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How far in advance can you book a flight?

When do airline tickets go on sale?

Looking to buy airline tickets three months, six months, or even one year in advance? Find out when airline tickets go on sale for over 600 different airlines and buy your flight tickets in advance with Alternative Airlines.

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Buy airline tickets in advance

If you're looking to buy your flight tickets several months before your date of travel, but can't find any available flights for that date, use our search form at the top of the page to search for flights from over 600 airlines and discover which airlines offer flights for your chosen route the furthest in advance.


How far in advance can I book a flight? 🤔

Find out how many days, weeks, or months in advance you can buy flights for each airline and information on when each airline releases its schedule.

How far ahead can I book a flight?

How early you can book plane tickets will depend on each airline's policy. Have a look at how many days in advance you can book flights on these airlines:

  • Air France - 11 Months
  • Alaska Airlines - 330 Days
  • American Airlines - 330 Days
  • Adria Airways - 212 Days
  • Aeroflot - 216 Days
  • British Airways - 355 Days
  • Cathay Pacific - 360 Days
  • Condor - 349 Days
  • Delta Air Lines - 331 Days
  • EasyJet - 247 Days
  • Emirates - 340 Days
  • Etihad - 11 Months
  • Frontier Airlines - 258 Days
  • Fiji Airways - 330 Days
  • Hainan Airlines - 330 Days
  • Iberia - 365 Days
  • Japan Airlines - 330 Days
  • Jet2 - 12-18 Months
  • JetBlue - 6-8 Months
  • Iceland Air - 326 Days
  • KLM - 11 Months
  • Korean Air - 362 Days
  • Lufthansa - 360 Days
  • Norwegian - 9-12 Months
  • Pen Air - 331 Days
  • Qantas - 354 Days
  • Qatar Airways - 361 Days
  • Ravn - 331 Days
  • Ryanair - 5-6 Months
  • Spirit Airlines - 330 Days
  • Southwest - 254 Days
  • Virgin Atlantic - 11 Months

Please note: This only shows how early you can book a flight for some of our most popular airlines. Alternative Airlines offer flights from over 600 airlines altogether. If you don't see the airline you're looking for from the list above, use the search bar at the top of the page to search for all available airlines flying your chosen route on the date you want to fly on.

See all available airlines with Alternative Airlines

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Spread the cost of advance flights with Slice Pay

Slice Pay - deposit-based payment plans

Planning your trip early is one of the best ways to secure the right dates, routes and prices - especially when you’re booking for multiple people. But paying for everything upfront, months before departure, can be a stretch. Slice Pay helps ease that pressure.

With Slice Pay, you can secure your advance booking with a small deposit and spread the rest of the cost with weekly or fortnightly payments. It’s a true lay-by payment plan (not a credit product), which means you can embark on your trip with no interest, no debt, and no stress.

A family laughing together with their flights paid in instalments with Slice Pay

Why use Slice Pay?

With Slice Pay, you can secure your advance booking with a small deposit and spread the rest of the cost with weekly or fortnightly payments. It's a deposit payment plan (not a credit product), which means you can embark on your trip with no interest, no debt, and no stress. With Slice Pay, you get:

  • Early access without full upfront cost - Lock in flights up to a year ahead with just a 10% deposit (or 20% for US travellers)
  • Budgeting made easy - Flexible instalments let you pay over time without dipping into savings
  • Peace of mind - Finish paying before you fly, so your trip is fully paid off in advance
  • No interest, no credit checks - and no risk of debt
  • Clear pricing from the start - A Hold Price Fee is shown at checkout with no surprises later

Slice Pay is perfect for group trips or expensive long-haul trips booked well in advance. You'll see if Slice Pay is available in your region at checkout when booking with Alternative Airlines.

A woman smiling at her phone in a cafe after paying for her flights with SplitIt

Book early, pay later with Splitit

Found a great deal months ahead? Splitit lets you book now and spread the cost over time with your current credit card. No need to pay in full upfront - just choose a payment plan that works for you and fly when you're ready.


How Splitit works:

  • Lock in early deals without paying the full amount immediately
  • Pay over 3-6 months using your existing credit card
  • No interest or fees - just spread the original cost
  • No credit checks - uses your available credit
  • Keep card benefits - rewards points and protection stay intact

Perfect for securing flights up to a year in advance without the immediate financial pressure.

How to book advance flights

Search for flights from SYD to PER

Search for your ideal flight

Start by heading to the top of the page. Fill in the search form with your destinations, dates, and the number of people travelling. Click 'Search flights' and select the flights that are most suitable for you.

How to book advance flights

Select Slice Pay from the payment methods

Choose your payment method

At checkout, select your preferred payment option:

  • Splitit to use your existing credit card with flexible instalments
  • Slice Pay to secure your booking with a small deposit
  • Other payment options available in your region

How to book advance flights

Review Slice Pay instalment plan and booking

Pick your plan and grab your tickets

Choose the payment schedule that works for you. Once your payment is processed, your flight booking will be confirmed and you'll receive your e-ticket from Alternative Airlines in your email inbox.

