This Black Friday, there were countless deals on electronics, but if you missed out on a good holiday deal, it might be worth checking out the offers from Jet2, TUI, Ryanair and British Airways.
Research conducted by Which? revealed that the best chances of securing a holiday bargain during the sale season were with Tui and Jet2.
In fact, all Tui holiday deals found were cheaper on Black Friday compared to two weeks later and at the start of January, as were nine out of 10 Jet2 holiday deals.
The consumer website discovered some impressive holiday savings on Black Friday, including nearly £300 off a Tui holiday to Tenerife.
This August getaway for two was available for just £1,768 (£884 per person) on Black Friday. However, two weeks later, the price rose to £2,045 (£1,023 per person) before dropping slightly to £1,889 (£950 per person) in early January.
Jet2 also offered significant savings, with over £200 off an all-inclusive August break to Fuerteventura. The trip for two was priced at £1,704 (£852 per person) on Black Friday, climbed to £1,938 (£969 per person) two weeks later, and then dipped to £1,880 (£940 per person) in January.
For flight deals, Black Friday proved the best time to book certain British Airways and Ryanair flights. A BA flight from Heathrow to Oslo in March was half the price during the Black Friday sales compared to January, costing just £69.
By mid-December, the price increased to £104 and then climbed to £135 in January.
Ryanair had passengers swooning with attractive Black Friday offers, as a round trip for two from Stansted to Zagreb around Valentine’s Day saw fares as low as £181 (£91 per person) during the sales event. Yet, those same tickets took a price hike to £298 (£149 per person) just two weeks on, climbing later to £324 (£162 per person) in January.
Meanwhile, easyJet and Jet2’s discounts showed less predictability; Which?’s analysis revealed almost a fifty-fifty split between flights cheapest on Black Friday and those dipping in January.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, advised: “While last year’s data suggests holidaymakers had a fair chance of making a saving on Black Friday, don’t feel pressured to book in the sale this year. When it comes to travel it can be difficult to tell a deal from a dud – flight prices can fluctuate for all manner of reasons, as can holiday costs, and there’s no guarantee the savings we spotted last year will be repeated.”
He added, “What we do know from tracking thousands of holiday prices is that booking as far ahead as possible will generally beat booking last minute.”
On a cautionary note, he said, “Scammers are out in force this time of year, so if a deal looks too good to be true, think twice. Be particularly wary of deals advertised on social media, offers from unfamiliar companies, and accommodation listings urging payment by bank transfer.”