The end of the year is one of the busiest times to travel, with flights filling up fast for festive celebrations, winter getaways and New Year trips.
Whether you’re planning to visit family, chase winter sun, or celebrate abroad, booking early gives you:
Here at Alternative Airlines, you can easily compare 600+ airlines and even spread the cost over time with flexible payment options, so you can plan without the stress. 💜
For further information on planning and booking flights well in advance, tap the button below 👇
Understanding when to book can make all the difference to your end-of-year travel plans.
If you know exactly where you want to go on holiday and when, then there's no need to wait to order your flight tickets. Several popular airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and many more, let you book tickets up to a year in advance. Check out our guide on each airline's policies on early bookings.
We help you find the best fares across every time frame, so whether you’re planning months or booking a spontaneous getaway, you’ll always have options that suit your schedule and budget.
Time Frame: 7 to 9 months before departure 🗓️
During this window, airlines often release their lowest fares, meaning you can save significantly compared to waiting until later in the year.
The pros of being organised include getting access to preferred times, routes, and cabin upgrades before flights start to fill up for the festive period. You're also more likely to have flexibility with dates, meaning you can use our Best Fare Finder tool on our website for more affordable flights.
Booking before the six-month mark often gives access to early-release fares, which airlines use to fill seats before peak demand hits.
Time Frame: 7 months to 5 weeks before departure ⏰
This is the period when most people book their flights. At Alternative Airlines, the average customer books their flight tickets 6 weeks before the departure date.
Booking your tickets on time gives you the best of both worlds. It ensures you’re paying a fair price that likely hasn’t increased from the original fare while also ensuring you're not booking so early that you risk plans changing between booking and departure, meaning you have to cancel your tickets.
Customers who book their tickets early or on time save, on average, up to 25% compared to those who book at the last minute.
Time Frame: 1 month to the day before departure 🚀
Last-minute flights are bought weeks or even days before the departure date. People usually book these flights if they suddenly have the urge to travel or if an emergency requires them to be somewhere quickly. If it's the end of 2025 and you want to spend the new year with family, don't worry, it's never too late to book your flights!
Booking last-minute flights are perfect for spontaneous travellers and essential in the case of an emergency. Although they're often more expensive than tickets booked more in advance, this isn't always the case. If you're travelling to a less popular destination, sometimes airlines will actually lower the price of their tickets to ensure that as many of their seats are filled as possible.
Black Friday and Travel Tuesday are usually a month before Christmas, so you could end up with a deal on last-minute flights.
Use our flexible payment options to make your end-of-year travel more affordable by spreading the cost of your booking with Buy Now, Pay Later.
Instead of paying the full amount upfront, you can choose easy instalments through trusted providers like Klarna, PayPal, Afterpay, Affirm and Clearpay, helping you manage your budget while still securing great fares.
Whether you’re planning months or booking a spontaneous last-minute trip, BNPL lets you confirm your flights today and pay over time, giving you the freedom to travel without the financial strain.
Check out all the payment options we offer below 👇👇👇
Dubai is an excellent destination for New Year's celebrations and fireworks that illuminate the skyline. With average temperatures around 26°C, it’s perfect for beach days, rooftop dining, and exploring the city’s iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah. Enjoy shopping, festivals, desert safaris, and world-class events.
Bangkok is another favourite for travellers chasing warm weather, culture, and excitement at the end of the year. With daytime temperatures averaging 31°C in December and minimal rainfall, it’s an excellent time to explore the city’s temples, floating markets, and lively street food markets. Make sure to visit rooftop bars on the lively evenings.
For travellers dreaming of a classic winter wonderland, Prague delivers snow, cobbled streets and Christmas markets. In December, temperatures average 0–5°C, often bringing snow. On New Year's Eve, fireworks are set off over the Vltava, creating the perfect setting.
Tenerife is a top pick for those looking to swap winter chills for sunshine without travelling too far. With average December temperatures around 22°C, it offers year-round warmth and easy flights from the UK.
Ready to book your flights for the end of the year? Start your search by tapping the button below. Enter your dates and hit search to compare the best flight deals. At checkout, select buy now, pay later to split your cost over time.
We’re super proud of our Trustpilot rating, but don’t just take it from us. See why millions of others love booking their flights through Alternative Airlines
At Alternative Airlines! We provide flights with 600+ airlines and offer 40+ ways to pay, including Buy Now, Pay Later and Crypto. Travel how and when you want. We also provide plenty of perks like our airport lounge add-on, special meal add-on, lost baggage protection, and more.
Still not sure? Have a look at our reviews from all the happy customers we've helped travel across the globe! We're a 4.9-star company on Trustpilot. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes, whether you're reading this at the start of the year or right before its end, Alternative Airlines always has tickets available. However, depending on how early or late you are can impact how challenging it is to find tickets to the location you want. Because of this, we recommend booking your tickets 6 weeks before your intended travel date.
This depends on when you book and where you're travelling to. However, it's pretty common for flights around major holidays to be more expensive, so if you're booking a flight around New Year's, your tickets may cost more than if you were travelling during the off-shoulder season.
