While most airlines list flights almost a year in advance, it’s not always best to book too soon. However, if you’re using airline points or flying over the holidays, the early bird gets the worm on the best tickets.
Read on to learn when airlines release their flights, plus, how you can use KAYAK tools to know exactly when to book.
In this article
When flights are available vs. when to book.
You can book most flights almost a year ahead.
How far in advance to book a domestic flight.
How far in advance to book international flights.
When to book if you’re using airline points.
How to use KAYAK to know when to book.
Is there really a best time to book?
FAQs
When flights are available vs. when to book.
You can book flights months in advance. That doesn’t mean you should. Most fares show up anywhere from about 6 months to 331 days before departure. But the best prices tend to come much later.
For domestic trips, that’s usually 21 – 30 days out. Flying international? Look closer to 7 – 14 days before takeoff. It’s a smaller window than most travelers expect. Book too early and you could miss the drop. Wait too long and prices can climb fast.
Peak season is the exception – when demand is high, earlier is still better.
| Trip type | When flights become available | When to book for best prices* |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights | ~6 – 11 months out | 21-30 days out |
| International flights | ~6 – 11 months out | 7-14 days out |
| Peak-season travel | ~6 – 11 months out | As early as you can |
*Data source: Based on average economy flight prices from 2026, using round-trip searches made 7 – 183 days before departure across domestic and international routes.
You can book most flights almost a year ahead.
- The majority of the world’s airlines release tickets for purchase just under a year in advance.
- Low-cost airlines, like Ryanair in Europe, can have a shorter booking window, from 6 – 9 months in advance.
But booking that far ahead doesn’t necessarily mean you’re saving money or getting the best deal. Plus, flight logistics like departure and arrival times often end up changing if you book further out.
How far in advance to book a domestic flight.
Most U.S.-based carriers allow booking cash tickets up to 11 months in advance. When it comes to award travel, some carriers will have different rules (more on that below). Here’s a list of 10 popular domestic airlines (alphabetically listed) and their usual timings:
| Airline | Advance booking time* |
|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 331 days in advance |
| Allegiant Air | 331 days in advance |
| American Airlines | 331 days in advance |
| Delta Air Lines | 331 days in advance |
| Frontier | 6 months in advance |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 331 days in advance |
| JetBlue | 331 days in advance |
| Southwest Airlines | 8 months in advance |
| Spirit | 331 days in advance |
| United Airlines | 331 days in advance |
*We verify flight availability manually to keep these booking windows accurate.
How far in advance can to book international flights.
For the best prices on international flights, book 7-14 days out before departure. Long-haul routes to Europe, Asia and beyond tend to see optimal pricing in this window.
For international travel, timing can vary by carrier. European low-cost airlines like Ryanair often release tickets 6-9 months in advance, but easyJet does release some flights up to 11 months in advance.
Full-service carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and Virgin typically allow bookings up to 11-12 months ahead.
Long-haul flights may see the best fares 2-6 months before departure, though peak travel periods, like summer holidays, Christmas and Lunar New Year, usually require earlier planning. Flexible dates and tracking fare trends on KAYAK can help you find better international prices.
When to book if you’re using airline points.
When it comes to award travel, the rules are straightforward: book as soon as possible. Award travel usually opens around the same time as the booking times for cash, so you can take the plunge without delaying.
Airlines don’t have as many award tickets for every flight, so booking early means you’re more likely to get the dates, seats and class of service that you’re after.
Want to learn more about scoring tickets in Business Class? Then this guide to save big on business class tickets is for you.
How to find and book cheap flights wherever you’re going.
So, is there really a best time to book?
As a travel writer, I often get asked if there’s a “best time to travel,” as people want to know if there’s a secret hack to getting flights for the best prices. In reality, it depends. Just because a flight is available, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should book it straight away.
Popular destinations and peak season travel (Thanksgiving, for example) should generally prompt anyone to book earlier than usual. These flight schedules probably won’t change, and the closer you get to the travel time, the higher prices are likely to get.
Want to know when to book a specific trip? KAYAK’s Best Time to Travel tool uses your origin, destination and length of trip to determine when you should travel and when to book for the best price.
FAQs
Low-cost airlines vary when tickets become available. Currently, the majority of the low-cost airlines are letting customers book roughly half a year ahead of travel, but this can be subject to change.
Low-cost airlines vary when tickets become available. Currently, the majority of the low-cost airlines are letting customers book roughly half a year ahead of travel, but this can be subject to change.
Airlines typically release seats 331 days out (with some exceptions like Frontier or Southwest), so you can most likely book those flights now.
Domestic flights usually hit their lowest prices 21-30 days out, and international trips are best booked 7-14 days out.
No. Most airlines open their booking schedule about 11-12 months max before departure.
Most airlines release their flight schedules around 11 months in advance. With international travel, there are some rules worth following – summer months are very busy and you might not be able to get the exact flights you are after.
A good rule of thumb is to start looking roughly 6 months before your specific travel dates, and not wait much later than 3 months before you’re planning to get into the skies. A good idea is to check their websites, keep track of their social media, and see what information they are offering up about any upcoming deals.
