One of the best ways of booking your perfect award trip is to plan far in advance. While most airlines continuously release new award seats throughout the year, it’s always best to book as soon as you have set dates for your trip. Understanding each airline’s booking window (how many days in advance they open their award calendar) gives you a significant head start over other travelers. Additionally, most loyalty programs are quite flexible when it comes to award bookings, often allowing you to cancel them with minimal fees. It’s better to have a ticket booked than to leave points idling in your account.

This guide will help you answer the question of how far in advance airlines (such as Lufthansa) release award seats and how far in advance you can book an award flight.

When Can I Book My Award Flight? (Check Your Award Booking Window)

Use this tool to quickly determine when you can book your award flight based on a specific airline or frequent flyer program. Select a program or airline below to see its advance booking window and the earliest date you can book from today.

Choose the loyalty program you want to use for booking

For a full comparison, see the complete tables below. Data is based on community-reported booking windows and may vary.

Key Takeaways

  • Book Early: Most airlines release award seats 330 to 361 days before departure. Booking as soon as the award calendar opens gives you the best chance at premium cabin seats, especially for 2026 and 2027 travel.
  • Booking Window Matters: The frequent flyer program you use to search may have a shorter booking window than the airline operating the flight. For example, you can book ANA flights further out with Aeroplan (355 days) than with United MileagePlus (337 days).
  • Not All Seats Are Equal: Some airlines have special rules. Lufthansa only releases Business Class to partners 85 days out and First Class 30 days out. SWISS First Class is generally not available to partners at all.
  • Be Flexible: Award availability changes constantly. If you don’t find seats today, check again later or set an alert with AwardFares.

Airline vs. Program Release Dates: What’s The Difference?

When we say an airline “releases seats,” we mean it makes them available in the booking system for purchase. From the very moment a seat is released, it’s possible to book it using miles or points.

However, there are two important and distinct concepts to understand:

  1. Airline Release Schedule: The date an airline makes its own award seats available in the system (e.g., Lufthansa releases seats 360 days out). This is different from when airlines publish their flight schedules, which determines the routes and times available for booking.
  2. Program Booking Window: The furthest date a frequent flyer program allows you to search and book award flights (e.g., United MileagePlus only shows flights up to 337 days out).

Pro Tip: The Program Window Matters

This is the most critical concept to grasp. Even if an airline like EVA Air releases seats 360 days in advance, you won’t see them using United MileagePlus miles until day 337. To get a 23-day head start, you’d need to use a program with a longer booking window, like Avianca LifeMiles (360 days). AwardFares lets you search multiple programs at once to overcome this.

Fortunately, AwardFares makes searching for these awards much easier by allowing you to search across multiple frequent flyer programs simultaneously.

Award Release Dates: By Frequent Flyer Program

Here are the number of days in advance that some popular frequent flyer program award search sites will show. This is their maximum booking window: the furthest date you can search for and book an award flight. Dates are updated automatically.

Note: Atmos Rewards is the combined loyalty program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines (formerly Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan).

Frequent Flyer Program Days in advance Date from today
Air Canada Aeroplan 355
American AAdvantage 331
Atmos Rewards (Alaska & Hawaiian) 330
Aeromexico Rewards 330
United MileagePlus 337
SAS EuroBonus 360
Delta SkyMiles 331
Air France-KLM Flying Blue 359
JetBlue TrueBlue 331
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 331
Virgin Australia Velocity 331
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles 331
Etihad Guest 330
GOL Smiles (Brazil) 330
GOL Smiles (Argentina) 330
Azul Fidelidade 330
Finnair Plus 361
Qantas Frequent Flyer 353
Avianca LifeMiles 360

Award Release Dates: By Airline

This is how far in advance specific airlines make their award seats available to partners. Use the table above to see if your chosen frequent flyer program can “see” that far out.

