Do you always book your flights on the release date ?

[Triciamcl]

Just wondering what everyone feels is best/cheapest time for booking (apart from sales), looking to book a package via BA but do I book on release date or not ?

[Claudette]

Never even crossed my mind that I need to book a flight in release date.

[Beth_Disney]

I don’t usually book on release date as traditionally they can be more expensive. However, I was tracking flight prices for December on BA holidays as we need to fly on specific dates to fall in with Christmas and the return to school and noticed that booking first thing on release date was coming in a few hundred pounds cheaper than later in the day. As predicted, the price went up about £250pp later that day and the price has only risen. It’s about £550pp more now.

[LLamb]

Not normally but I did this year for May 22 with BA and they have only gone up in price since.

[Bozza]

I’ve never booked flights on release day.

I’ve also never knowingly booked during a supposed sale. Flight prices go up and down all the time and I’m somewhat cynical about airline sales, particularly when it comes to school holiday flights, when many of us need to travel.

I’m sure I see more people on here observing the flights they’d like have gone UP when a sale starts than those indicating they snagged a bargain.

I keep a few Kayak tabs permanently open on my MacBook Pro and just refresh them a few times a day to see if anything has changed in terms of prices and I’ll pounce as soon as I see something that appeals.

We’ve booked 1-2 weeks before travelling in August before - I’m a firm believer that there will always be options.

[Hula Doola]

I wish I had this year - price for our flights for May 22 were approx £2600 for 2a2c direct on release day (BA). Am now looking at paying £3200 with indirect on the return leg as direct is over £4000 🙄
However be warned I checked 4-5 times on release day and they were only under £3000 on one of those times so price does fluctuate during the day and need to be ready to pounce if you see a good price!

I was stupidly hoping for under £2500 so didn't book - well not stupid perhaps (or only with hindsight) more unrealistic in the current year.

[cornishfrogboy]

I believe that BA are at their best on release date. I track after buying and my experience is that whilst an initial price may be maintained, it doesn’t seem to drop.

[gjdjud]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

I believe that BA are at their best on release date. I track after buying and my experience is that whilst an initial price may be maintained, it doesn’t seem to drop.

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Definitely agree with this. Been tracking BA prices for ages. Always seem to be the best price on release day, earlier in the day the better as well.

[Triciamcl]

Having booked before I should know but just can’t remember what time they actually go on sale on release day ? Is it at Midnight? 7am ? 9am ?

[LLamb]

Originally Posted by Hula Doola

I wish I had this year - price for our flights for May 22 were approx £2600 for 2a2c direct on release day (BA). Am now looking at paying £3200 with indirect on the return leg as direct is over £4000 🙄
However be warned I checked 4-5 times on release day and they were only under £3000 on one of those times so price does fluctuate during the day and need to be ready to pounce if you see a good price!

I was stupidly hoping for under £2500 so didn't book - well not stupid perhaps (or only with hindsight) more unrealistic in the current year.

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Have to played around with the dates and airports maybe?
I booked ours on release day, got 3a3c and 7 nights in Cabana bay for £2900 something.
Lhr-mco-Mia-lhr.
It was £300 cheaper to come back from Miami and about £500 cheaper to fly out on Wednesday rather than Saturday.