By now, most people are familiar with the savings that can be had on "Cyber Monday." Today, the first Monday after Thanksgiving is the biggest online shopping day of the year, and retailers are offering huge product savings. Airlines are in on the action too, so let's take a look at some of the deals to be had.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is offering discounted airfares as well as vacation packages to places like Hawaii and Mexico. Some sample airfares include Seattle to San Jose for only $49 each way, Seattle to Denver for $99 each way, and Oakland to Honolulu for only $159. Vacation packages start at only $197 per person from Portland, Oregon for airfare and 3 nights in Las Vegas. You can also go from San Diego or Los Angeles to Los Cabos for 3 nights for only $495 per person. How does Hawaii sound? You can get round trip airfare and 3 nights on Maui for only $573 per person. To take advantage of this sale, you need to book by December 8th, and fly between January 11th and March 4th, 2015.
American Airlines
American is having a sale on vacation packages as well, though theirs is a bit more cryptic than Alaska's. You choose your vacation package, then enter a promo code (BFCM2014) when you check out. Upon doing so, your discount savings will be revealed on the payment page when you spend $1,250 or more. You have to book through AAVacations.com, not American's normal AA.com reservation site. The sale ends today (Monday 12/1). On American's promo, you can book as far in advance as August 20, 2015, though some blackout dates do apply.
Delta Air Lines
Delta's Cyber Monday sale feels even more shady. On their site, they promote Cyber Monday Deals, but there are no promo fares listed. You're supposed to just take them at their word, then click the Book Now link and hope that you're actually getting a discount. Your travel must begin between January 6th and March 26th, 2015, and the sale ends today.
United Airlines
United is discounting fares to Europe and India by 15 percent, today only. They're also offering 10 percent pff everything in their United Shop, using a promo code (HOLIDAYFRIENDLY).
Southwest Airlines
Southwest doesn't have any sales specific for Cyber Monday on their site, but they have some good fares to Mexico and the Caribbean. For example, you can get Atlanta to Cancun for $150 each way, or Baltimore to Nassau for $100. You have to book these by Thursday, for travel between January 8th and March 6th. Their Vacations site does have some pretty good package deals, including up to 45% off at a new all-inclusive Riu Palace Antillas on Aruba, and up to 65% off at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean.
As you can see, most of these sales are for travel within the next few months, to some pretty warm places, which is exactly the kind of travel you want to be doing within the next few months. If you see more out there, even from international airlines, send them my way and I'll add them to the list. My email address is below. If you took advantage of one of these deals, share with us what you bought.
Paul Thompson is a aviation journalist with over 13 years of experience working in the airline industry, who maintains the website Flight Club for Jalopnik.com. You can contact Paul to submit story ideas, your own "Plane Porn" photos, and comments regarding this or any other aviation topic via email at Paul@Jalopnik.com