Star Alliance

Airline Days in advance Date from today
Air Canada 360
Air China 361
Air India 337
Air New Zealand 355
ANA 355
Asiana 361
Austrian 361
Avianca 355
Brussels Airlines 360
COPA 330
Egyptair 360
Ethiopian 331
EVA Air 360
LOT 361
Lufthansa 360
Lufthansa (long-haul Business) 1 85/180
Lufthansa (long-haul First) 2 30
Singapore Airlines 355
South African Airways 358
SWISS 300
TAP Air Portugal 361
Thai Airways 3 339
Turkish Airlines 354
United Airlines 337

Notes:

  • (1) Lufthansa long-haul Business partner redemptions are currently released 85 days in advance.
  • (2) Lufthansa long-haul First partner redemptions are released 30 days in advance. Members of Miles & More can book First Class up to 360 days in advance, but partner access is restricted.
  • (3) Aeroplan and EuroBonus limited to 180 days in advance.

Key Star Alliance Booking Windows

  • Lufthansa releases its award calendar 360 days in advance for Miles & More members. However, the booking window for partner programs is much shorter: long-haul Business Class award seats become available to partners just 85 days before departure, and long-haul First Class only 30 days before departure. This is one of the most restrictive partner release policies in any alliance.
  • ANA (All Nippon Airways) opens award availability 355 days in advance. Both ANA’s own Mileage Club and Star Alliance partner programs like Aeroplan and United MileagePlus can access these seats, though United’s shorter 337-day booking window means Aeroplan members get an 18-day head start. ANA is known for releasing both regular and waitlisted award seats at the same time.
  • Singapore Airlines releases award seats 355 days in advance. KrisFlyer members and partner programs have access to the same booking window. Availability on premium cabins (especially Suites) tends to be limited, so booking on the first day seats open is often essential.
  • EVA Air opens its award calendar 360 days out. To book EVA Air seats on the day they’re released, use a program with a matching booking window such as SAS EuroBonus (360 days) or Avianca LifeMiles (360 days). United MileagePlus (337 days) won’t see them for another 23 days.
  • SWISS releases award seats 300 days in advance. First Class award seats on SWISS are almost never available to partner programs: they are reserved exclusively for Miles & More Senator and HON Circle elite members.
  • Air Canada releases award seats 360 days in advance through its own Aeroplan program. Partner access through other Star Alliance programs depends on each program’s booking window.

SkyTeam

Airline Days in advance Date from today
Aerolíneas Argentinas 330
Aeroméxico 330
Air Europa 361
Air France 4 359
ITA Airways 5 330
China Airlines 360
China Eastern 330
Delta Air Lines 330
Garuda Indonesia 360
Kenya Airways 361
KLM 359
Korean Air 351
Middle East Airlines 330
SAS 6,7 330
Saudia 361
TAROM 360
Vietnam Airlines 360
XiamenAir 330
Virgin Atlantic 331

Notes:

  • (4) From some users’ experience, availability on certain routes/code share flights gets released anywhere between 305 and 359 days in advance.
  • (5) ITA Airways announced it will leave SkyTeam and join Star Alliance. Date is undefined.
  • (6) SAS releases 2 Plus awards within Europe at 330 days, and 4+ at 300 days.
  • (7) SAS left Star Alliance and joined SkyTeam on September 1st, 2024.

Key SkyTeam Booking Windows

  • Air France and KLM (Flying Blue) open their award calendar up to 359 days in advance, though availability on certain codeshare routes may appear between 305 and 359 days. Flying Blue is one of the programs with the longest booking window in SkyTeam, making it a strong choice for booking partner flights early.
  • Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) releases award seats 330 days in advance on its own flights. Delta’s availability and pricing are dynamic, meaning award prices can fluctuate significantly based on demand. Searching early (right when the 330-day window opens) often yields the lowest SkyMiles pricing.
  • Korean Air opens its award calendar 351 days before departure. Korean Air First and Business Class awards booked through SkyPass or partner programs are considered some of the best value redemptions in the SkyTeam alliance.
  • SAS (EuroBonus) releases 2 Plus (Saver) awards within Europe at 330 days, and 4+ seats at approximately 300 days. After joining SkyTeam in September 2024, EuroBonus members now have access to a wider range of SkyTeam partner redemptions.
  • Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) opens its booking window 331 days in advance. As a SkyTeam member, Virgin Atlantic award space is accessible through Flying Blue, SkyMiles, and other partner programs. Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin is one of the most popular Business Class award redemptions.

