What to buy and what to skip on Black Friday - NBC News

What to buy and what to skip on Black Friday - NBC News
Amazon Black Friday Sale Live: Early Deals On PS4, Xbox One, Cheap Games, And More - GameSpot
Starbucks’ Holiday Cups Are Coming Back On Thursday. Hopefully, You’ll Get One. - Forbes

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 08:36 AM PST

Year over year, the Black Friday shopping extravaganza seems to get bigger, and 2019 is no exception, with the National Retail Federation reporting that over 165 million people plan to shop between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, while new research from RetailMeNot finds that 85 percent of consumers plan to shop this weekend — up from 78 percent in 2018.

"There's more excitement around Black Friday this year compared to last," Michelle Skupin, retail expert at RetailMeNot says. Excitement is certainly one aspect of it, but with so many stores kicking off so many deals, this shopping weekend can also be fairly overwhelming and difficult to navigate if you're sticking to a budget. To help with this, we consulted a number of retail experts to learn which are the best sales to focus on, which ones aren't worth the hype, and how to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Check as many people off your list as you can — time is running out

"There is less time between Black Friday and Christmas, [last year in 2018] shoppers had 32 days between the holidays; this year, there are only 26 days," says Meaghan Brophy, senior retail analyst at Fit Small Business. "Shoppers might feel a greater sense of urgency this Black Friday, as there is less time to cross items off of the shopping lists."

Because shoppers are working with just less than three weeks between now and December 25, many retailers rolled out their Black Friday sales early, so you can get a head start. RetailMeNot's Skupin adds that retailers are also being more generous with their shipping/pickup options, with Skupin noting that "30 percent of retailers offering BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store options) are sweetening the deal with a discount — versus just 20 percent that did so in 2018."

If you know what you want, online buying is the way to go

Other than picking up in store to save time (and possibly dodge a shipping fee), you should be able to get all of your Black Friday shopping done online, which is what most consumers desire.

"According to our research, 67 percent of consumers say it's become more important to avoid crowds while shopping over Black Friday weekend," says Skupin. "More shoppers (83 percent) plan to buy their gifts via mobile this season."

If you're worried about missing out on in-store-only deals, that's fair — but you're probably worrying for nothing.

"Compared to last year, Black Friday is shaping up for more traffic online and less in store traffic," says Jon Vincent, founder of EarlyBlackFriday.com. "In 2018, 53 percent of Black Friday shopping came from online sources (web, app) while this year we expect it to increase to 55 percent. Almost every Black Friday deal will be available online. Plus, retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy will be offering online-only deals that you can't get in the stores."

Download coupon code apps and cashback browser extensions

Shopping online also tends to boast more savings opportunities than in-store because it opens up a secret universe of promo codes, browser extensions, price comparison apps and other digital tools. I shop almost exclusively online, and almost always save a bit of dough. That said, here's my list of must-haves (though bear in mind you can usually only use one at a time):

Skupin recommends refreshing your Amazon Wish List, too, stating: "Amazon's Wish List will come in handy because you'll have set list of what you must purchase. Add notes so you'll remember what you're buying for whom and include a budget so you stick with it. You can also use this to research and compare prices by scouring the internet before hitting the stores."

The winners of best Black Friday deals are ... electronics and tech from Best Buy, Walmart and Target

Shoppers can find excellent deals on numerous electronics and tech this Black Friday, with deals spanning everything from headphones and laptops to smart TVs and game consoles.

"You'll see some of the best pricing of the year on the PS 4, Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Kohl's, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and GameStop are consistently offering $100 to $150 off these systems," says Kristin McGrath, editor and shopping expert at BlackFriday.com (a sister site of Offers.com). "Note that these are older systems, and you may want to wait until the newer consoles start coming out in 2020."

Julie Ramhold, Consumer Analyst with DealNews.com adds that some of the "best prices ever" on TVs are being rolled out this Black Friday, and highlights the following sales as especially impressive:

1. Best Buy: Samsung 70-Inch LED 2160p Smart 4K UHD TV with HDR

2. Walmart: 40-Inch 1080P Roku Smart LED TV

3. Walmart: Philips 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 2160p Android Smart LED TV

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4. Target: Element 65-Inch 4k Roku Smart TV

5. Walmart: Google Smart TV Kit

"This is the only Google Smart TV kit we've seen in the Black Friday ads," Ramhold says. "And it comes with a $10 Vudu credit, which just makes it even more appealing.

