Booking flights well in advance can often help you secure the cheapest fares, particularly during peak travel periods. As a result, understanding when airlines release their flights can be key to locking in the lowest prices.
This is especially important for reward flights booked with loyalty points, where popular routes — and premium cabins — are often snapped up as soon as availability is released.
Most airlines open their flight schedules 9–12 months ahead of departure. Legacy carriers typically release flights close to a full year in advance, while low-cost airlines often use batch releases throughout the year and don’t follow a fixed timetable.
Below is an overview of how major airlines handle flight releases.
British Airways
Booking window: ~355 days before departure
British Airways allows bookings almost 12 months in advance for both cash and reward (Avios) seats. Flights are released on a rolling basis, with new dates typically appearing at midnight GMT, 355 days before departure.
While booking exactly at the 355-day mark isn’t necessary for most travellers, it is often essential for securing popular long-haul Business Class (Club World) reward seats.
Virgin Atlantic
Booking window: ~11 months (≈331 days) before departure
Virgin Atlantic releases flights on a rolling basis, with new dates appearing roughly 11 months ahead of departure. Like BA, there is no single “drop day” — availability opens steadily as the calendar moves forward.
EasyJet
Release style: Batch releases (no fixed date)
EasyJet does not publish a precise release timetable. Instead, it opens blocks of flights — such as summer or winter schedules — during what it calls Big Seat Releases. There are typically around four batch releases per year, covering travel up to 9–12 months ahead.
EasyJet uses a dynamic pricing model, meaning prices rise as demand increases. This can make timing tricky, but fares are often lowest when flights are first released — particularly for peak periods like school holidays. Prices can surge within hours of going on sale.
If you have fixed dates or destinations, booking early is key. However, it’s wise to benchmark prices beforehand so you can judge whether the launch fare is genuinely good value.
EasyJet does not publish future release dates far in advance. The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to easyJet’s newsletter or the weekly email from MoneySavingExpert, which often flags upcoming releases.
Ryanair
Release style: Irregular / rolling batch releases
Ryanair does not operate a formal or predictable release schedule. Routes are often added airport by airport, rather than through a single large release.
Typically:
- Summer flights are released around 5–9 months ahead
- Winter flights often appear later in the year, usually in late spring or early summer
Because there’s no fixed pattern, frequent checking or signing up for email alerts is recommended.
Jet2
Booking window: ~12–18 months in advance
Jet2 releases flights earlier than most airlines, partly due to its focus on package holidays and charter-style operations. As a result, flights can sometimes be booked more than a year in advance, making Jet2 one of the earliest airlines to open availability.
KLM
Booking window: ~11 months ahead
KLM typically releases flights around 11 months before departure on a rolling basis. As part of the Air France–KLM group, release timing is often aligned with Air France.
Qatar Airways
Booking window: ~361 days ahead
Qatar Airways usually releases international flights just under a year before departure. This makes it broadly consistent with other full-service, long-haul carriers.
Air France
Booking window: ~365 days ahead (similar to other major European carriers)
Air France follows the standard legacy-carrier model, with flights becoming bookable roughly a year in advance. As noted above, scheduling is often coordinated with KLM.
Emirates
Booking window: ~330–340+ days ahead
Emirates releases flights on a rolling basis, with new dates appearing at around 11 months before departure. While you can often book close to a year ahead, the exact timing of availability can vary.
Summary table
| Airline | Booking Window / Release Timing | Release Style |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | ~355 days before departure | Rolling daily release (midnight GMT) |
| Virgin Atlantic | ~331 days (~11 months) | Rolling release |
| easyJet | Up to ~9–12 months ahead | Batch “Big Seat Releases” |
| Ryanair | ~5–9 months (varies by season) | Irregular rolling batches |
| Jet2 | ~12–18 months ahead | Early advance release |
| KLM | ~11 months ahead | Rolling release |
| Air France | ~365 days ahead | Rolling release |
| Qatar Airways | ~361 days ahead | Rolling release |
| Emirates | ~330–340+ days ahead | Rolling release |
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