Oneworld

Airline Days in advance Date from today
Alaska Airlines 330
American Airlines 331
British Airways 355
Cathay Pacific 360
Finnair 361
Iberia 360
Japan Airlines 360
Malaysia Airlines 354
Qantas 353
Qatar Airways 361
Royal Air Maroc 330
Royal Jordanian (Economy) 8 330
SriLankan Airlines 360
Fiji Airways 330
Oman Air 300 - 330

Notes:

  • (8) In Business Class, redemption can start as early as 180 days, but there’s no official statement from the airline. Typically, they also get released close to departure date.

Key Oneworld Booking Windows

  • Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) releases award seats 360 days in advance. Cathay Pacific’s Business and First Class award availability tends to be generous when the calendar first opens, particularly on long-haul routes. Asia Miles members and Oneworld partners like American AAdvantage and British Airways Avios can access these seats.
  • Japan Airlines (JAL) opens its award calendar 360 days before departure. JAL award seats (especially in Business and First Class) are highly sought after and often book out quickly. Searching through programs like British Airways Avios or American AAdvantage as soon as the 360-day window opens is essential for securing premium cabin seats.
  • British Airways (Avios) releases award seats 355 days in advance. British Airways uses a distance-based award chart through its Avios program, making short-haul flights in Business Class particularly good value. BA also serves as a useful search and booking tool for accessing award space on other Oneworld partners.
  • Qantas (Frequent Flyer) opens award availability 353 days out. Qantas Classic Reward Seats on Qantas-operated flights are limited and tend to appear in batches. Setting up alerts through AwardFares helps catch availability as soon as it’s released.
  • Qatar Airways releases award seats up to 361 days in advance, one of the longest booking windows among all airlines. Qatar’s QSuites Business Class is one of the most in-demand award products, so checking early in the booking window is critical.
  • Emirates (Skywards) opens its award calendar 328 days in advance. Emirates First Class and Business Class awards can require a significant number of miles, but availability is often better when booking as early as possible within the 328-day window.
  • Finnair releases award seats 361 days in advance. Finnair Plus members and Oneworld partners can book Finnair award flights across their European and Asian route network. Finnair’s Business Class on long-haul A350 flights is a popular redemption option.
  • Iberia (Avios) opens its award calendar 360 days in advance. Iberia’s own Avios program often offers lower pricing than British Airways for the same Avios-based redemptions, particularly on routes between Europe and Latin America.
  • American Airlines (AAdvantage) releases award seats 331 days in advance on both its own flights and partner airlines. AAdvantage’s booking window is shorter than many Oneworld partners, so travelers looking to book Cathay Pacific or JAL awards on the first day of release should consider using a program with a longer window, then switching later if needed.

Other Airlines/Programs

Airline Days in advance Date from today
Southwest 180 - 240
Frontier 180 - 240
Spirit Airlines 330
Emirates Skywards 328
GOL Smiles (on GOL flights) 330
GOL Smiles (on partner airlines) Varies, up to 330 -

What Time Do Airlines Release Award Seats?

Most airlines release new award availability when their booking system rolls over to the next day, which typically happens at midnight in the airline’s local time zone (usually the timezone of their headquarters). For example, ANA seats tend to appear around midnight Japan Standard Time (JST), while Lufthansa and SWISS seats appear around midnight Central European Time (CET).

