Bank holidays do not always match school holidays. School term dates and half-term dates vary across the UK, and GOV.UK advises checking school holiday dates through your local council.
For families, this means flight prices can rise quickly around Easter, May half-term, summer holidays and Christmas. If you are planning a family trip in 2026, 2027 or 2028, it is better to compare flights early and keep some flexibility with dates, airports and airlines.
1
Flying midweek instead of weekends
2
Comparing nearby UK airports
3
Booking before peak school holiday demand
4
Considering indirect flights for long-haul trips
5
Travelling just before or after the busiest dates