Understanding Award Release Dates

Award release dates help you plan ahead by showing how far in advance each airline releases award seats for booking with miles or points. This guide explains what award release dates mean, why they’re useful, and what to expect when using Seats.aero’s Award Release Dates tool.

👉 Explore the tool here: https://seats.aero/tools/releases

✈️ What Are Award Release Dates?

Award release dates refer to how far in advance airlines make award seats available for booking using miles or points.

For example, if an airline releases awards “330 days out,” that means you can book award flights up to 330 days into the future from today.

Each airline follows its own schedule for releasing award inventory. Some mileage programs may show different release windows depending on the carrier. Seats.aero displays the maximum number of days out observed for each airline, based on real data from recent award searches.

💡 Why Are Award Release Dates Useful to Know?

Knowing when airlines release their award seats can give you a competitive advantage—especially if you’re searching for premium cabins or popular routes.

Some airlines release an initial batch of award seats as soon as their booking schedule opens. By knowing exactly how many days in advance each carrier releases awards, you can:

• Search as soon as new inventory becomes available
• Secure hard-to-find routes or premium cabins before others
• Plan future trips around expected release windows

This insight is especially valuable for high-demand routes, where award space can disappear quickly.

❓ Are Awards Always Available at the Number of Days Out Listed?

Not always. The “days out” listed represent the maximum observed booking window—not a guarantee that awards will be available that far in advance.

Award inventory varies depending on factors such as:

• Route and seasonality
• Demand levels
• Airline release patterns (some release seats in batches or closer to departure)

Seats.aero bases these dates on actual observed data, giving you a realistic expectation of each carrier’s award release behavior.

📊 How to Use the Award Release Dates Tool

You can access the live data anytime at

👉 https://seats.aero/tools/releases

Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Select a Mileage Program

   Choose your preferred loyalty program (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus).

   View Carrier Data

   The table shows:

   • Carrier name
   • Number of days out (maximum observed)
   • Latest available date in Seats.aero’s award data

2. Sort and Compare

   Use sorting options to compare which airlines open awards furthest in advance.

3. Plan Your Alerts

   Once you know when awards typically open, set Seats.aero Alerts to notify you as soon as new award seats become available.

🧭 Example

If Air Canada Aeroplan releases awards 358 days out, you can start searching and booking Aeroplan award flights roughly one year in advance.

Other carriers in the same program may release slightly earlier or later depending on their own schedules.

🕒 Data Updates

Seats.aero continuously refreshes award data. However, since airlines may adjust release schedules or inventory at any time, availability can fluctuate. The Award Release Dates tool provides a useful benchmark, but it’s always best to double-check when planning specific travel dates.