However, the exact timing can vary. Some programs batch-release seats at specific times rather than rolling them out continuously. Here are a few key patterns travelers have observed:

  • ANA: New award seats typically appear around midnight JST (10:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM GMT the day before).
  • JAL: Similar to ANA, availability updates around midnight JST.
  • Cathay Pacific: Award seats generally appear around midnight Hong Kong Time (HKT), which is 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM GMT the day before.
  • Lufthansa and SWISS: Availability updates around midnight CET (6:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM GMT the day before).
  • Qatar Airways: New seats tend to appear around midnight Gulf Standard Time (GST).
  • American Airlines, United, and Delta: U.S. carriers typically update around midnight Eastern Time (ET) or midnight Central Time (CT).

A Note on Release Times

These times are based on traveler observations and may shift. Airlines don’t officially publish the exact time they release award seats. Setting up AwardFares alerts is the most reliable way to get notified the moment your desired seat becomes available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions Answered

When does Lufthansa release award seats?

Lufthansa releases its award calendar 360 days in advance for Miles & More members. However, partner access is much more restrictive: long-haul Business Class seats are released to partners just 85 days before departure, and long-haul First Class only 30 days before departure. This makes Lufthansa one of the most restrictive airlines for partner award bookings.

When does ANA release award seats?

ANA (All Nippon Airways) releases award seats 355 days in advance. Both ANA Mileage Club members and Star Alliance partner programs can access these seats. Programs with longer booking windows like Aeroplan (355 days) give you earlier access than United MileagePlus (337 days). ANA award seats typically appear around midnight Japan Standard Time (JST).

When does Singapore Airlines release award seats?

Singapore Airlines releases award seats 355 days in advance to both KrisFlyer members and Star Alliance partner programs. Premium cabin availability (especially Suites Class) is limited, so booking on the first day the calendar opens is recommended.

When does Air Canada release award seats?

Air Canada releases award seats on its own flights 360 days in advance through the Aeroplan program. Partner access through other Star Alliance programs depends on the booking window of the frequent flyer program you’re using.

When does EVA Air release award seats?

EVA Air releases award seats 360 days in advance. To book these seats on the day of release, use a partner program with a matching booking window such as SAS EuroBonus (360 days) or Avianca LifeMiles (360 days). United MileagePlus has a shorter 337-day window and won’t show EVA Air seats until 23 days later.

When does SWISS release award seats?

SWISS releases award seats approximately 300 days in advance. However, SWISS First Class award seats are almost never available to partner programs, they are reserved exclusively for Miles & More Senator and HON Circle elite members.

When does Air France release award seats?

Air France releases Flying Blue award seats up to 359 days in advance, though availability on certain codeshare routes may appear between 305 and 359 days. Flying Blue covers both Air France and KLM, and is one of the SkyTeam programs with the longest booking window.

When does KLM release award seats?

KLM award seats are bookable through the Flying Blue program up to 359 days in advance. Air France and KLM share the same Flying Blue loyalty program, so the booking window and award search are identical for both airlines.

When does Delta release award seats?

Delta Air Lines releases SkyMiles award seats 330 days in advance. Delta uses dynamic pricing for awards, meaning the number of miles required can fluctuate based on demand. Searching as soon as the 330-day window opens typically yields the lowest SkyMiles pricing for premium cabins.

When does Virgin Atlantic release award seats?

Virgin Atlantic opens its Flying Club award booking window 331 days in advance. As a SkyTeam member, Virgin Atlantic award space is accessible through programs like Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is one of the most popular Business Class award redemptions on transatlantic routes.

When does United Airlines release award seats?

United Airlines opens its MileagePlus award booking window 337 days in advance. This applies to both United-operated flights and partner airline flights. United’s window is shorter than many Star Alliance partners, so travelers looking to book partners like ANA or EVA Air earlier should consider using a program with a longer booking window.

When does American Airlines release award seats?

American Airlines opens its AAdvantage award booking window 331 days in advance on both its own flights and partner airlines. This window is shorter than many Oneworld partners like Cathay Pacific (360 days) and Qatar Airways (361 days), so travelers wanting early access to partner awards should consider using a program with a longer booking window first.

