.
Use flexible search tools that compare a whole month of fares, as shifting your dates by a day or two can make a real difference.
Look at nearby airports too, as Skyscanner notes that flying into Gatwick instead of Heathrow can save up to $100 on a Sydney to London trip.
Sign up to airline newsletters, because deals are sometimes released to subscribers before a sale officially starts.
Always check what is included in the fare, as a cheap ticket with no checked bag can end up costing more once you pay at the airport.
Read the terms and conditions carefully, especially rules around changes and cancellations.
Finally, try not to rush, because the first deal you see is not always the best one.
With a little patience and a bit of planning, your dream getaway for 2027 could be more affordable than you think.
