When do Airline release flights?

bclark

My Wife and I are planning to go to Australia for New year next year so plan to fly out just after Christmas (2008). I am aware that this is the absolute peak time and therefore flights will not be cheap.

In order to try and counter act this fact I am planning to try and book the flights at the earliest possible time (I assume this is the correct tactic). Does anyone know when major airlines release their flights for next year? Or does anyone know how to find out? Ideally I would like to try and book on day 1.

mrnomoneybags

I think i remeber a travel agent telling me its something like 300ish days.

-Tom

~daisy~_2

monarch flights are available for at least next august as ive already booked mine but they are scheduled flights - dont know when charter companies will be out ( or is that the other way round i can never remember )

easyjet should be available for summer flights from early december

seftonsun

Budget and Charter Airllines do their own thing.

Traditional Schedule Airlines book a maximum of 330 days before date of travel. So, if you were going for 6 weeks you could book the outward leg six weeks before the return. So basically you need to look 330 days (approx 11 months) from your later date of travel.

davey4444

To save a bit more money you could try to fly out on Christmas day or even on Christmas Eve as flights to Australia are a bit less then in my experience.

bclark

Thanks for that guys, I will have a look about 11 months before. I suppose that will be the end of November this year (which is only about 6 weeks time - doesn't time fly by!).

Is it the right tactic to book very early do you think or is it better to leave it as late as possible to try and get the fabled late deal?