When does Cathay Pacific release award seats?

Cathay Pacific releases award seats 360 days in advance. Award availability (especially in Business and First Class) tends to be generous when the calendar first opens. Asia Miles members and Oneworld partners like American AAdvantage and British Airways Avios can access these seats. New availability typically appears around midnight Hong Kong Time.

When does Japan Airlines (JAL) release award seats?

Japan Airlines (JAL) releases award seats 360 days before departure. JAL Business and First Class awards are highly sought after and often book out quickly. You can search for JAL award space through Oneworld partners like British Airways Avios and American AAdvantage. New seats typically appear around midnight Japan Standard Time.

When does British Airways release award seats?

British Airways releases Avios award seats 355 days in advance. BA uses a distance-based Avios award chart, making short-haul flights in Business Class particularly good value. BA also serves as a useful search and booking tool for accessing award space on other Oneworld partners.

When does Qatar Airways release award seats?

Qatar Airways releases award seats up to 361 days in advance, one of the longest booking windows of any airline. QSuites Business Class awards are among the most in-demand products, so booking as early as possible is essential. Qatar award space is accessible through Oneworld partner programs including American AAdvantage and British Airways Avios.

When does Emirates release award seats?

Emirates opens its Skywards award calendar 328 days in advance. Emirates First Class and Business Class awards can require a significant number of miles but availability tends to be better when booking early in the 328-day window. Emirates is not part of a major alliance, so award seats are primarily bookable through Emirates Skywards.

When does Finnair release award seats?

Finnair releases award seats 361 days in advance, one of the longest booking windows among Oneworld airlines. Finnair Plus members and Oneworld partners can book Finnair awards across their European and Asian route network. Finnair Business Class on A350 long-haul flights is a popular award redemption.

When does Iberia release award seats?

Iberia opens its Avios award calendar 360 days in advance. Iberia’s own Avios program often offers lower pricing than British Airways for the same Avios-based redemptions, particularly on routes between Europe and Latin America.

When does Korean Air release award seats?

Korean Air opens its award calendar 351 days before departure. Korean Air First and Business Class awards booked through SkyPass or partner programs are considered some of the best value redemptions in the SkyTeam alliance.

How early in advance can I book a flight with SAS EuroBonus points?

The SAS EuroBonus program allows you to search for and book award flights up to 360 days in advance. For SAS’s own flights, they typically release 2 Plus (Saver) award seats within Europe at 330 days, and 4+ seats at approximately 300 days. SAS joined SkyTeam in September 2024.

When does Southwest release flights?

Unlike other airlines, Southwest releases flights in batches rather than on a rolling daily basis. They typically open their schedule for booking 6 to 8 months (180 to 240 days) in advance and publish a schedule extension calendar on their website.

What time do airlines release award seats?

Most airlines release new award seats when their booking system rolls over to the next day, typically around midnight in the airline’s local time zone. For example, ANA and JAL seats tend to appear around midnight Japan Standard Time (JST), Cathay Pacific around midnight Hong Kong Time, and Lufthansa around midnight Central European Time. U.S. carriers like American Airlines, United, and Delta typically update around midnight Eastern or Central Time.

What is an airline award booking window?

An award booking window is the maximum number of days in advance that a frequent flyer program allows you to search for and book award flights. For example, United MileagePlus has a 337-day booking window, while SAS EuroBonus has a 360-day window. The booking window of your program may be shorter than the airline’s own release schedule, which means you might miss early availability. Using a program with a longer booking window gives you a head start.

How far in advance do airlines release award seats?

Most airlines release award seats between 330 and 361 days before departure. Airlines with the longest release windows include Qatar Airways (361 days), Finnair (361 days), and Air China (361 days). Airlines with shorter windows include Emirates Skywards (328 days) and SWISS (300 days). The number of days varies by airline and, in some cases, by cabin class for example, Lufthansa releases Economy to partners at 360 days but Business at 85 days and First at 30 days.

Find Your Next Award Flight Faster

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