20 Best Flight Deals of 2025

If travel in 2025 can be classified as “kind of boring” (don’t get the reference? Check out our report), then the 2025 deals themselves can be considered absolutely chaotic. We saw last-minute summer fares to Europe drop lower than off-season prices, spicy fare wars between major carriers, and the highest number of mistake fares ever clocked in a single year. 

With the Going app, members snagged deals from tiny regional airports to massive hubs, saving big whether they were flying down the street or across the world. Among our best deals you’ll find an elusive steal from the West Coast to the Cook Islands; 85 US airports to Brisbane (one of our picks for Where To Go in 2026); and popular routes like Atlanta to Milan at the cheapest nonstop prices we’ve ever seen. 

Savvy travelers also learned how to pair points, perks, and promos to score everything from lie-flat beds over the Pacific to Spanish holidays that came in at the equivalent of about $70 roundtrip. 

Here’s a look at the wildest, rarest, and most joyful deals of the year—and a reminder that the best flights aren’t found by searching harder, but by having the right flight alerts at the right time.

Economy deals

1. Milan – $334 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,050 roundtrip (68% off)
• Departure city: Atlanta (ATL)
• Travel period: Mar–Apr 2025 (plus peak summer availability for $459 roundtrip)

You don’t see Delta discount its hub cities often. Let alone to Europe, and definitely not nonstop to Italy. But in February, a fare war got so spicy that Delta pulled out the aviation equivalent of the emergency champagne button. Result? The cheapest nonstop from Atlanta to Italy we’ve ever seen.

And if you were dreaming of aperitivo season under the Milanese sunshine? Summer dates also dipped as low as $459 roundtrip, which is basically unheard of for peak-season Europe travel. For ATL-based travelers, this wasn’t just a deal—it was the holy grail.

2. St. Lucia – $241 roundtrip

• Regular price: $700 roundtrip (66% off)
• Departure city: Detroit (DTW)
• Travel period: Feb–Apr and Jun–Oct 2026

Deals to St. Lucia have been quiet in recent years, which made this one from Detroit extra sweet. In November, fares to UVF dropped to the cheapest we’ve ever seen from any US airport (NYC hates to see it, but we sure don’t).

It was the first St. Lucia deal out of DTW since 2020, signaling the potential for future fare wars in a market that rarely sees movement. A couple of additional routes from Raleigh and Rochester clocked in the $300s, but Detroit took the crown.

3. Dubrovnik – $399 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,200 roundtrip (67% off)
• Departure city: Newark (EWR)
• Travel period: Aug–Oct 2025, Apr–May 2026

This was a new route for United in 2025, and we were salivating, waiting for the price to drop. But a drop this big? We never saw it coming. It wasn’t just the cheapest nonstop we’d ever seen to Croatia. It was the cheapest fare to Dubrovnik from any US airport, period. With travel windows spanning late summer, fall, and even a second batch of spring 2026 dates, this deal gave you options.

4. Greek Islands – $440–$529 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,200 roundtrip (up to 63% off)
• Departure cities: Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK)
• Travel period: scattered Jun–Nov 2025 availability (depending on departure and arrival airports)

Peak summer in the Greek Islands—normally a guaranteed wallet punch—came shockingly cheap in 2025. In June, fares from Boston and NYC dropped as low as $440 roundtrip to Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete, and that was for July and August travel. A godsend for all you last-minute bookers out there. 

These were the lowest single-itinerary prices we’d ever seen from anywhere in the US to the Greek Islands. The routes were smooth, too, with just one stop in London on British Airways. Plus, the option to book shoulder season dates through November made this a rare deal that worked for both the spontaneous and the planners.

5. New Zealand – $633–$649 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,400 roundtrip (up to 55% off)
• Departure cities: Colorado Springs (COS), Denver (DEN), Houston (HOU), Houston (IAH), Washington (DCA), Washington (IAH)
• Travel period: scattered Mar–May and Oct–Nov 2025, Jan 2026 availability (depending on departure airport)

It was a classic Delta-on-United hub attack, with good routing, baggage included, and wide-open availability to boot. 

