11 Black Friday Travel Wishlist Picks to Prioritize First

Black Friday is one of the best chances all year to buy travel items with big discounts, but not every sale is equally valuable. This checklist helps you decide which travel purchases to place first so you get lasting value rather than impulse bargains. Start by thinking about long-term benefits: points, status, durability, and coverage usually outlast a single trip. That means credit cards with transferable rewards, loyalty status opportunities, and proven gear typically top the list. Next, match purchases to how often you travel and the types of trips you take; frequent flyers benefit differently than casual vacationers or families. Prepare a short wishlist ahead of time and set price alerts so you can act fast when a genuine deal appears. Use browser extensions and loyalty portals to compare prices and track whether discounts stack with promo codes or card-linked offers (shopping experts recommend compiling wishlists early; see NBC Select and National Post commentary). Finally, verify time-sensitive items before you buy by checking "As of Nov 2025" details on program pages and seller return policies. This article lists 11 travel-focused buys in order of priority with timing cues and practical tips so you know what to prioritize first on Black Friday.

1. High Priority: Travel Credit Cards

A travel credit card often delivers the most value from a single Black Friday move because welcome bonuses and transferable points can fund flights or hotel stays for years. Look for cards that offer elevated sign-up bonuses around holiday periods and check if issuers run limited-time offers that increase points or waive the first-year fee. Apply only if your credit history supports approval and if you can meet the minimum spend without unnecessary purchases. Consider cards with flexible currencies that transfer to multiple airline and hotel partners; that flexibility lets you get outsized value from a single signup. Check the card's travel protections as well; baggage delay, trip delay, and primary rental car insurance create incremental value on top of points. If you already hold a good rewards card, compare targeted upgrade offers and retention bonuses that sometimes appear during holiday promo windows. Finally, note annual fees and whether the benefits you’ll actually use outweigh them—calculate a rough break-even based on credits, lounge access, and expected points redemptions.