Fixed Departure Series Fare: How It Works Behind Every Fixed Date

A fixed departure series fare is the price behind the seats you see on our Special Fixed Departure pages. Instead of a seat priced live by the airline's system, minute by minute, a series fare belongs to a block of seats bought ahead of time on a set flight and date, and then sold at one fixed price until that block runs out.

For a traveller this means two practical things. The price shown on a date does not jump while you type in passenger names, and the seat sits on a confirmed airline PNR. The trade-off is flexibility: series fares carry tighter rules than a normal published fare, so it is worth understanding how they work before you book a family trip or a holiday flight.

How a series fare sits behind a fixed departure

Airlines release part of their capacity in series, meaning the same seats on the same flight number across many dates in a season. Those seats are taken in bulk and priced as one series. Each date you see on a fixed-departure page is a single departure from that series, with its own seat count. When the count reaches zero, that date closes, while the other dates in the series stay open until their own seats are gone. That is why you may find a Friday sold out and the following Monday still available on the same route.

How seats are blocked for a season

• The block is agreed on set flights and dates, often across a school holiday, a festival period, a long-weekend run or a peak travel month.
• A PNR is created for the block, and passenger names are added to it as seats are sold.
• The number of seats per date is limited and is shown on the page, so you can see what remains before you start.
• Seats that are not sold in time may go back to the airline under its own rules, which is why some dates disappear well before departure.

Why the price is fixed

A series fare is set when the seats are bought, not when you search. So the price on a date does not rise with demand the way live fares do. In peak season, when live prices climb as flights fill up, a fixed departure series fare is often cheaper than the live price because the seats were bought in bulk well ahead. It is not always cheaper, though. On a quiet weekday the airline's own sale fare can be lower, and a fare with more flexibility may suit you better. That is why we also show normal fares on the same search. Use Show all fares to compare both side by side, including baggage and rules, before you decide.

Who sells series fare seats

Series seats are sold to travellers directly on our website and to travel agents through our free B2B portal. Agents see net fares on the same fixed-departure inventory, add their own markup and book for their customers, paying from a wallet they top up. Because both channels draw on the same block, a popular date can sell out quickly in busy months, so it helps to book once your plans are firm. For groups of 10 or more passengers we quote separate negotiated group fares, since one date in a series may not have enough seats left for a large party.

The rules that usually come with a series fare

• Usually non-refundable: if you cancel, the fare is normally not returned, although some taxes may be refundable under the airline's rules.
• Name changes are usually not allowed, so every name must match the passport or government ID exactly.
• Date changes are usually not allowed or are limited, because the seat belongs to one specific date in the series.
• Baggage is shown on each fare and varies by airline and route, so check it rather than assume.
• The full fare rules show before payment, and those are the rules that apply to your ticket.

What if the airline changes the flight?

A series fare does not stop an airline from rescheduling or cancelling a flight. If that happens, we contact you and help you rebook or claim a refund according to the airline's rules for that change. Keep the mobile number and email on your booking correct so these messages reach you in time, and check your flight status a day before you travel.

How to book a fixed departure series fare

1. Search your route and dates, or open a route page from our fixed-departure section.
2. Pick a date that still shows seats, then read the baggage and fare rules on that fare.
3. Enter passenger names exactly as they appear on the passport or government ID.
4. Pay online through the payment gateway.
5. Your ticket is issued against the confirmed PNR and emailed to you, so keep it handy for check-in.