Early September Offers Short Window for Cheapest Flights Before Jewish Holidays

The beginning of September, coinciding with the start of the school year and still favorable weather for overseas vacations, presents a brief opportunity for discounted flights. This year, the Jewish High Holidays (Tishrei) arrive earlier than usual, compressing the typical discount window from 18 days last year to just 8 days (September 1-8). According to data from lastminute.co.il, travelers who act quickly can find significant savings, with prices dropping by tens of percent compared to last year. For example, flights to Greece start at $130, and tickets to Burgas have decreased by 21% to $245.

Routes to Bucharest and Burgas, served by airlines like Wizz Air and Tarom, saw continued price declines during this shortened window, with Bucharest prices falling by 18% and Burgas by about 1%. However, low-cost carrier presence does not guarantee cheaper fares; Prague flights operated by Smartwings rose by 8%, and popular city destinations such as Vienna, Budapest, and Paris experienced price increases of 22% to 33% compared to last year. Other notable price drops include Bucharest at $283, Larnaca at $130, Athens at $196, Barcelona down 12% to $461, and lower prices also reported for Rome and London. All prices are average per passenger in economy class and exclude baggage fees.

Asaf Greenberg, Marketing VP at lastminute.co.il, explained that the earlier timing of the holidays (Rosh Hashanah on September 11) shortens the discount period, urging travelers to book quickly rather than expect a prolonged window of low prices. Additionally, Israir launched a pre-holiday deal offering flights and a four-star hotel stay in Limassol from September 7-10 starting at $389 per person, including breakfast.