If you’re the type of person who sends memes with jokes like “I have the size of a business class window seat,” then Travel Tuesday is probably for you.

What is Travel Tuesday?

On December 3, in the wake of Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, companies from airlines and hotels to rental platforms are taking advantage of consumerism and dropping limited-time booking promotions for travelers from operators around the world.

Given the high volume of search engine optimized offers that boast click bait and may not have all that much potential, “Good Morning America” ​​tapped some top travel experts to find out how to actually find a good discount and take advantage of online sales that are yours are worth time.

“People are in shopping mode this time of year, and sometimes we go on autopilot and click “buy” on every “deal” that comes up, thinking we’re saving a ton of money, when in reality the deal might not not true so great,” Going’s Katy Nastro told “GMA.” “We want people to take the wheel this Travel Tuesday so they have an idea of ​​where they want to travel so they can estimate what it might cost.”

How to research airfares for Travel Tuesday

For airfares, Nastro suggests “doing a few Google flight searches” for desired routes that may be off-peak, “to get a feel for what average prices might be right now.”

She said airfares apply in different areas, so keep in mind that prices can change on the fly.

Platforms like the Going app or other price tracking tools like Google Flights can provide “up-to-date estimates of what a typical airfare might look like from your home airport,” Nastro said.

“It’s helpful to have an overview of multiple sources and searches to better understand average flight prices and assess whether the advertised price is actually worth purchasing,” she explained.

Google Flights, for example, shows an estimate of fares, but Nastro said she found that the ranges for a good deal can be on the high end.

The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly joined “GMA” on Tuesday to discuss the current airfare landscape and share some additional insights to ensure people find a deal that works.

“Even if one airline announces a sale, the others are usually copycats, just as they copy the fees.” (Competitors) Increase fees. They do the same thing with airfares,” he said.

Like Nastro, Kelly’s top recommendation, especially for Black Friday and Travel Tuesday deals, is to use Google Flights and look for the new “Cheapest” tab.

However, he said: “I say if you see a great deal now, grab it. Google Flights will actually tell you if it’s a great deal – so if you see the green box that says it’s good, then go ahead and do it.”

Kelly pointed out that major airlines allow you to cancel within 24 hours, “You can book it, see if it drops within 24 hours, and then rebook it. And when it goes up, you know you got a good deal.” “

While the current Black Friday and Travel Tuesday fare sales are typical for flights and travel through April, Kelly added: “You won’t see peak summer, but I can’t emphasize enough how beautiful Europe can be in March and April.”

When should you use frequent flyer miles?

“Most airlines will open frequent flyer miles tickets 11 months in advance,” Kelly said, for travelers with accumulated points. “They offer a range of seats on the calendar for each individual flight – so use your points in advance and you can cancel at any time without penalty if your plans change later.”

Take advantage to maximize your spending

“The double joy of every purchase is often why people take advantage of co-branded credit cards when traveling – especially when making big purchases that can help them earn more points and miles to redeem.” said Nastro.

In addition to making sure you’re using the best card for your travel rewards, when you click buy, make sure you’re using shopping portals, if they’re allowed or available, to earn extra miles: Airlines partner with popular retailers and earn extra miles per purchase in exchange for using their referral link.

Here’s how to determine whether a Travel Tuesday deal is good or not

While some might argue that any savings is a good savings, Nastro said that with spending increasing around the holidays, “we want to make sure our budgets stretch far so you can go further with your travels.”

“Any offer that promises a 10% discount, for example, is probably less than the taxes you still have to pay and isn’t really worth your time.”

Save on hotels on Travel Tuesday

“You’ll likely see decent savings of between 20 and 30% or more on hotels and package deals, but they often require reading the fine print,” she said, warning that there may be “restrictions on stays between certain dates or choose.” Discounts for your loyalty program members… just to name a few.”

As with airfare, for those looking to book a discounted hotel stay on Travel Tuesday, Nastro said, “Understanding how much a nightly rate can be – and how much it can vary – will be a helpful barometer in justifying whether the offer is worth it.” It.”

She added: “One thing to keep in mind… is that taxes and fees are not included in these discounts, so be careful when crunching the numbers.”

Is Travel Tuesday the only time to save?

If you can’t find a worthwhile deal or miss your chance, Nastro says Travel Tuesday is “not the only time to save.” Keep an eye out for deals extending beyond December 3rd if you can’t snag anything by then.

Eric Rosen, director of travel content at The Points Guy, told “GMA” that “while Travel Tuesday has become the day when airlines, hotels, cruise lines and destinations have historically launched huge sales, many travel companies are actually booking flights and Offer stays, cruises and packages on offer earlier for Black Friday and Cyber ​​Week.

The Points Guy team has been tracking many of these sales, which Rosen says are “starting much earlier this year,” so some people may have gotten a good deal before December 3rd.

Airlines with Travel Tuesday deals

Low-cost airline startup Breeze Airways, for example, will offer $29 fares on many of its new routes starting Nov. 29, Rosen said. International airlines, including TAP Air Portugal, offer round-trip fares starting at $359 in economy class and $2,199 in business class from various U.S. airports to many cities in Europe.

“We haven’t seen the final deals from American, Delta and United yet, but you can bet they’re coming,” Rosen said. “If you see an offer that suits you, don’t hesitate to book it. Many of these packages are limited in terms of availability and once they sell out, that’s it,” he added.

Icelandic low-cost airline PLAY is offering a 30% discount on flights to Iceland, Copenhagen, Paris, London, Amsterdam and Berlin until December 3rd.

Whether travelers are booking a getaway to relax before the next holiday party or planning a vacation in 2025, PLAY offers the best flight deal of the season.

The offer is valid for flights booked in December 2024 to May 2025 and for travel from September to October 2025.

Hotel deals

With Hilton’s Season to Stay Sale, guests can now enjoy up to 20% off stays through April 21st.

Hyatt’s “The Seasons of Savings” event will discount nightly rates by 25% at over 800 participating hotels and resorts in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America when reservations are made before December 9th for stays through April 20th be made.

Cruise offers

Luxury cruise line Oceania offers its best vacation deal ever with upgrades worth up to $5,500 per stateroom and value-added benefits like free flights, onboard credit up to $1,000 and premium beverage packages.

“We don’t know if companies or destinations will go further and release more or better deals on Travel Tuesday itself,” Rosen said. “So keep your antennae up until then.”

Top tip for booking discounted travel on Black Friday or Travel Tuesday

Like Nastro and Kelly, Rosen said, “Do your homework” before falling for deals that seem too good to be true.

“Research the typical prices for flights, hotels, packages, cruises or other trips you’re considering, then compare them to what companies are offering,” he said.

“Also read the fine print carefully. Often there are very specific booking conditions – limited time slots for reservation, travel dates within which you must travel, lists of participating hotels and the like,” he continued. “Make sure your travel plans fit the parameters of any deals you book so you don’t miss out on the savings.”

An earlier version of this story was originally published on November 26, 2024.