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Ready to book your flights in advance?

Search flights in advance with over 600 airlines and 40+ ways to pay. Lock in the best prices and spread the cost in a way that works for your budget.

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FAQs

How far in advance should I book a flight?

The sweet spot for booking flights is typically 2-3 months in advance for domestic flights and 3-6 months for international flights. However, you can often book up to a year ahead with many airlines.

Booking early helps you secure better prices and your preferred dates, especially during peak travel seasons or for popular routes.

Can I book a flight a year in advance?

Yes, many airlines allow you to book flights up to a year in advance. Some airlines like Iberia allow bookings up to 365 days ahead, while others like Jet2 allow bookings 12-18 months in advance.

Use our search form to check which airlines fly your chosen route and how far in advance they release their schedules.

What's the benefit of booking flights early?

Booking flights early gives you several advantages:

  • Better prices before they increase closer to departure
  • More choice of seats and flight times
  • Peace of mind with confirmed travel plans
  • Ability to spread the cost over time with payment plans

Early booking is especially helpful for family trips, group travel, or popular destinations during peak seasons.

How can I afford to book flights months in advance?

You don't need to pay the full amount upfront when booking early. Alternative Airlines offers flexible payment options:

  • Splitit - Use your existing credit card to spread payments over 3-6 months with no interest
  • Slice Pay - Pay a small deposit (10% or 20% for US) and spread the rest over weekly instalments
  • Buy Now Pay Later - Various providers offering flexible payment terms

This lets you lock in early prices while managing your budget more easily.

Can I change my payment plan if I book early?

Your payment plan is set when you book, but if you need to make changes, it depends on your payment provider:

  • Splitit - Payments continue according to your chosen schedule. Contact Splitit directly if you need help
  • Slice Pay - Payments continue weekly until paid off. You can request short extensions if needed
  • Buy now pay later - Terms vary by provider, check with them directly

Always contact your payment provider as soon as possible if you're having difficulty with payments.

How far in advance can I book Alaska Airlines flights?

Alaska Airlines allows bookings from up to 330 days out, which is the equivalent to just under 11 months or 47 weeks.

How far in advance can I book Delta flights?

Delta Air Lines allow you to book your airline tickets 330 days or 47 weeks in advance. This is the same as 10/11 months.

How far in advance can I book Frontier flights?

How far in advance that you can book Frontier flights differs from season to season. On average, you can expect to be able to make Frontier Airlines flight reservation 258 days in advance. Frontier Airlines usually extend its schedule every two months.

How far in advance can I book Southwest flights?

With its latest schedule release, Southwest allowed passengers to book flights 254 day in advance, which is equal to 36 weeks or just over eight months. Check the furthest away date that Southwest is currently taking bookings for and when its next schedule is released.

How far in advance can I book Spirit flights?

Spirit Airlines flights are released 330 days in advance. This is equal to 47 weeks or 10/11 months.

Can I book flights for the end of the year?

Yes, with Alternative Airlines, you can book flights for the end of the year, whether it's a year in advance, a month or even a week!

Can I book flights for next year?

Yes, some airlines have already released their flight schedule for the early stages of next year and are available to book as of now. As time goes on, more airlines will begin to release their flights for 2025. If you want to fly sooner, most airlines have already released their flights for the end of the year too. Flights are usually available to book 11 months in advance although this may vary depending on the airline. You can find out more by visiting our guide on buying flights for next year.

Can I use Slice Pay to book flights months in advance?

Yes! In fact, Slice Pay is ideal for advance bookings. It’s designed for people who plan early - like families, groups, or anyone booking 3–12 months ahead - and want time to budget for the full cost of the trip.

How much do I need to pay upfront with Slice Pay?

You can secure your booking with as little as 10% upfront in Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Canada or 20% upfront in the US. The rest is paid in instalments over time, with everything paid off before your departure.

Can I use Slice Pay for flights next year?

Yes! Slice Pay is designed for early planners. Whether you’re booking a holiday in six months or a family reunion next year, you can reserve your flights today and pay over time without dipping into savings or taking on debt.

How do I know if Slice Pay is available for my booking?

You’ll see Slice Pay at checkout if it’s available in your region and for your flight. Just select it as your payment method and follow the steps to confirm your deposit and payment plan. For more information, visit our page on paying for your flights with deposits.

How to plan flights in advance?

When planning flights in advance, there are a few things to consider. One of the major ones is knowing when you can book your flights, as different airlines start selling tickets at different times.

When booking early tickets, it's also good to add cancellation protection. This way, if emergency circumstances force you to cancel your flights, you'll be refunded.

For further details on planning your flights in advance, check out our dedicated blog.