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Thinking of going away over the bank holiday? Search and buy bank holiday flights with Alternative Airlines in one easy and secure transaction.
Bank Holiday Flights 2026
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Turn your bank holiday break into a summer getaway
Bank holidays are some of the most popular travel times of the year, making them the perfect opportunity to kick off your summer plans.
Whether you're heading to the beach, exploring a new city or planning a longer holiday abroad, Alternative Airlines makes it easy to compare flights from over 600 airlines.
You can also split your flight costs into smaller instalments over time with our Buy Now, Pay Later partners like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, and more.
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What is a bank holiday?
A bank holiday is an official national holiday when banks and most businesses are closed for the day in the UK. These holidays are placed down by the UK parliament in statute law. The term bank holiday is frequently used with other public holidays such as Good Friday, Christmas Day and all other public holidays in the UK.
In a year, there are eight holidays in England and Wales, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland. The eight main bank holidays are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May bank holiday, Spring bank holiday, Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In Scotland, Easter Monday is not a bank holiday, but 2nd January and St Andrew's Day are. In Northern Ireland, St Patrick's Day and Orangemen’s Day are additional bank holidays.
Bank holiday flights
Everyone enjoys a Bank Holiday. These amazing free days off should be included in a holiday vacation in everyone’s calendar. Bank Holidays allow you to take some time off work without using up your holiday; in other words, a two-week holiday only requires eight days off rather than ten. It's important to know when bank holidays are coming up to plan your time off accordingly. It is a great way to maximise your holiday allowance each year.
When searching for 'Bank Holiday flights', you don't have to travel specifically on Bank Holiday, but it can be any day leading up to it. Around the Bank Holidays, there are many different deals and offers available, so keep your eyes peeled for the latest offers to get yourself some cheap flights for the Bank Holiday. Moreover, ensure to book in advance, especially when thinking of travelling in peak season.
At Alternative Airlines, we ticket over 600+ airlines. There will always be flight options available, no matter which cities you are flying between.
United Kingdom bank holidays 2026
- Thursday, 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
- Friday, 2 Jan: 2nd January (Scotland only)
- Tuesday, 17 Mar: St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland only)
- Friday, 3 Apr: Good Friday
- Monday, 6 Apr: Easter Monday (England, Wales, and NI only)
- Monday, 4 May: Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, 25 May: Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday, 15 Jun: World Cup Celebration Holiday (Scotland only — Special one-off)
- Monday, 13 Jul: Battle of the Boyne (Substitute day; Northern Ireland only)
- Monday, 3 Aug: Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland only)
- Monday, 31 Aug: Summer Bank Holiday (England, Wales, and NI only)
- Monday, 30 Nov: St Andrew’s Day (Scotland only)
- Friday, 25 Dec: Christmas Day
- Saturday, 26 Dec: Boxing Day
United States federal holidays 2026
- Thursday, Jan 1: New Year’s Day
- Monday, Jan 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Monday, Feb 16: Washington’s Birthday (Presidents' Day)
- Monday, May 25: Memorial Day
- Friday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Friday, July 3: Independence Day (Observed, as July 4 falls on a Saturday)
- Monday, Sept 7: Labour Day
- Monday, Oct 12: Columbus Day (often observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day)
- Wednesday, Nov 11: Veterans Day
- Thursday, Nov 26: Thanksgiving Day
- Friday, Dec 25: Christmas Day
Individual states/territories also have additional holidays.
Top August bank holiday destinations
Sicily: Beautiful rolling Italian hills crowned by golden beaches.
Amsterdam: The Venice of the North, a fairy tale cityscape spanning beautiful canals.
Rome: The immortal city, a beautiful, cascading urban sprawl spanning empires.
Barcelona: Nightlife, Mediterranean food and uniquely fascinating architecture
Budapest: Thermal baths, castles and world-famous ruin bars
Top Easter bank holiday destinations
Cyprus: The pearl of the Mediterranean, beaches, bars and more
Algarve: Portugal's premier destination
Berlin: Profound history framed through a world-class arts scene
Venice: Land of the romantic, where land meets sea seamlessly
Prague: The masterpiece city of 100 spires, delicious food and gorgeous backdrops
Lanzarote: Year-round heat and volcanic views
Top May bank holiday destinations
Majorca: Sun, sea and sky. What's not to love?
Cancun: Mexico's pride and joy, the perfect blend of relaxation and things to do
New York: This is where it all happens. Check the Big Apple off your bucket list!
Ibiza: Where the nights are brighter than the days, relax under the sun, party under the moon
Book bank holiday flights now
You can book your bank holiday flights today, quickly and easily, with Alternative Airlines. Book with your choice of over 600+ airlines, and check out using one of our 40+ ways to pay.
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Bank Holiday FAQs
Are bank holiday flights more expensive?
Generally, yes, bank holiday flights are more expensive because demand spikes as people capitalise on a "free" day off. Thanks to dynamic pricing, airlines hike fares for peak travel times, specifically Friday evenings and Monday afternoons, often by 20% to 50%. To avoid this "long weekend tax," you’re better off flying on the holiday itself (like Monday morning) or shifting your trip by a single day to bypass the rush.