But what we really loved about this deal was how it demonstrated a new fare war trend we’ve been seeing. Airlines not only attack one another’s hubs, but also include peripheral airports. In the past, DEN, IAH, and IAD would’ve been the sole beneficiaries of these fares. Now folks who prefer smaller nearby airports (Hobby, National, and Colorado Springs, in this case) also got in on the action. 

6. Cook Islands – $695–$744 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,500 roundtrip (up to 54% off)
• Departure cities: Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX), Medford (MFR), Palm Springs (PSP), Pasco (PSC), Redmond (RDM), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA) 
• Travel period: scattered Jun–Dec 2025, Jan–May 2026 availability (depending on departure airport)

The Cook Islands don’t pop up often. And when they do, they’re usually the kind of fare you bookmark, sigh at, and close the tab. Not this time. In June, we saw the cheapest fares to the Cook Islands since pre-2020, including all-time lows from LA, San Diego, San Francisco, and Pasco. Better yet, every route was on Hawaiian Airlines with clean connections, making this one of those rare long-haul island deals that was both affordable and practical. 

7. Brazil – $358–$361 roundtrip

• Regular price: $900 roundtrip (up to 60% off)
• Departure city: Chicago (ORD)
• Travel period: scattered Feb–May and Aug 2026 availability (depending on arrival airport)

Chicago got its moment, and what a moment it was. In October, flights to Belo Horizonte and Curitiba dropped below $361 roundtrip, marking the lowest fares from the Windy City to anywhere in Brazil that we’d ever seen.

Even better: These weren’t quirky budget airlines with surprise fees. They were on United and included checked bags. For Brazil enthusiasts (or those who needed an excuse), this was the kind of deal you booked first and figured out PTO later.

8. Istanbul – $453 roundtrip

• Regular price: $1,050 roundtrip (57% off)
• Departure city: Washington (IAD)
• Travel period: Sept–Oct 2025

Every once in a while, an airline launches a new route and chooses chaos. Like in this case. When Icelandair announced service to Istanbul, it kicked things off with a jaw-dropping sub-$500 fare from Dulles to Türkiye. It was the cheapest we’d ever seen from DC, and seats were available from the inaugural September flight through October. Travelers could also tack on an Iceland stopover, turning one vacation into two without a doubled price tag.

Premium class deals

1. Europe – from $619 roundtrip in premium economy

• Regular price: $2,000–$2,500 roundtrip (up to 75% off)
• Departure cities: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), New York City (JFK), Washington (IAD)
• Travel period: Tons of 2025 availability and into 2026 (depending on departure and arrival airports)

SAS decided to make everyone question their loyalty to coach by dropping fares to Europe. More legroom, amenity kits, priority boarding, enhanced meal service, and two free checked bags for less than the average cost of being a sardine in coach? Yes, please. 

And this wasn’t just to Scandinavia. Copenhagen and Stockholm were heavily represented, but we also saw wild routes like Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Rome. If you were sad you slept on this deal in January, you didn’t have to worry. Deals just like this one popped in and out several times in 2025. 

2. Madrid, Dublin, and Amsterdam – from $2,034 roundtrip in business class 

• Regular price: $4,500 roundtrip (up to 55% off)
• Departure city: Boston (BOS)
• Travel period: scattered May–Aug 2025 availability (depending on arrival airport)

A summer in Europe is great. A summer in Europe lying flat, sipping champagne in JetBlue Mint is even better. JetBlue Mint is already one of the most-loved premium products crossing the Atlantic, so seeing it at more-than-half-off pricing made this deal a rare and easy “yes!” for anyone who’s ever dreamed of upgrading life for a week.

Points deals

1. Tokyo, Japan – 160k points roundtrip in first class

• Regular redemption: 200k–270k points
• Departure city: Chicago (ORD)
• Travel period: Jul–Oct 2025

A true unicorn. These awards typically cost 200k–270k—if you can even find them. This one included caviar, champagne, and a lie-flat suite worth roughly $26,000 cash, and the award space disappeared in about two hours. We normally skip American Airlines alerts due to limited transfer partners, but this redemption was too rare, too luxe, and too good not to send.

