Usually the flights are released about 11 months ahead.

Oh OK - so around July this year. Great thanks

Would the principle of booking as far ahead as possible net a better deal or does it make no difference in flight and hotel prices whether I book in July or December/January?

More often than not it's cheaper to buy well ahead, though some airlines do have sales at various times of the year. I can't tell you when as I normally don't fly longhaul with any flights based in the Uk.

Prices for next year have been released. Flights to New York with British Airways are about £550 per person. A flight and hotel is in the region of £750-£850. And this is with BA currently having a sale.

I appreciate it's a gamble but would it be worth snapping up these prices, or wait and see if there is any bargains to be had in the New Year? Last time I went to NYC was 2007 and the prices were about the same, so I wouldn't have thought there would be any really cheap trips to be had.