Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Street
The Street
Veronika Bondarenko

More airlines are launching ticket sales for Leap Day

As it comes around only every four years, Feb. 29 has long brought with it certain myths and fascination.

The day is also increasingly another marketing opportunity for airlines in particular, which have been advertising different routes and flight promotions, as a chance to "seize the (extra) day" and take advantage of the extra time that we get on the calendar to fix the mismatch with the earth's orbit around the sun every four years.

Related: An airline is launching a special flight deal to celebrate Leap Day

The first airline to announce a special Leap Day promotion was the Iceland-based budget carrier Play. Those who book their travel before March 1 will be able to buy a one-way flight to Reykjavik for $99 and flights to other European cities such as Paris, London, Copenhagen, Dublin, Amsterdam and Berlin for $129.

Woman walking on a Caribbean beach during a luxury vacation.

Shutterstock

Want to fly away? Leap Day is proving a good time to book your travel

Between today and the end of Feb. 29, JetBlue  (JBLU) is also offering its Leap Year Sale on flight and hotel bundles as well as flight and cruise vacation packages. The number of each discount ends with 29 in recognition of Feb. 29.

More Travel:

Those who spend over $2,000 through JetBlue Vacations can get $129 off while the $229, $429 and $629 discounts are for those who spend a respective $3,500, $5,500 and $7,500. To apply the discount, customers need to enter the LEAP129, LEAP429, LEAP529 or LEAP629 promo code alongside their payment details for the purchase.

Travel booking site Priceline, owned by Booking Holdings  (BKNG) , also has a LEAPDAY29 promo code that gives customers $29 off any flight, hotel or car rental purchased through the platform. The deal is valid exclusively from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 29 alongside 29% off certain flight and hotel bundles or car rentals featured on Priceline during the same time with the "Leap Day Sale" icon.

Another airline is offering 30% off ticket fares (here's how to score a deal)

Southwest Airlines  (LUV)  is another airline that has a Leap Day sale on the airline's destinations.

From Feb. 27 to 29, those who book a ticket with the airline will get 30% off flights which depart on Tuesday and Wednesday, 25% off  Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday travel and 20% off flights departing on Sunday.

To take advantage, one will need to enter the promo code SPLASH alongside one's payment details when completing a purchase.  The deal also has certain limitations — popular travel periods like March 23-24, March 30-31, and April 6-7 are blacked out while short flights within the same state are also not eligible.

And for those who are able to book a trip around the world, Australia's flagship carrier Qantas Airways  (QUBSF)  is also slashing prices for flights from the U.S. to Australia or New Zealand between 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 29, $250 off.

"This sale offers great value for travelers looking to make the most of the extra day in our calendars this year and use that time to book their trip Down Under," Oronzo Miccoli, Qantas' SVP for Americas, said in a statement to Travel and Leisure.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.