10 Ways to Spot a Real Flight Deal — Avoid Black Friday Gimmicks

4. Watch for sudden "was" prices — price manipulation red flag

Retailers sometimes show a high "was" price then apply a discount to make savings look bigger than they are. The same happens with flights when sellers inflate earlier fares or present a fake anchor price. Check fare history or use price trackers to confirm whether that original price ever truly existed. If you can’t verify the “was” price in any independent price graph, treat the discount claim with skepticism. A helpful habit is to take screenshots of the current price and the fare history so you have evidence if the deal disappears. That evidence also helps when disputing charges with your card issuer, should the need arise.