Airfare Deals Abound During ‘Dead Week’

The week after New Year’s is sometimes called “Dead Week” due to the precipitous drop-off in travel following the holidays. But as the airlines have shown us this week, it can be a great time to snag a deal. In just the past few days, we’ve seen numerous sales for travel beginning this month and extending into spring, and in some cases all the way to June.

Who’s in on the act? Well, Southwest, American, Continental, JetBlue, Frontier, Midwest, AirTran, Virgin America, and Spirit. Most of these sales have rapidly approaching booking deadlines, and that’s sort of the point: The airlines can’t afford an extended lull in booking or traffic, so why not toss out a few sales and generate some business? These sales are also a way of building momentum for the coming year—sell some seats now so there are fewer available later, which can then be sold for much higher prices.

For travelers, of course, it means good deals for travel in the coming months. It also means that comparing prices is crucial—with so many airlines offering similar sales, fares will be extremely competitive, particularly on popular routes. So if travel is on your horizon it’s time to put your deal-hunting hat on and grab a great fare.

And if you do snag a deal, or have any deal-finding tips, please share your story by leaving a comment below. Times are tight, and we all need as much help as we can get!