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Flights up to 44% cheaper on Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th, which falls this week, is considered by some to be the unluckiest day of the year. But it’s also a day to bag a cheap flight.
Data from KAYAK.co.uk suggests some Brits are so superstitious about the date they avoid flying on it, meaning airlines have extra seats to fill, leaving bargains for those that don’t mind getting on a plane that day.
According to the website, the biggest savings can be had flying to Gran Canaria, where prices for flights on Friday 13th January are a huge 44% cheaper than the average for any other day in January – just £36 compared to an average price of £63.
Friday is traditionally one of the most expensive days to fly to any destination.
However, on Friday the 13th flights to Dubai are 28% cheaper than the rest of January, representing an average saving of £74.
Savings of 18% are possible to Tenerife, while those interested in a mid-January city break to Madrid can save up to the tune of 14% when leaving on Friday 13th when compared to the rest of the month. Even for perenially popular New York, average flight prices fall by 7% on Friday the 13th in January.
For European city breaks to Amsterdam, flights are 11% cheaper while for Budapest, flights are on average 17% less expensive than travelling on any other Friday in January.
However, the price fall doesn’t hold true for every single destination, with Barcelona, Reykjavik and Rome all showing price increases for Friday the 13th when compared to travelling during the rest of January.
Suzanne Perry, travel expert at KAYAK, said: “Flight prices are very much based on demand – when demand is up they rise and when it is down they fall. Our data, therefore, indicates that many are choosing not to travel on Friday 13th as prices are down for a good selection of Brits’ most popular destinations.
“But for those who aren’t superstitious, it means they most likely bagged a bargain if they booked for the date already, while others still stand a chance of scoring a good deal on a last minute trip leaving this Friday.”
Example savings on Friday 13th when compared to the average cost of travelling to some of Brits’ most popular destinations on any other day in January 2017
| Destination | Average cost for the month of January 2017 | Average cost on Friday 13th | Price difference |
| Gran Canaria | £63 | £36 | -44% |
| Dubai | £270 | £196 | -28% |
| Tenerife | £89 | £73 | -18% |
| Madrid | £53 | £46 | -14% |
| New York | £322 | £301 | -7% |
