Fixed Departure: Flights, Series Fares and Holiday Tours Explained

Fixed departure is the travel trade's name for a trip that leaves on a set date, on a set flight or itinerary, at a price decided in advance. Instead of building a trip around dates you choose, you pick from departures that are already planned and join one of them. At JourneyDeal the term covers two things: fixed departure flights, which are series fare seats bought ahead on chosen flights, and fixed departure holidays, which are tours that run on published dates.

In plain words, the fixed departure meaning is this: the date, the flight or tour plan and the price come first, a limited number of seats or places goes on sale, and travellers book until that departure fills. Once the seats on a date are sold, that date closes. Both kinds trade some flexibility for a confirmed, planned trip, so it helps to understand how each one works before you book.

Fixed departure flights and series fares

A series fare is a block of seats on a particular flight and date that is purchased ahead and then sold at a fixed price. On our pages these seats appear as the Special Fixed Departure price, each backed by a confirmed airline PNR. You can see the airline, the flight timings, the number of seats left on that date and the baggage included, because baggage varies from fare to fare. Series seats on our pages may be on IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet or Flydubai, but only where that airline has seats on the route and date you are searching.

Because the seats were bought in bulk well before travel, a fixed departure fare is often lower than the live fare in busy seasons such as school holidays, Diwali, Eid, Christmas and the Gulf summer rush. That is not always the case, so we show normal fares as well. Use Show all fares to compare both on the same screen before you decide.

Fixed departure holidays and group tours

A fixed departure holiday is a tour with a published start date, a set day-by-day itinerary and a group that travels together. Hotels, sightseeing and transfers are arranged ahead for that date, and the plan runs as published. It suits travellers who like a ready plan and company on the road, as well as first-time visitors who would rather not piece a trip together alone. If none of the listed dates fit, an ordinary holiday package built around your own dates may suit you better. Always check what the tour price includes, such as flights, meals and visa help, before you compare it with a package you might put together yourself.

Who a fixed departure suits?

• Travellers whose dates are already settled, such as a wedding, a joining date or a school break
• Families and friends heading to Dubai, Thailand, Bali, the Maldives or the hills in peak season
• Workers and visitors travelling between India and the Gulf on busy dates
• People who want a confirmed seat and are comfortable with firm fare rules
• Travel agents who need dependable inventory to quote and sell to their own customers

It is less suited to anyone whose plans may still change. Fixed departure and series fares are usually non-refundable, and name changes and date changes are usually not allowed or are allowed only in a limited way. The exact rules for each fare are shown before you pay, so read them carefully.

How to book a fixed departure

1. Search your route and travel date, or open the fixed departure page for your sector.
2. Pick a date that still shows seats and check the flight timings, baggage and fare rules.
3. Use Show all fares if you want to compare the series fare with normal fares.
4. Enter each traveller's name exactly as it appears on the passport or ID, since names usually cannot be changed later.
5. Pay online through the payment gateway.
6. Your ticket is issued against the confirmed PNR and sent to you by email.

For a holiday, choose the tour and its departure date, review what is included, add the travellers and complete payment in the same way.

Fixed departures for travel agents

Travel agents can register free with JourneyDeal and, after a KYC check, log in to the agent portal. Agents see net fares on the same fixed departure and series inventory that travellers see, add their own markup, book for their customers and pay from a wallet they top up. It gives a small agency access to peak-season seats without having to buy blocks of its own. For parties of ten or more travelling together, ask for a negotiated group fare instead, which is handled separately from series seats.

If plans change or the flight changes?

Airlines can reschedule or cancel flights, and fixed departures are no exception. If that happens, we help you rebook or claim a refund under the airline's rules. If you need to cancel yourself, check the cancellation rules shown on your fare first; on most series fares little or nothing comes back, so it is wise to book only once your dates are firm.

Where to read more

The links below go deeper into the meaning of fixed departure, the airlines that put series seats on sale, international, domestic and Dubai routes, departures from Delhi and Mumbai, booking steps, cancellation rules and the portal for travel agents. Holiday travellers can browse fixed date tours and all our packages from the same list.