PLANNING holidays is always exciting, but ensuring you have a ticket for a journey a long time in advance can be tricky.
As each airline has its own system, here's everything you need to know about when they release their schedules.
How far in advance can you book a flight?
The period for booking ahead of a flight depends on which airline customers are flying with, but it is generally between six months and a year before take-off.
Some airlines have a fixed period of time prior to the scheduled date when they will release flights — for example eleven months.
Others seem to release them completely randomly, sometimes well over a year in advance.
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Check out our detailed rundown of when different airlines release their flight schedules below...
When do airlines release flights?
easyJet
In March easyJet released its spring 2024 schedule featuring 100,000 flights.
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis said "easyJet's pricing is demand-based, so the more people buying, the higher the price goes - which means the early bird often catches the cheap worm... or flight.
"Could be 5am, 6am, could be 7am. The likelihood is, can't guarantee it, but if you get there very early, you will get the prices very cheap.
"Every time it has worked before but I'm not guaranteeing it."
easyJet's 2025 winter flights have also been released, taking their clientele all the way until March 2025.
As easyJet spokesperson said: "We encourage customers to book early to get the best fares.
"Fares are demand-driven so they start low and rise as more seats on the aircraft are booked."
But for those times in between spring and winter, people looking for easyJet flights should keep an eye on the company's website, as new deals are frequently released. It explains: "We release our flights on a regular basis.
"Our spring/summer and autumn/winter releases vary, so to ensure you never miss a release, keep an eye on this page (and subscribe to our newsletter) to get the most up-to-date info on our upcoming flight release dates."
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Ryanair
While some airlines release their tickets at a certain time, things are less straightforward with Ryanair — different routes are made available at different times.
However, there is a general rule that can be applied to the Irish airline — check five to six months before you want to fly.
In November 2023, the Ryanair website announced the release of some of their summer 2024 flights.
The airline's statement said: “Operating from the end of March, Ryanair’s summer 2024 schedule offers an unbeatable choice of popular sunny hotspots and city breaks, as well as less-well known destinations to unearth and explore at the lowest fares in Europe."
Passengers can keep up to date with Ryanair flight releases by following their Facebook page and signing up to the myRyanair email service.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air doesn't have a set date for when flight schedules become available.
However, they are typically released just under a year in advance of the flight in question.
For example, in November 2023 Wizz Air released its flights — to destinations including Malaga, Lisbon and Istanbul — right up until the third week of November 2024.
A spokesperson for Wizz Air told Metro: "Wizz Air announces new routes as and when they are added to the schedule.
"Passengers should keep an eye out on the Wizz Air website and their social media channels for the latest updates."
British Airways
British Airways allows its customers to book flights up to 355 days in advance.
This applies to tickets bought with both cash and Avios — the reward currency.
To have the best chance of booking Avios reward flights on the dates you want them, it is important to know when British Airways releases them.
For example, if you wanted to fly on June 20, 2025, you would be able to book the outbound journey from June 30, 2024.
Jet2
Jet2 releases flights a long time in advance, so it is possible to plan well ahead when booking your holiday.
The travel provider launched its schedule for winter 2024/25 in September 2023.
Commenting on the winter 2024/25 services, Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said: “As well as seeing strong demand from customers and independent travel agents booking a Christmas Market break for this winter, we know that people want to book ahead and get their holidays locked in for next winter too.”
“We have given holidaymakers exactly what they want by putting a fantastic selection of Christmas Market destinations on sale for Winter 24/25.”
“This is the earliest we have ever put our Christmas Markets programme on sale, meaning customers and independent travel agents can book in advance and have the best choice of dates and hotels from across our festive hotspots.”
“We are anticipating a very successful Winter 24/25 and look forward to taking holidaymakers to their favourite Christmas Market destinations, as well as showcasing our award-winning flights and city breaks to them.”
TUI
In November 2023, TUI released its flights all the way up to June 2025.
On the company's official website, you can find summer holiday Deals 2025.
So if you have any holiday plans in the next year and half, be sure to check the website now as you can start booking your next trip abroad.
In April 2023, the airline added over one million extra seats to popular holiday destinations for next summer.
Andrew Flintham, TUI managing director, said: "Our customers want more flexibility and to be able to choose a departure airport that is close to home – and that is exactly what the new TUI 2024 summer programme has been designed to do.
"We want every one of our customers to be able to create a holiday as unique as they are – departure airport, destination and duration are all key components which come together to make the perfect TUI holiday."