Here are some other super hot tech sales to consider, courtesy of Michael Bonebright, Consumer Analyst with DealNews.com:

Staples and Target will have the latest Apple iPad 10" WiFi model from around $250. "That price beats our internal predictions by $50," says Bonebright.

Apple iPad 10" WiFi Model

Samsung Intel Atom x5 Chromebook

More laptop deals are bound to roll out on Cyber Monday, so if you're waiting on a specific product or just want more options, it's best to wait.

"Lenovo, HP and Dell all have strong Cyber Monday sales, and Best Buy usually throws one too," says McGrath. "They're also known for offering Cyber Monday deals that are very similar to what they offered on Black Friday. So save your Black Friday energy for other items and shop laptops over Cyber Weekend."

It's a great time to buy that Instant Pot or Roomba

"While Black Friday is known for discounts on the big-ticket items, don't forget about the smaller kitchen appliances," says Sara Skirboll, Shopping and Trends Expert at RetailMeNot. "Items like coffee makers, electric skillets, slow cookers, blenders and more will be heavily discounted and might be the perfect gift to pick up for a family member. A few deals we are seeing on these include the 8-quart Instant Pot at Walmart for under $60. This was one of Walmart's best performing Black Friday deals last year so we are not surprised they're bringing this amazing deal back this year. For sparkling water lovers, Target is offering the SodaStream Fizzi for $49.99 down from $89.99."

Shoppers should also check out Lowe's and Home Depot, which are already offering up to 40 percent off appliances. "Plus, look out for gift cards when you buy multiple appliances, free installation and other perks," says McGrath.

In addition to kitchen must-haves, now is a great time to buy other household basics, like vacuums and air purifiers.

"This year, Dyson and Roomba vacuums will be deeply discounted by several retailers," says Brophy. "These are not commonly thought of as popular Black Friday items, but Amazon shoppers can find air purifiers on the list of Black Friday sales."

Black Friday touts some great sales on apparel, but Cyber Monday might shine brighter

Rebecca Gramuglia, shopping expert at TopCashback.com, expects fashion to be the most popular category shopped this Black Friday for TopCashback members, just as it was last year.

"Retailers like Gap, Carter's and Nike led the list for the week of Thanksgiving last year (November 18th), while H&M also topped the list off on the actual day of Black Friday last year, too," says Gramuglia. "We are predicting those same retailers will fall into the Top 10 again this year, though we wouldn't be surprised if Michael Kors and Adidas made their way towards the top of the list. Based on anticipated shopping habits and pre-Black Friday deals in full-swing."

You can certainly find great deals right now on fashion, but McGrath makes the argument for consumers to wait until Cyber Monday to buy certain apparel.

"Clothing is, overwhelmingly, one of the smartest Cyber Monday buys you can make," says McGrath says. "Retailers including Gap, Old Navy, ASOS, Express and more offer between 25 percent and 50 percent off all online orders."

McGrath finds that Cyber Monday tends to be less "product-specific" when it comes to clothing sales than Black Friday, but shoppers should consider that all of these aforementioned fast fashion brands have announced or kicked off Black Friday sales, so it would be wise to act sooner than later on already-discounted items lest they sell out.

Beauty product sales are hard to come by, but they're here now

"High-end beauty products rarely go on sale, but this Black Friday you can score major discounts on popular brands such as Urban Decay, Clinique, Mario Badescu, Origins and Too Faced," says Gramuglia. "Macy's has already announced their Black Friday sales with beauty gifts starting as low as $10.

Wait on toys, gift cards, fitness and furniture

"While there are plenty of can't-beat deals happening on and around Black Friday, it's important to know that it's not the best time of year for everything," says Joanie Demer, co-founder of The Krazy Coupon Lady. "Sure, there are deals on toys and gift cards, but if you wait a month, you'll get them for the lowest prices of the year, as Target and Walmart hold their semi-annual toy sales and people offload their gift cards to resellers like Raise.com."

Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet personal finance expert, seconds Demer's point re: passing on toy sales right now, adding that you should also pass on bedding, "which goes on sale in January, and winter clothing, which will go on sale as we approach spring," she says.

Skupin suggests "avoiding big purchases like fitness equipment and furniture. You will no doubt see doorbuster deals for furniture, but Black Friday is not the time to buy as these items usually have better discounts in January and July through August. As for fitness equipment and gym memberships, those deals pop up in January."

Black Friday deals you can score now

Instant Pot LUX60 V3 6 Qt

Shark Ion Robot Vacuum

Amazon Fire Stick

Apple AirPods with Charging Case

Amazon Kindle E-Reader

Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad

Keurig K-Select Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker

23andMe Ancestry and Traits Service

BETTER Gift Guides

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Amazon Black Friday Sale Live: Early Deals On PS4, Xbox One, Cheap Games, And More - GameSpot

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 11:18 AM PST

Amazon has been rolling out the deals ahead of Black Friday 2019 for a while now as part of its Happy HoliDeals sale, but the biggest deals are finally starting to go live.

As with Prime Day, Amazon's holiday deals page includes a mix of Lightning Deals--which are only available for a limited time--and longer-term deals that should be available throughout the duration of this first round of deals (or while supplies last). Following a round of early deals, the official Black Friday countdown has begun at Amazon, marking a week of deals that will run right up until November 29, Black Friday itself. Aside from this week of deals, expect one-time-only deals to launch throughout the day on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. We won't know what those are until they're live (thanks, Amazon).

So far, Amazon's Black Friday sale includes many of the official offers from Sony and Microsoft. That includes an excellent PS4 Slim bundle with three console-exclusive games for $200, a limited-edition Xbox One X console with Gears 5 for $349, controllers for $39 each, and a 12-month PS Plus membership for $45, among other deals. Many of Amazon's own smart devices are starting to see steep discounts as well, like the Fire HD 10 Tablet for $100 ($50 off) and the Kindle Paperwhite for $85 ($45 off).

Nintendo Switch console deals have been limited so far for Black Friday 2019. Later this week, Amazon will be offering the official Nintendo bundle, which is recycled from last year--the bundle will include a launch model Switch (without improved battery life) and a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. We'll have to wait and see if Amazon offers any exceptional Switch deals on its own, but we do expect to see some nice Switch game discounts as Black Friday grows closer.

Live Now: Amazon's Black Friday week of deals

We've highlighted some of the best games on sale already at Amazon below, but you can find even more game discounts at Amazon as part of the Black Friday countdown.

Best games on sale now:

Nintendo Switch:

PS4:

Xbox One:

Console bundles and accessories on sale now:

PS4 Slim 1TB bundle with God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us Remastered - $200

PS4 Slim (1TB) with God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition, and The Last of Us Remastered | $200

Another official PlayStation offer, the PS4 Slim holiday bundle is a great way to get your hands on some of the system's best games. The 1TB console will $200 and comes bundled with Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition, and God of War. It's available now at Amazon and other retailers.

Sold out at last update

PS4 Pro with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - $300

PS4 Pro (1TB) with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | $300 ($400)

We first spotted this excellent PS4 Pro bundle at Walmart, and now Amazon seems to be price-matching the offer. This is a nice discount on its own, but with a free copy of the newly released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare included, this PS4 Pro bundle is a great opportunity to get the more powerful console at its lowest price.

Sold out at last update

PlayStation VR Mega Pack with five games | $200 ($300)

It'll be hard to find a better deal on PSVR than this mega pack, which includes the headset, PlayStation Camera, and five great games: PlayStation VR Worlds, Skyrim VR, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Resident Evil 7, and Everybody's Golf VR.

Sold out at last update

PSVR bundle with two games, motion controllers - $250

PlayStation VR with Blood & Truth, Everybody's Golf VR, and motion controllers | $250 ($350)

Alternatively, you can pick up this two-game PSVR bundle for Black Friday, which includes Blood & Truth and Everybody's Golf VR. While more expensive than the mega pack, this bundle includes two PlayStation Move motion controllers, which can cost as much as $100 a pair.

