THE BIG TRAVEL DEAL

PROMO TIME: Airlines and Hotels Roll Out Holiday Offers
With the exception of several straight-up deals ($200 off any fare from Air Tahiti Nui and 25% off from Neos, the small Italian carrier), it's hard to tell if these so-called Black Friday and Cyber Monday "sales" can actually save you money. Sadly, the airlines and major hotel chains are accomplished at obfuscating and manipulating prices. Still, if you're looking for a bargain, these short-term offers may have some value. Good hunting--and Happy Thanksgiving.

AIRLINE OFFERS

AER LINGUS: The Irish carrier has coach nonstops from U.S. gateways to Dublin or Shannon for as little as $350 roundtrip. Nonstops to Manchester, England, start at around $450 roundtrip. Travel is permitted January 6 to May 25 when you book by December 3. Meanwhile, its franchised vacation-package business is offering discounts of up to $450 when you use promo code BLKFRI25 and book by November 30.

AIR TAHITI NUI: From Los Angeles or Seattle, the Tahiti-based carrier flies to its home country, but also to Paris and New Zealand. Gateways: Los Angeles and Seattle. The offer is nice and simple: $200 roundtrip off all flights and cabins. Book by December 3 for travel between January 15 and April 30. Use promo code THANKFUL200.

AVIANCA: Colombia-based Avianca, the second-largest South American carrier, claims it is offering "up to 55% off" flights. The deals--and take that 55% claim with several large grains of salt--only seem available in coach. Book by November 28 with seats available for travel until May.

CANADIAN CARRIERS: Air Canada claims to be offering special Black Friday fares in all cabins when you book by November 30 and travel through May 31. There are many blackout dates, though, and, to be honest, I couldn't tell which were traditional sale fares and which were Black Friday specials. Plan accordingly and might as well start at the home-page banner. Porter Airlines has a shorter booking window (November 27), but, like Air Canada, I couldn't figure out which were specials and which were "normal" discount fares. Travel is permitted until April 26.

CATHAY PACIFIC: In palmier days, Cathay Pacific once offered spectacular premium class deals around Black Friday. No so now. Discounts (starting at $50 in coach) are puny and the sale fares are unspectacular, especially in business class. That said, some business class deals to India via Hong Kong may be useful. Tickets must be purchased by November 30 for travel between January 10 and October 24.

EL AL: Coach fares to Tel Aviv from El Al's U.S. gateways start as low as $999 roundtrip if you book by November 30 and travel between December 29 and March 12. No premium class seats available.

ETIHAD: The Abu Dhabi-based airline is promising up to 35% off select flights when you book by December 2 and travel into June. The discount only seems to apply to coach fares.

FRENCH BEE: The small French carrier flies to Paris/Orly and Tahiti from New York/JFK, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Coach fares start around $440 one-way in premium economy. Do not fly French Bee in coach. Trust us.

IBERIA: Sale fares start as low as $328 roundtrip (Boston-Madrid in coach). Connecting flights to elsewhere in Spain and in Europe are also discounted. Tickets must be purchased by November 30 for travel until March 31. There also are discounts for booking with Avios points.

ITA AIRWAYS: The successor to Alitalia, ITA has a straight 20% discount in all classes to all destinations. But the travel period is a bit restricted--January 10 to March 18--and you must purchase tickets by December 1. Use promo code BLACK.

LA COMPAGNIE: The French all-business-class carrier flies from Newark to Paris/Orly, Milan/Malpensa and (seasonally) to Nice. The Paris and Milan flights are going for $2,400 roundtrip. That's $200 higher on each route than last year's so-called Blue Friday sale, but the travel window is longer. Book by November 28 for travel between December 1 and May 31. This offer has been extended to December 1.

LOT POLISH: The Black Week sale offers "up to 20%" off fares to Poland. All classes and all of LOT's U.S. gateways are included, but travel dates vary. There are holiday blackout dates since discounts are valid for immediate travel. Tickets must be purchased by December 7.

NEOS: The small Italian carrier flies from New York/Kennedy year-round to Milan/Malpensa and seasonally to Bari and Palermo. The offer is simple: 25% off one-way or roundtrip flights when you use promo code BF25 and book by December 3. The travel window extends to October 31.

QATAR AIRWAYS: The airline claims it is offering up to 25% off in coach or business for travel until October 31, 2026. A four-day minimum stay or stay over the first Sunday is required. Book by November 28. Lots of blackouts and restrictions, though.

SAS: Coach fares start at around $350 roundtrip from Newark to Scandinavia. Premium Economy is available as low as $1,200 roundtrip. But there seem to be precious few business class deals. Book by December 1 for travel January 11 to May 25.

TAP AIR PORTUGAL: One of the downsides of being known for great deals is that it's hard to wow travelers during these periods. Still, I'm seeing TAP fares as low as $2,449 roundtrip in business between Newark and Porto, $2,549 between Boston and Lisbon and $2,899 between Chicago and Lisbon. Connecting fares are as low as $2,750 roundtrip between Miami and Madrid and $2,999 between San Francisco and Barcelona. Purchase tickets by December 2 for travel from January 13 to May 15. Stay requirements differ by destination.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Although there are deals in all three classes, the sweet spot seems to be Premium Economy. Examples: JFK-Frankfurt nonstops for $1,189 roundtrip. LAX-Tokyo/Narita nonstops for $1,519 roundtrip. SFO-Manila (via Singapore) for $1,509 roundtrip. Seattle-Bangkok (via Singapore) for $1,579 roundtrip. Book by December 2 for travel January 15-October 30 in coach and premium economy and July 16-October 30 in business class.

HOTEL OFFERS

ACCOR: The French chain is promising up to 40% off. It's up to 30% on stays in the United States and Canada and 40% elsewhere in the Americas. Members of the chain's ALL program receive an additional 10%. Book by December 3 for stays between December 19, 2025, and December 18, 2026.

INTERCONTINENTAL: The chain claims IHG One Rewards members can save up to 25% for stays until March 31. If you're not a member, the savings are capped at 20%. Book by December 4.

MARRIOTT: Marriott says Bonvoy members can save 20% on stays when they use promo code QRI and 25% if they book on the Marriott app. The catch--and there's always a catch with Marriott--is that the deal is valid only on weekends from November 30 to February 22. The exception: Deals are available every day between December 15 to January 11. Book by December 2.

SONESTA: If you are a member of the chain's Travel Pass program, savings are up to 20% when you use promo code BLACKFRI. You will also receive a 2,500-point bonus. You must book by November 30 for stays until April 30.

WYNDHAM: Wyndham's stair-step offer is 15% on a one-night stay, 20% on two-night stays, 25% on three-night stays and 30% on four or more nights. Book by December 5 for stays until May 29. Not all Wyndham branded properties are available, however.