Cheap flights advice

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We have impatiently booked our may 2013 holiday , when is the best time to book cheap flights , we will be travelling during may half term , so quite keen not to be paying more than we need to.
We haven't really been abroad with the kids so any advice is welcome

Look at the airline websites and work out which route you need, then book as soon as the flights go on sale. I booked our flights for August to Spain as soon as they were available in October. I always book flights first then villa second.

Thanks catches, I have been looking on easy jet but may isn't yet up how long ahead do they usually schedule -does anyone know.

Sorry catches

Damn iPad,,,,cuddles...lol

Try Skyscanner. They check all the different airlines for the cheapest price. I've never used it for Spain, but have done for US flights.

Also, I think MSE may have a cheap flight search tool.

Thanks for the advice -will hunt now

Schedule flights come out about 11 months before departure and return date.
In the past it was cheaper to wait but now they are at their cheapest when they first come out - if tax goes up between booking and going they will charge you extra....but it is at such a high at the moment - fingers crossed no more for a bit!

Be very careful and read the small print!
Beware of Air one or any of the big names who code share with air one like Alitalia. If your little one has turned 2 they will not carry your pushchair for free (they are the worst of every airline - even Easy jet and Ryanair will carry them for free!) It will cost you 70 euros for a round trip with your pushchair so parents beware!!

Yes, book as soon as they are released.

One year I booked flights from EMA to Barcelona for £55 each return. That was a fab deal, as there were five of us. I booked them in the December 2008 for August 2009 - Easyjet.

I have just looked now and they seemn to only have up to the end of March so far. It will be anytime soon.

I favour Easyjet for bargainous flights, also got a good deal through Thomson. My mother uses Monarch for not too bad value flights to mainland Spain.

Monarch have their flights up for end of May.

Not as reasonable as i would have expected, but I guess it is the school holidays.