Available now

Xbox One X with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe - $349

Xbox One bundles with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition

Xbox One X - $349
Xbox One S - $200

Microsoft is offering a wide range of steeply discounted Xbox One bundles for Black Friday, and we imagine they'll make their way under a lot of Christmas trees this holiday season. You'll find Xbox One X bundles for $349 and the corresponding Xbox One S bundles for $200 each. One of the best options is this Xbox bundle with the brand new Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition, available for both Xbox One X and Xbox One S.

Available now

Gears 5 limited-edition Xbox One X console - $349

Xbox One X (1TB) limited-edition bundle with Gears 5 | $349 ($500)

Gears 5 is included with Xbox Game Pass, but if you're not a subscriber or just want to own the game for yourself, there's a pretty sweet limited-edition Xbox One X with matching controller available for $349. This particular bundle not only includes Gears 5, but also Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Gears of War 2, 3, and 4, making it the perfect gift for fans of the franchise.

The standard black Xbox One X bundle with Gears 5 is also available for $349 along with the white Xbox One S bundle for $200.

Available now

Xbox One bundles with NBA 2K20

Xbox One X - $349
Xbox One S - $200

Released just a few months ago, NBA 2K20 is also bundled with the Xbox One X or Xbox One S for their Black Friday discounts.

Available now

Xbox One S All-Digital Edition | $149 ($250)

If you primarily want to buy games digitally, the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition may be the way to go, especially at its lowest price ever, $149. Please note this console doesn't come with a disc drive, so there's no option to play physical discs like games or Blu-rays. The bundle comes with three games as well: Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and Fortnite with bonus content.

Available now

Special-Edition Xbox One Controllers: Gears 5, Sport Blue, and Night Ops Camo

Xbox One wireless controllers | $39 each

As part of Microsoft's official Black Friday deals, Xbox One wireless controllers are down to $39 each, and you can find them on sale at Amazon right now. That includes standard colors like black, white, and red as well as some of the special editions, like the Night Ops Camo controller and the Phantom White controller. The Kait Diaz special-edition controller is also included but was sold out last time we checked--it may come back into stock later this week.

Available now

Razer BlackWidow Elite gaming keyboard - $140

Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard | $140 ($170)

This mechanical gaming keyboard from Razer includes an ergonomic wrist rest for long play sessions, customizable inputs, options for clicky or silent buttons, and more. It's $30 off for Black Friday.

Available now

Razer Kraken Tournament Edition gaming headset - $55

Razer Kraken Tournament Edition Surround Sound Gaming Headset | $55 ($100)

Compatible with PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition headset features 7.1 surround sound and allows you to configure volume, bass, and game/chat balance. It's a full 45% off for Black Friday--not bad.

Available now

Sega Genesis Mini | $45 ($80)

For those who have held off on getting the Sega Genesis Mini so far, this might be a great time to snag it for yourself (or someone on your shopping list this Christmas). The mini console comes with 42 classic games pre-installed; it also includes two classic three-button controllers, a USB-to-Micro-B power cable, and an HDMI cable. You can check out our Sega Genesis Mini review for more info.

Available now

PlayStation Plus 12-month membership | $45 ($60)

PS Plus gets PS4 owners access to online multiplayer, free monthly games, and exclusive game discounts. Normally sold for $60, a 12-month membership is available for $45 during Black Friday week at multiple retailers, including Amazon.

Available now

Amazon smart devices on sale now:

Fire HD 8 | $50 ($80)

Don't expect a tablet with the power of an iPad, but if you want something to read e-books, watch Netflix, or any other media-based thing, then the Fire HD 8 can handle it. It's equipped with 1.5 GB of RAM and comes in 16 GB and 32 GB storage options.

Available now

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet - $80

Fire HD 8 Kids Edition | $80 ($130)

The Kids Edition of the Fire HD 8 bundles the tablet with a kid-proof case and a year's subscription to Free Time Unlimited, which gives its users access to more than a thousand books, movies, TV shows, apps, and games suitable for children.

Available now

Fire 7 Tablet | $30 ($50)

The Fire 7 tablet is Amazon's seven-inch tablet, both cheaper and less powerful than the Fire HD 8. It's equipped with 1 GB of RAM and comes in 16 GB and 32 GB storage options.