Emirates
Tickets for Emirates flights become available just over 11 months before take-off.
As the company’s website explains: “You may book flights up to 338 days before departure.
“You can request electronic tickets or pick up your tickets from locations listed during the booking process.
“Please note tickets can be collected only in your country of departure and deliveries can only be made in your country of departure.”
And online purchases become available 10 days after the ticket is released for general sale.
Emirates website continues: “Online booking using real time payment is available for any flights up to 2 hours before scheduled departure time.
“You can purchase a ticket online up to 328 days before the date of travel.”
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic releases its flights continually.
They are released roughly 11 months ahead of departure — 331 days in advance, to be precise.
So at the time of writing in June 2024, flights are available up to March 2025.
Here's a list breaking down each passenger carrier's system:
- easyJet — released in batches, often around a year ahead of departure, but keep an eye on their website as new deals are frequently released
- Ryanair — released in batches, often just under a year ahead of the flight
- Wizz Air — released in batches, typically just under a year in advance of the flight in question
- British Airways — released continually, 355 days ahead of take-off
- Jet2 — released continually, generally 12 to 18 months before departure
- TUI — released a long time on advance, even over a hear and a half before the flight
- Emirates — released continually 338 days before departure
- Virgin Atlantic — released continually, 331 days days in advance
What is the best day to book flights?
Tuesday is widely regarded to be the best day of the week for finding deals when booking flights.
This is because airlines often release sales starting from Monday night or Tuesday morning.
The air travel business is heavily based on supply and demand, so you will most likely get a better deal nearer the start of a sale.
Although there is no best day of the year to book a flight, a number of experts recommend booking on any Sunday in January to get the cheapest prices.
Rather than a specific day, travel expert Caroline Bologna says there is a sweet spot for when you can get the best deals called the “Goldilocks Window”.
Unsurprisingly, this optimum time for securing bargains lies right in between booking too early and booking too late.
Caroline told the Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast: “There’s this term called the ‘Goldilocks Window’ — which I’m pretty sure Scott Keyes, who founded Scott’s Cheap Flights, which is now called Going.com — coined.
“[If you book] too late, we all know prices can skyrocket, but also you don’t want to book too early, because then you could be unnecessarily paying too much.”
She explained that people who are organised and get things done in advance can be at a disadvantage when booking tickets.
Similarly, those who book at the last minute can also lose out on the best deals.
Caroline advised booking domestic flights four to six weeks before flying, or even as much as eight weeks in advance.
While for international travel it was best to book three to five months before actually jetting off.
But Caroline also issued a warning, as there are exceptions.
She said: “There are always exceptions.
“Holiday season, summer travel — those are times you know are going to be crazy, so you’re going to want to book them pretty far in advance.”
Some people swear that you can get better deals if you book on a particular day, such as a Sunday or Tuesday, however Caroline rejects this saying that the experts she’s spoken to dismiss this as being a myth.
However, if you fly on particular days this can save you money.
Caroline said: “Every expert I’ve ever talked to says [traveling on] Tuesday and Wednesday — those midweek days — are the best.
“Early Saturday can be pretty good as well.”
One of the hosts of the podcast, Noah Michelson, added that if you do fly on holiday, such as Christmas morning, you can save a pile of cash.
But there is a significant risk when using this approach – if there is a problem with your flight, either being delayed or cancelled, you may not make it home for the big day.
How else can I save money on my booking?
Opting for an unsociable, early-morning flight can save you money, while also improving your chances of getting a better seat.
According to Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, booking flights in the first two months of the year could make them cheaper.
He revealed that fares will often be sold at a loss during January and February in order to fill the planes up.
The same is said for the dates just before the peak school holidays.
Speaking to the Independent in January 2024, he said those winter months are the best time of year to find the cheapest air fares.
He explained: “There will always be periods of time, particularly... January, February, before you get to the school mid-term break or the Easter holidays or summer — where we’re trying to fill flights.
“We’re happy to fill flights at loss-making air fares. So there will still be lots of low air fares.”
Even with those lower prices in January and February, O'Leary still sticks by comments he made around this time last year when he said that the days of £9.99 flights were over.
He said the price of fuel now means the airline cannot afford to go that low anymore.
He continued: “We’re now paying $80 (£63) a barrel for fuel. I don’t think you’ll see a return to £9.99 air fares but £15, £20, £25 is still a phenomenally cheap air fare."
However, there are still bargains to be had for flights if people look at the right time.
