Flying with children during school holidays costs significantly more than flying at any other time of year. On a return trip from Birmingham to Dalaman in Turkey, the same flight costs £449 per person in mid-June and £736 in late July, a 64% premium for departing seven weeks later. For a family of four that difference is nearly £1,200.
This guide sets out the 2026 UK school holiday dates, how much prices typically rise during each holiday period, and the most effective ways to reduce what you pay.
UK school holiday dates 2026
England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all run slightly different school calendars. Knowing the exact dates matters because prices start rising around two weeks before term ends and can spike sharply for the first and last week of each break.
| Holiday period | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter | 3–17 April 2026 | 1–17 April 2026 | 3–17 April 2026 |
| May half term | 25–29 May 2026 | No half term | 25–29 May 2026 |
| Summer | 20 Jul – 28 Aug 2026 | Late Jun – mid Aug 2026 | 30 Jun – 25 Aug 2026 |
| October half term | 26–30 Oct 2026 | 12–16 Oct 2026 | 26–30 Oct 2026 |
| Christmas | 18 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 | 18 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 | 18 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 |
Scottish families have one significant advantage: their summer holiday starts in late June, almost four weeks before England and Wales. Flights to Mediterranean destinations in the last week of June can be 30–40% cheaper than equivalent departures in late July.
How much more do flights cost during school holidays?
Price premiums vary by destination, route, and how far in advance you book. The table below gives typical ranges based on 2026 data from UK departure airports to popular short-haul destinations.
| Holiday period | Typical price premium | Extra cost, family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 40–80% Peak | £400–£1,200+ |
| Easter | 25–45% Moderate | £200–£600 |
| October half term | 15–30% Moderate | £150–£400 |
| May half term | 10–20% Lower | £80–£250 |
| Christmas / New Year | 50–100% Peak | £500–£1,500+ |
Summer and Christmas carry the largest premiums because demand from families and leisure travellers peaks at the same time. October half term is more manageable. It sits outside peak beach season, so flights to the Canary Islands (which are warm year-round) are a good option at relatively contained prices.
The cheapest week to fly in summer 2026
Within the summer holiday window, the first and last weeks carry the highest prices. The cheapest week to depart is typically around 10–16 August, roughly two weeks before the English school term starts. Families from England and Wales who can return by 20 August have the greatest flexibility.
Scottish families can use their earlier summer break to their advantage. Departing in late June or the first week of July, before English and Welsh schools finish, can save a significant amount. On popular routes to Spain, Greece, and Portugal, savings of £300–£500 per person are realistic.
The premium in numbers
On a direct Jet2 return from Manchester to Crete, the same travel dates show the following pattern across the 2026 summer:
- Depart 27 June (pre-English school holiday): from £289 per person
- Depart 25 July (peak summer): from £489 per person
- Depart 8 August (late summer peak): from £519 per person
- Depart 22 August (final week, EW summer): from £399 per person
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive departure is £230 per person, or £920 for a family of four, on the same airline, same destination, seven weeks apart.
Best destinations for affordable school holiday flights from the UK
Some destinations hold their prices better during school holidays than others. The most affordable options for UK families are typically those served by multiple budget airlines competing on the same routes, or those with lower overall demand during peak UK summer.
Tenerife and Lanzarote are among the best-value year-round options. Because demand is spread across 12 months (the Canary Islands are warm even in January), the summer premium is lower than for purely seasonal destinations like Greece or Turkey. Our best time to visit Tenerife guide covers month-by-month prices in detail.
Alicante, Malaga, and Palma are served by Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, and Vueling from most UK airports. Competition keeps fares lower than on routes with a single dominant carrier. Flying midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday departure) instead of Friday or Saturday can save £80–£120 per person even during peak weeks.
Albania is the most underrated value destination in the Mediterranean for school holidays. Budget flights from London serve Tirana year-round, and hotel prices remain a fraction of comparable Greek or Italian destinations. See our Albania budget guide for more.
For more on what each destination costs and when to book, see our guides to best time to visit Greece, best time to visit Portugal, and best time to visit Turkey.
Which airports add to the cost?
Heathrow and Gatwick add a 15–25% premium over regional airports on equivalent routes. A family of four flying Gatwick to Palma will typically pay £200–£400 more than the same family flying Luton or Manchester. If you are within two hours of a regional airport, the drive and parking costs are usually still lower than the difference in flight prices.
Flying from Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, or Glasgow instead of London airports is one of the fastest ways to reduce school holiday flight costs without changing your destination.
Five ways to reduce school holiday flight costs
You cannot avoid school holiday pricing entirely, but you can significantly reduce what you pay.
1. Book early, but not too early
For summer school holidays, the best prices on package holidays from Jet2, TUI, and easyJet Holidays appear between October and January of the prior year. Flight-only prices on budget carriers peak in July and August but are often cheapest between six and twelve months before departure. Our guide to when flights are cheapest covers the booking window in detail by airline and route.
2. Fly midweek
Friday evening and Saturday morning departures carry a significant premium. Families leaving on the first day of the school break all depart at the same time. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are consistently the cheapest departure days. See our cheapest day to book flights guide for the data behind this.
3. Use an INSET day
Most schools have at least one INSET day attached to each holiday period. A departure on the INSET day before half term, or return on the first day back, moves you out of the peak pricing window by 24–48 hours. Families who use this tactic consistently report saving £150–£250 per person on summer fares.
4. Look at regional airports
The saving from flying from a regional airport rather than London is often larger than any other single tactic. Check Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh before defaulting to Heathrow or Gatwick.
5. Set fare alerts and watch sale dates
All the major airlines run sales before and after peak periods. Jet2 and easyJet both typically run sales in January and September that include summer school holiday dates at reduced prices. Our guides to Jet2 sale dates and easyJet sale dates cover when these run and what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
How much more do flights cost during school holidays?
Typically 40–80% more during summer, 25–45% at Easter, and 15–30% at October half term. Christmas and New Year departures can double in price compared to off-peak fares on the same routes.
What is the cheapest week to fly in the summer 2026 school holidays?
For England and Wales families, the week of 10–16 August 2026 tends to offer the lowest prices within the school holiday window. The last week of June is very cheap but falls within term time for English and Welsh schools.
Is it cheaper to fly at the start or end of the school holidays?
The first and last weekends of each school holiday period are the most expensive. Demand peaks when everyone leaves and returns at the same time. The middle of the holiday, particularly mid-August for summer, offers the best prices within the school break.
What day of the week is cheapest to fly during school holidays?
Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently cheaper than Friday evening or Saturday morning flights. Even during peak school holiday weeks, midweek departures save £60–£120 per person on short-haul routes to Spain, Greece, and Portugal.
Do Scottish families pay less for school holiday flights?
Scottish schools finish around 3–4 weeks before English and Welsh schools, which means Scottish families can fly to popular Mediterranean destinations in late June at standard prices rather than school holiday rates. The saving is often £200–£400 per person on busy routes.
Are package holidays cheaper than booking flights and hotels separately during school holidays?
Generally yes, for school holiday travel. Tour operators like Jet2 Holidays and easyJet Holidays buy hotel allocations in bulk and can offer flight-plus-hotel packages that undercut the cost of booking each element separately, particularly for popular destinations like Majorca, Tenerife, and the Algarve.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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