Available now

Fire 7 Kids Edition | $60 ($100)

Like the Fire 8 Kids Edition, this bundle includes the Fire 7 tablet, a protective case, and a 12-month subscription to Free Time Unlimited. The subscription gives your kid unlimited access to a ton of child-friendly books, movies, shows, apps, and games.

Available now

Fire HD 10 Tablet | $100 ($150)

The Fire HD 10 tablet is Amazon's ten-inch--and most powerful--tablet. It's equipped with a 1080p screen and 2GB RAM. It comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options but also features upgradeable storage via microSD.

Available now

Kindle Paperwhite | $85 ($130)

The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's most popular e-reader, with a screen that looks more similar to paper than a tablet. It has weeks of battery life and comes in 8 GB and 32 GB storage options.

Available now

Echo Show 5 and Ring Video Doorbell Pro - $190

Echo Show 5 + Ring Video Doorbell Pro | $190 ($240)

This bundle packages the Echo Show 5 with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. The Echo Show 5 is Amazon's compact smart display, similar in size to an alarm clock but with features like video calling, music and video playback, and Alexa voice control. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro, on the other hand, is a camera-equipped doorbell that you can put on the front of your house. It gives you video access to your front door with motion alerts sent directly to your phone, tablet, or PC. You can pick up the bundled pair for $190 now.

Available now

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote - $25

Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote | $25 ($50)

Starting November 24, Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K will be available for $25. It gives you access to a bunch of apps, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, all streamable in 4K. The Alexa Voice Remote lets you control your media with your voice.

Available now

Amazon TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote - $20

Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote | $20 ($40)

On November 24, you'll also be able to pick up the regular Fire TV Stick for $20. This gives you the same access to all of your favorite apps but in 1080p instead of 4K. It also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote, so you'll be able to speak to your Fire TV Stick without fumbling with the buttons.

Available now

Fire TV Cube | $90 ($120)

The Fire TV Cube gives you everything the Fire TV Stick 4K does, in addition to complete smart home control, Alexa voice assistant, and a built-in speaker. Starting November 24, you'll be able to grab it for $90.

Available now

Upcoming deals:

Nintendo Switch bundle with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | $300

No, we haven't entered a time machine and gone back to Black Friday 2018. Nintendo is offering the same Nintendo Switch holiday bundle that was available last year. For $300, you can get the Switch and a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The potential snag with this bundle? It's the launch model Switch, which means you won't get the upgraded battery that comes with the newer Switch model released a few months back. That said, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an incredible game that normally sells for about $50.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons (Gray or Neon Red/Blue) | $53.60

Nintendo's pricey Joy-Con controllers will be down to $60 on Black Friday at many retailers, but if Amazon's press release is correct, each pair of Joy-Cons will be available for $53.60, a full 33% off rather than 25%. It appears that only the original gray or neon red and blue Joy-Cons will be eligible for this awesome deal. Nevertheless, if you're gifting a Switch this holiday or want to have some multiplayer fun at your holiday party, you shouldn't pass up this deal.

Blink XT2 3 Camera Kit | $185 ($250)

Starting November 27, you'll be able to pick up Amazon's three-pack security camera pack for $185. With its cloud storage, these cameras can store hundreds of clips for up to a year. The cameras also feature two-way audio and two years of battery life.

Ring Indoor Cam 2 Pack | $100 ($140)

The Ring Indoor Cam pack comes with two cameras for the interior of your house. Starting November 27 for $100, you can equip your home with two Ring Indoor cameras that feature two-way audio, motion alerts, and Alexa support.

Amazon Smart Plug - $5 with the purchase of Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, Echo Show 5, or Echo Studio

Amazon Smart Plug | $5 with Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, Echo, Echo Show 5, or Echo Studio

For $5, you can pair an Amazon Smart Plug with the purchase of an Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, Echo, Echo Show 5, or Echo Studio. The Amazon Smart Plug gives you the ability to control whatever you plug into it with Alexa smart home control. This deal starts on November 27.

