FlySafair · Sales & Specials
FlySafair Specials & Sales (2026)
The R12 birthday sale, flash deals, and how to pay the least the rest of the year
The short version: FlySafair's famous rock-bottom ticket sale happens once a year in early May, only on the airline's own website, and it's a lottery. The 2026 edition (R12 a seat) has come and gone. Every other week of the year, the cheapest way to fly FlySafair is to compare its live fares against every rival on your exact dates — which you can do right here.
The FlySafair birthday sale — how it actually works
Once a year, FlySafair celebrates its birthday by selling 50,000 domestic seats at a price matching its age. The 2026 sale ran on Wednesday 6 May 2026, from 09:00 to 23:59, with seats at R12 for the airline's 12th birthday (fuel charges and taxes may apply on top — check the terms each year).
| Year | Sale price | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | R8 | 50,000 |
| 2023 | R9 | 50,000 |
| 2024 | R10 | 50,000 |
| 2026 | R12 | 50,000 |
The mechanics, honestly:
- The sale runs only on flysafair.co.za — no travel agent, app or booking platform (including Travelstart) sells the birthday-sale fares.
- Around a million people visit for 50,000 seats, so FlySafair uses an online waiting room that randomly lets a limited number of visitors through at a time. It is genuinely luck-based.
- If you get through, you have a short booking session — decide your route and dates before the sale so you don't burn your window browsing.
- Creating a FlySafair profile in advance speeds up checkout if you do get in.
Next expected sale: based on the annual pattern, around early May 2027. The announcement usually lands a day or two before via FlySafair's newsletter and social channels.
Missed the R12 sale? Here's the realistic play
Roughly 19 out of 20 people who queue for the birthday sale walk away without a ticket. If that was you — or you simply need to fly before May 2027 — the cheapest fare on any given day isn't found on one airline's website. It's found by comparing FlySafair against Lift, Airlink, CemAir and SAA simultaneously on your exact dates. On many days FlySafair wins; on some days a rival undercuts it, especially when FlySafair's cheapest fare bucket has sold out.
Other FlySafair specials through the year
- Percentage-off flash promos. FlySafair periodically runs short-window promotions — recently as much as 30% off domestic flights booked before a midnight deadline. These appear on its social channels with little warning.
- Email-only specials. Newsletter subscribers get flash deals of roughly 20–40% off selected routes. If you fly even twice a year, subscribing is worth it.
- Sale-fare buckets on normal days. Every FlySafair flight has cheap fare buckets that sell first. Booking 4–8 weeks out (10–12 weeks for December and July school holidays) is how you catch them.
Compare FlySafair fares live — right now
Real-time pricing powered by Travelstart — FlySafair and every rival airline, side by side on your dates.
* Partnered with Travelstart. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How to pay the least for FlySafair without a sale
- Fly Tuesday–Wednesday. Mid-week departures on the trunk routes consistently price lowest. See the cheapest day to fly analysis.
- Book 4–8 weeks ahead — and 10–12 weeks for December and July school-holiday travel, when cheap buckets vanish early. The school-holiday fare calendar maps the spikes.
- Consider Lanseria (HLA). For north-Joburg travellers, HLA fares frequently match or beat OR Tambo, with a faster airport experience.
- Watch the total, not the base fare. FlySafair's base fare includes only a 7 kg carry-on. Add checked baggage at booking, never at the airport — the true-cost breakdown shows how extras change the picture.
- Time it to payday. Fares don't care when you're paid — but booking the moment you have funds beats waiting for month-end. The salary-cycle booking guide covers the pattern.
FlySafair specials — FAQs
When is the next FlySafair R10 / R12 sale?
Once a year, early May. The 2026 sale ran on Wednesday 6 May 2026 (50,000 seats at R12). Expect the next around early May 2027, announced shortly beforehand on FlySafair's newsletter and social channels.
How does the birthday sale work?
One day only, exclusively on flysafair.co.za. A waiting room randomly admits visitors; if you get in you have a short session to book. It's luck-based — most visitors don't get a ticket.
Can I book sale tickets through Travelstart or another platform?
No — birthday-sale fares are only sold on FlySafair's own site during the sale. Outside the sale, comparison platforms show FlySafair's normal fares against every other airline, which is the fastest way to the cheapest ticket on your dates.
What's the sale price history?
R8 (2022) → R9 (2023) → R10 (2024) → R12 (2026, 12th birthday). Taxes and charges have applied in some years — read each sale's terms.
Does FlySafair run other specials?
Yes — short percentage-off flash promos (recently up to 30% off domestic flights) and email-only specials of roughly 20–40% on selected routes. Subscribe to the newsletter to catch them.
How do I get the cheapest fare without a sale?
Fly Tuesday/Wednesday, book 4–8 weeks out (10–12 for peak), consider Lanseria for Joburg, and compare FlySafair against Lift, Airlink, CemAir and SAA on your exact dates using the search above.