Winter sun holidays

The Jet2 Black Friday sale has also seen prices drop on flights for winter sun breaks to the Canary Islands, ski holidays, and summer 2027 getaways

There’s nothing to brighten up the cold and dark winter months like escaping on a magical mini-break to enjoy festive celebrations abroad. And Jet2 has just launched its Black Friday sale, offering up to 20% off flights to favourite Christmas market destinations – including to cities ranked the best in Europe for the occasion.

Those seeking a winter getaway can find flights to Prague from £38 in December, with direct flights from 10 UK airports to choose from with Jet2. Beginning on November 28, the famous Christmas markets of Prague are set against a backdrop of stunning historical architecture, with decorated huts selling local delicacies and handmade crafts alongside an open-air music stage, a nativity scene, and an ice rink.

Vienna is another popular destination, with flights now priced from £42 in the month of Christmas with Jet2 and 12 UK airports to travel from. The Austrian capital is transformed into a festive wonderland from mid-November, with more than 20 markets to discover across the city’s historic squares, palaces and gardens.

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£43 flights to ‘Europe’s best’ Christmas market

There are also Christmas markets to be found in Budapest, now on offer from £43 in December with Jet2 with the cheapest flights from Manchester and more direct options from Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow Intl, Easy Midlands and Birmingham airports. Budapest, Vienna, and Prague are the top three ‘most beautiful’ European cities to visit for Christmas markets in 2026, according to Forbes.

Budapest’s Advent Bazilika, held in the city centre in front of St Stephen’s Basilica and running from November 13 until January 1, took the number one spot having been crowned the Best Christmas Market in Europe by European Best Destinations on multiple occasions. This year, the magical market will be home to more than a hundred stalls offering ‘unforgettable culinary experiences’ alongside unique souvenirs from ceramicists, designers, jewellery makers and more, as well as festive light displays and seasonal events and activities.

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Jet2 is offering up to 20% off flights in its Black Friday sale, including offers on winter breaks and ski holidays.

Winter ski breaks with £25 flights

The Jet2 Black Friday sale also offers holidaymakers the chance to book a winter ski break for less. The cheapest offers can be found in January for something to look forward to after Christmas, when flights to Geneva, Grenoble, Chambery and Turin are all available from UK airports from £25.

More airlines are offering winter breaks for less as Black Friday approaches, with easyJet having launched a sale on its package holidays with savings of up to £400 to be had, as well as flights from £32 to the likes of Malta, Cyprus, Morocco and Tunisia. The airline also offers exclusive flights from the UK to Akureyri in North Iceland, a prime spot for skiing with its snowy scenery, geothermal bathing, Northern Lights displays, and whale-watching opportunities.

TUI is also offering up to 40pp off return trips made between December and April, with 10kg hand luggage and an underseat bag included. Among the cheapest destinations are Marrakech, Malaga and the Canary Islands, with direct flights priced from £49 per person.

Escape the cold in the Canary Islands from £28

Back with Jet2, those who would prefer to ditch the chill for a winter sun getaway instead can jet off to the Canary Islands, known for its year-round warmth which means sun-lovers can enjoy a beach holiday in the depths of December. Flights are available from 13 UK airports, including London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Flights with Jet2 have been reduced to as little as £28 to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with daytime temperatures across the islands averaging around 20-22°C in December and flight times from the UK standing at four to four-and-a-half hours. Rainfall in the Canary Islands is relatively low even at this time of year, and holidaymakers can typically look forward to six to eight hours of sunshine each day.

Those looking ahead to their next summer holidays can also lock in lower prices now this Black Friday, with Jet2 offering flights from £40 to the popular destinations of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca for a budget-friendly break. The sale also includes discounts on flight add-ons such as bags, seats and meals to upgrade journeys for less, with more than 80 destinations to choose from.

The airline has earned an average rating of 4.3 out of five stars on Trustpilot, making it one of the most highly-rated companies to fly with from the UK. However, not everyone’s travel experience was smooth, with one person noting in a recent review: “Two-hour delay said to be due to technical issues. The plane that arrived was smaller and caused issues with seats and room for cabin luggage. “

Jet2 has been named a Which? Recommended Provider for the past 10 years running, with the consumer experts having named the airline as the best short-haul economy option available in its 2026 ranking. Which? noted: “Jet2 cancelled far fewer flights at the last minute than most rivals and clinched four stars for customer service, value for money and the booking process (simplified because there’s no need to add cabin bags).”

The Jet2 Black Friday sale is on now.

Ryanair passengers checking in luggage will have less time to reach the airport desk under a new deadline

Anyone travelling with Ryanair who leave their airport journey until the last minute could risk missing their flight when a new rule takes effect. From Tuesday, November 10, airport check-in and bag-drop desks will close 60 minutes before departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

The change means travellers checking in a suitcase will need to get their bags accepted earlier than they may be used to, even if they have already checked in online. For a flight scheduled to leave at 10am, the deadline will move from 9.20am to 9am. Ryanair carried 206.5 million passengers in the 2025 calendar year.

Travel expert Arber Abdullahu, from TripSIM, has urged holidaymakers to check their airport arrangements before setting off, particularly if they have booked a transfer. He warned that having a boarding pass on a phone does not mean a checked bag has been accepted or that passengers can arrive at the desk whenever they like.

“Checking in online can make you feel that everything is sorted. But if you’re taking a suitcase that needs to go in the hold, you still have a separate deadline to meet at the airport,” he said.

Getting to the airport and reaching the correct desk are not necessarily the same thing, as travellers may need to park, take a shuttle, find their terminal and queue. Anyone relying on a transfer that arrives shortly before the cut-off should review the timings rather than treating the deadline as their target arrival time.

The change could also catch people out on their return journey if they are away when the new rule begins. Someone flying out before November 10 but returning on or after that date should check the deadline for both legs and make sure their hotel pick-up leaves enough time to reach the airport.

“Don’t assume the routine that worked on your outbound flight will work for your return. Check your hotel pick-up time and tell the transfer provider which flight you are taking,” Mr Abdullahu said.

Ryanair says the earlier cut-off is intended to give passengers more time to get through airport security and passport-control queues before reaching their departure gate. The airline says around 20 per cent of its passengers check in a bag, while those who check in online and travel without checked luggage will be unaffected by the bag-drop change.

Passengers should remember that online check-in has a separate deadline and remains open until two hours before departure. Anyone using airport check-in or bag drop should check the latest instructions for their flight and allow enough time to complete each stage of the journey.