Echo Dot with clock | $35 ($60)

The Echo Dot with clock is Amazon's compact Alexa speaker that comes with a clock, so you don't have to ask for the time whenever you need it. Starting November 28, you can pick it up for $35.

Echo Dot | $22 ($50)

The Echo Dot without the clock comes with all the Alexa features you need in a compact form factor. Ask for music, the news, weather, traffic, and more, thanks to the thousands of skills you can have your Echo Dot learn.

Echo Auto | $30 ($50)

Amazon's Echo Auto puts an Alexa speaker into your car. Even more compact than the Echo Dot, equip your vehicle with all of the Alexa skills and features you can enjoy at home. The auto smart speaker goes for $30 on November 28.

Echo (Gen 3) | $60 ($100)

The Echo is a slightly-less compact speaker with better speakers, so if you're looking to use it more seriously as a music player, this could be a good choice for you. On November 28, its price goes down to $60.

Echo Show 5 | $50 ($90)

The Echo Show 5 is Amazon's compact smart display that works as an alarm clock, video caller, music and video player, and much more. It goes on sale for $50 on November 28.

Echo Show | $150 ($230)

The Echo Show is Amazon's smart display with a bigger screen and better sound. The screen comes in at 10-inches with speakers that feature Dolby processing. You can pick one up for $150 starting November 28.

More Black Friday 2019 Deals

Starbucks’ Holiday Cups Are Coming Back On Thursday. Hopefully, You’ll Get One. - Forbes

Posted: 06 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST

It's November, and that means the holiday drink lineup is returning to Starbucks.

So are those reusable red holiday cups that are a giveaway on the first day when the holiday drinks go one sale.

You might remember what happened in 2018, when Starbucks had far fewer cups available than customers who wanted them. (I was among the people who tried to get one.)

This year, Starbucks is making it clear that you need to be prompt.

"Come in early tomorrow to get a free reusable red cup with the purchase of your favorite handcrafted holiday beverage," Starbucks said in a email to its Rewards members on Wednesday.

"Hurry—these won't last long, and we only have a limited number. Available at participating stores."

Through Jan. 6, customers can bring the cups back after 2 p.m. to get 50 cents off a grande size holiday beverage. And, the company hopes many people will do so.

"This year, we have made great strides to create inventory in all of our stores, so actually merchandise is in stores now, and we feel confident about securing a large supply of red cups," Starbucks' Chief Operating Officer Rosalind Brewer said Monday, in an interview with CNBC.

What's this year's holiday drinks lineup? Well, it's going to look pretty familiar to people who've purchased the Starbucks holiday beverages in the past.

It includes the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, the Eggnog Latte and the Peppermint Mocha, which is now 17 years old.

American customers won't find the Gingerbread Latte, although it will be available in Canada. (Here's why brands offer special flavors – or flavours – in the True North.)

I won't miss the Gingerbread Latte, but I was hoping Starbucks would bring back the Juniper Latte.

It had a decided European sensibility, but it was a flavor that generated a mixed reaction. I thought it was pleasantly sophisticated; others thought it reminded them of Pine Sol or cheap car air freshener.

Along with the holiday drinks, Starbucks also is teaming up with Alaska Airlines on a special tie-in.

Starting on Thursday, anyone traveling with a Starbucks holiday cup will receive priority boarding on all Alaska Airlines flights. The promotion lasts through Sunday.

The Starbucks cup holders will be allowed to board in the"espresso" lane (clever, huh?) following Group B, which is the third priority group.

Customers can bring any Starbucks beverage, as long as it is in a holiday cup, and it's okay to finish your drink and just carry the cup on board.

Alaska Air, which has had an association with Starbucks for years, is promising additional Starbucks goodies for some passengers on some flights.

Now, you may be aware that Starbucks is testing compostable cups at the airports in San Francisco, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Atlanta. So, the holiday cups won't be available at some outlets in those places, only holiday sleeves.

These, plus the regular cup, will earn Alaska Air passengers the early boarding priority.

The fourth quarter is a big deal for Starbucks, which gets a boost not only from its holiday drinks, but from carry over sales of Pumpkin Spice items as well as people purchasing gift cards.

So, the holiday focus makes perfect sense, given the company's recent run up in its stock price. Starbucks shares are up 26 percent this year.