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Flight ticket release dates

Book early for cheaper seats, especially in peak times

Laura Foulger
Laura Foulger
Senior Features Writer
Edited by Deborah Shanahan
Updated 19 March 2024

When it comes to cheap flights, booking early can be key. So we've put our MoneySaving engines on full throttle to bring you the dates major airlines release seats.

It's important to note there's no certainty about when's cheapest to book – prices can fall after tickets are released, especially if there's a sale, but it's not guaranteed. Your best bet to be sure to get a good price is to follow the tips in our Cheap flights guide.

But if you're looking to pounce as soon as seats go on sale, this table will help. It can also be very useful if you're a member of a frequent flyer scheme looking to spend your points on flights – booking as soon as reward seats are released can mean you've more choice as seats are very limited.

Airline-by-airline release dates

Airline ticket release dates

AIRLINE

TICKETS GO ON SALE

HOW TO GET RELEASE & SALES ALERTS

Air France

Released continually, 11 months before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

American Airlines

Released continually, up to 331 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its free frequent flyer scheme

British Airways

Released continually, 355 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Easyjet

Batch release. The next release is at around 9am on Thu 21 March, for travel until 2 March 2025. See our Easyjet tricks guide

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Emirates 

Released continually, 340 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Etihad

Released continually, 11 months before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Jet2

Released continually, 12 to 18 months before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Iberia

Released continually, 365 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its emails

KLM

Released continually, around 11 months before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Lufthansa

Released continually, 360 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Norwegian

Batch release, normally in January, either March or April, and again in September

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Qatar

Released continually, 361 days before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Ryanair

Batch release, around 9 months before departure. Time of year varies. See our Ryanair tips guide

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Virgin Atlantic

Released continually, 11 months before departure

Follow its Facebook page and sign up to its email

Have you bagged a bargain booking early? Tell us about it on the Flight Ticket Release Dates forum thread.

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Flight Release Ticket Dates

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