Flying during Christmas and New Year is typically the most expensive time of the year, but new research shows there are still opportunities to secure cheaper fares – particularly for travellers with flexible schedules.
According to Compare the Market, the most affordable domestic flights this holiday season fall within the first two weeks of December.
The data suggests travellers could save hundreds, and in some cases thousands, by flying earlier rather than closer to Christmas.
For example, direct flights can be found for as little as $53 from Sydney to Melbourne if booked for early December. By contrast, peak-season fares can exceed $2,500 for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Adelaide, based on the routes analysed.
Quoted airfares generally peaked in the week of Christmas, the research notes, before easing again in early January.
Overall, December’s average cheapest fares remained relatively steady compared with 2023 and 2024.
However, several major routes have seen notable increases this year, including flights from Brisbane to Hobart and Perth, Sydney to Hobart, Adelaide and Cairns, and Melbourne to Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns.
Compare the Market’s travel expert, Nine’s Getaway host Catriona Rowntree, said the findings reinforce that earlier travel dates can still offer significant savings.
“Travelling in the Christmas and New Year peak can be more expensive, but choosing to fly earlier rather than later in December generally means you could score a better deal on a ticket,” she says.
“For example, the cheapest flights from Sydney to Cairns is $104 in the first seven days of December or $455 on the 27th of December, just as the holidays start. That’s a shocking 77 per cent difference.”
For international travellers, a surprising trend has also emerged this year.
Vietnam has become the number one overseas destination for Australians travelling during the Christmas and New Year period, with multiple travel companies reporting a surge in bookings as holidaymakers look for low-cost options amid ongoing price pressures.
For those heading to Europe, festive markets remain the drawcard.
From the UK and Portugal to Denmark and Hungary, European cities continue to offer some of the most recognised Christmas market experiences – complete with fairy lights, mulled wine, wooden stalls, seasonal food and family attractions.
The UK’s Post Office Travel Money has identified Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, as the best-value destination for travellers seeking an authentic Christmas market getaway, with a festive trip costing around $1,031.
Images: Shutterstock