2. England – 47k points roundtrip in business class

• Regular redemption: 150k–200k points
• Departure cities: Atlanta (ATL), Las Vegas (LAS), New York City (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD)
• Travel period: Jun–Dec 2025, Jan–Apr 2026

Business class to London or Manchester for this low was one of those “wait, is this a typo?” moments. Thanks to Virgin Atlantic transfer bonuses—yes, plural—the price dropped to economy-level rates from multiple US cities. Even with higher taxes, a lie-flat bed across the Atlantic for less than what economy usually costs was an instant no-brainer.

3. All over Spain – 7k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 60k–80k points
• Departure cities: Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York City (JFK), Washington (IAD)
• Travel period: Dec 2025, Jan–Mar 2026

Easily one of the wildest award deals of the year. With Bilt’s Rent Day transfer bonuses stacking, travelers booked main-cabin seats (not basic) for the equivalent of ~$70 in points plus ~$300 in taxes. Ridiculous, rare, and gone fast—just how the best points deals tend to be.

4. Big Island of Hawaii – 10k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 40k–80k roundtrip
• Departure cities: Las Vegas (LAS), Sacramento (SMF), and 93 other airports 
• Travel period: Jun–Dec 2025

A one-day transfer bonus unlocked flights to Hawaii from nearly 100 US airports for the equivalent of about $100 in points plus $12 in taxes. Hawaii points deals are rare in general, let alone at this scale. Even better: It could be booked through Southwest, so two checked bags were automatically included (not everyone will be able to say the same from 2026 onward). 

5. Oahu and Maui – 62k points roundtrip in first class

• Regular redemption: 100k–150k points
• Departure cities: Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK), Sacramento (SMF), Seattle (SEA), Las Vegas (LAS)
• Travel period: Feb–Dec 2025

First-class award space on Hawaiian Airlines is notoriously scarce, but this redemption changed the game. It even included summer availability. With a Chase 30% transfer bonus helping bring the cost down from the usual 100k–150k, this became one of the rarest and most desirable Hawaii points opportunities we’ve ever sent.

6. Cairo, Egypt – 96k points roundtrip in premium economy

• Regular redemption: 180k–250k points
• Departure cities: Atlanta (ATL), Miami (MIA), Washington (IAD)
• Travel period: May–Dec 2025, Jan–Apr 2026

Premium economy to Cairo can be difficult to find. With nearly year-round availability at this redemption rate, this award was especially exciting. A Chase transfer bonus helped stretch points even further, and with the option to call and have seats held before transferring, this deal offered both incredible value and unusually flexible booking conditions.

7. Hanoi, Vietnam – 60k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 100k–150k points
• Departure cities: Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Seattle (SEA), and 42 other airports
• Travel period: Apr–Jul 2025

A standout for both rarity and reach, this deal priced flights to Hanoi at just 60k points roundtrip from major hubs and dozens of smaller airports, where cash fares often run $1,500+. Part of Alaska’s Global Getaways promo, it covered peak spring and early-summer months and made long-haul Southeast Asia travel feel shockingly accessible for economy-level points.

8. Buenos Aires, Argentina – 40k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 70k–100k points
• Departure cities: Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and 68 other airports 
• Travel period: Aug–Dec 2025

Buenos Aires tempts travelers with tango halls, steak dinners, and Patagonian adventure. But this time, the award finally made it easy to say “let’s book.” With broad availability and a redemption rate that stretched points unbelievably far, this deal allowed travelers to do it all without draining their points balance.

9. Brisbane, Australia – 60k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 90k–120k points
• Departure cities: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Jacksonville (JAX), and 82 other airports
• Travel period: Jan–Mar 2026

Australia is one of those routes where award pricing can feel allergic to being reasonable, especially from non-coastal airports and during peak season. That’s why this redemption had us refreshing our screens in disbelief. It wasn’t just a low award rate. It was proof that sometimes long-haul travel dreams line up perfectly with a points balance.

10. Across the US – 9k points roundtrip in economy

• Regular redemption: 20k–30k points
• Departure city: Aspen (ASE)
• Travel period: Dec 2025, Jan–Mar 2026

This wasn’t just a solid redemption—it was a standout moment for anyone who’s ever been burned by small-airport pricing. Getting out of Aspen usually costs a premium, so seeing nationwide connections available for so few points felt like someone temporarily rewired the matrix. Quick, flexible, and shockingly affordable.