Vacationing during fall or winter in the “shoulder” and “off” seasons, can save you money and avoid many of the hassles you’d encounter during the peak summer travel season.
With temperatures cooling and end-of-year holidays on the horizon, maybe you’re looking to book a Thanksgiving getaway, a Christmas vacation or just a warm-weather escape without breaking the bank.
If so, you’re in luck.
This Halloween week, a couple of low-cost carriers are currently running flash sales that will have you packing your bags in no time. Southwest Airlines and PLAY—a fairly new budget carrier based in Iceland—are running special fare offers for a very limited time.
Southwest’s Ghoulishly Good Savings
Let’s start with Big-Five carrier Southwest, which has embraced the Halloween spirit with deals that will send chills of excitement down your spine.
Its flash sale flights are priced as low as $39 one-way, with eligible travel dates falling between November 23 and May 22, 2024. To take advantage of these deals, customers must book by 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, November 2.
Southwest Boeing 737-800 airplane at Dallas Love Field. (Photo Credit: Boarding1Now/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Granted, some blackout dates do apply. Flights within the contiguous U.S. on December 26 and 27, and on January 2 are blacked out; as are flights to and from the bustling Orlando area between November 23 and January 2. Flights from the contiguous U.S. to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and various international destinations that depart December 19 through January 3, and March 12 through 27, are likewise off-limits.
But, with a little flexibility, you can still jet-set for the holidays without splurging on airfare. For instance, on travel during the month of December, customers will find $39 one-way fares on routes like Atlanta to Louisville, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, New Orleans to Austin and San Diego to Sacramento, along with many others.
And, if you're looking for a cross-country trip, you’ll find reduced-fare flights available between such destinations as New York and Palm Springs, or Los Angeles and Charleston, which both start at just $159 one-way.
You're also in luck if you're craving a beach escape, thanks to great one-way deals like Los Angeles to Los Cabos from as low as $206, Fort Lauderdale to Puerto Vallarta starting at $246, and New York to Cancun for as little as $254.
PLAY’s Spooktacular Halloween Sale
A PLAY airplane taking off. (photo via PLAY) ((photo via PLAY))
Meanwhile, Nordic airline PLAY promises to please travelers seeking affordable fares from the U.S. to Europe during the fall and winter seasons.
The low-cost Icelandic airline’s Halloween flash sale has one-way flights for as low as $99 on travel dates from November through March 2024. To snag these incredible savings, you’ll need to book directly through PLAY’s website and do so by 11:59 p.m. GMT (7:59 p.m. ET) on Thursday, November 2.
Eligible flights are available from PLAY’s U.S. gateway airports in Baltimore, Boston, New York and Washington D.C.
Note that, due to hub-and-spoke model, all of PLAY’s flights go through its primary hub in Reykjavik, and journey onward to such sought-after European cities as Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, London and Paris. Also, the airline charges per flight leg, and base fares do not include extras like checked bag, or in-flight food and beverages.
“Following high travel demand in the summer, Play is offering a flash deal to continue this trend through the new year, providing U.S. travelers with affordable flights to their dream destinations,” said Play’s CEO Birgir Jónsson.
"Play’s unbeatable deal on flights to Europe’s most charming winter destinations will enable travelers to book themselves a trip to look forward to, making the colder and darker months go by faster, and helping get over the hustle and bustle of the holidays."
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