10 Tips: How To Save Money On Holiday Flights Before Christmas

The cost of flights has taken off in the past couple of years, pun intended. In Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that the cost of international travel and accommodation was up more than 8% over the 12 months to June 2024. Globally, average ticket prices in 2023 rose at twice the rate of inflation!

Given the Christmas holiday period in December and January is usually the most expensive time to fly, it’s more important than ever to try and snag a bargain. It’s also the most popular. Finder surveyed Christmas spending habits in 2023, with flights and travel claiming the top spot for what Aussies were planning to spend the most money on.

Whether you’re flying overseas or somewhere in our own backyard, this article contains ten tips and tricks to save money and get a good deal on flights.

On this page:

• Where are Aussies headed this Christmas?
• What are the cheapest days to fly in December?
• How much is the average international airfare?
• Are domestic airfares cheaper?
• Top 10 tips to save on holiday airfares
• Personal loans for flights

Originally published by William Jolly, October 2023.

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Where are Aussies headed this Christmas?

Australians love to travel, and December is usually the busiest month. In December 2023, the ABS recorded more than two million departures ahead of the Christmas holidays, a monthly increase of 436,100 trips. November saw 1,591,640 overseas departures from Australia, an increase of 112,260 trips compared to October.

According to data from Flight Centre, here’s where Aussies flocked to at Christmas last year. We can expect to see most of these destinations full of Australians again this Christmas.

Fun Fact: According to Expedia, with the new craze of ‘set-jetting’ taking over in 2024, people are getting their travel inspo from their favourite TV shows and movies and visiting both where these were made and where the origin of their favourite story came from.

What are the cheapest days to fly in December?

December is one of if not the most expensive times of the year to travel, with a lot of businesses being closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. It’s important to think about when you’re flying well ahead of time so you don’t end up paying sky-high prices.

According to data from Compare the Market, 23 December 2023 was the day to avoid travelling domestically last year based on prices, so we can assume this year will be very similar. In 2023, the cheapest dates to travel in December were the 11th -17th, with airfares as cheap as $55 domestically. After this, prices tend to only increase until after the first week in January, so it could be a good idea to extend your trip for a week if you can; it could save hundreds!

How much is the average international airfare?

While it can be challenging to find an up-to-date average price for international flights due to their sheer number, 2023 data from travel search engine Kayak found that most international airfares saw price increases compared to 2022. 

Are domestic airfares cheaper?

Domestic flights are usually much cheaper than overseas flights, although that’s not always the case due to the distance between some of our cities. Sometimes, flying to New Zealand or Bali can be cheaper than flying to Perth!

To test this theory, we used the monthly cheapest flight stats by Skyscanner on two domestic and two international locations for each month of the year. It showed that Perth is more expensive than New Zealand all year round for flights and only a fraction cheaper than Bali.

However, if you go to a more niche location, like Broome, it will cost you nearly double (maybe more) to fly from Sydney.

Top 10 tips to save on holiday airfares

See the top 10 tips for saving on flights below - you can click the links to jump to each one.

Book as soon as possible

Booking your flights well in advance, preferably several months ahead, can often secure the best deals. Airlines tend to offer lower prices for tickets booked early, especially for popular travel periods like Christmas.

There’s plenty of data to back this up. For example, in 2023, Expedia reported that domestic travellers who booked flights 14 weeks in advance saved about 20%, whereas they recommend booking international trips 27-53 days in advance.

Book flights for specific days

The price for a flight to the same country from the same airport can vary drastically from day to day, and certain times of the year are much more expensive than others. The most expensive times of the year to book flights coincide with the major holidays: Christmas, school holidays and Easter.

Weekend flights are also typically the most expensive and highest in demand. But booking your flight on a weekend (not the flight date itself) is often cheaper than doing it on a weekday. Travellers who booked on Sundays instead of Fridays, for example, tended to save about 20% on average for domestic and 18% for international.

In comparison, the cheapest month to fly tends to be during winter, when summer is just beginning in Europe and North America. According to more Skyscanner research, Aussies can save an average of 24% on their flights by going at the end of July instead of the beginning.

Being flexible with your flight dates can lead to considerable savings.

Can you fly from a different airport?

Consider other Australian cities to depart from if you have the time and the costs of getting there aren’t too much. Smaller or less busy airports may offer more competitive fares. For example, driving to the Gold Coast from Brisbane and flying from there can be cheaper, even if you’re flying overseas.

This can also apply to your destination city as well. Whether you’re flying domestic or international, arriving at a secondary airport can be cheaper. It’ll all depend on how thoroughly you research your flights before booking!

Compare flights from different websites

Use flight comparison websites such as Skyscanner, Webjet, Flight Centre and other apps to compare prices across multiple airlines and booking platforms. You can also use these sites to watch for exclusive deals and discounts.

An even better way to do this is to compare flights from third-party websites, then go to the airline and book the flights directly. Flight comparison sights often receive a small commission from sending traffic to airlines, so you can avoid this by going straight to the source.

Set up price alerts

Signing up for fare alerts or notifications from airlines and travel websites can be a great way to save on flights. This way, you can receive notifications when ticket prices drop for your chosen destination, allowing you to book at the best possible rate.

Fun Fact: Some airlines have special promos every week. For example, Jetstar has Friday Fare Frenzy from 4 pm-8 pm every Friday, and Virgin has a Happy Hour Sale from 4 pm-11 pm every Friday. So, if you’re looking to fly, best to keep an eye out for those!

Fly somewhere less popular

Everyone wants to go to Japan, Paris, London, or any of those ‘top 10’ destinations we discussed above. But if you want to save money not just on flights but the overall cost of your holiday, why not try somewhere off the beaten track?

Instead of a ski trip to the French Alps, how about some lesser-visited European countries, like Bulgaria, Hungary, or Croatia? Backpacker favourites like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam can also offer cheaper flights, plus the added bonus of a good exchange rate, making your money go further.

If you’re unsure which country to go to, Google Flights has a search option that doesn't require entering your destination. Instead, you can enter your city of origin and preferred travel dates, and it’ll show you all sorts of places you might have never even thought of on your own.

Take the long route

No one likes being on planes for hours at a time or waiting around at the airport gate with heavy eyes. But flying overseas can be much cheaper if you’re willing to cop a stopover. Flying direct can be a lot more convenient, but it can have a massive impact on the cost of your tickets, especially if you’re crossing an ocean.

This theory is backed up by a quick look at flights from Sydney to Los Angeles. The cheapest flight for a return ticket for one month over Christmas (December 14 2024, to January 17 2025) is $1,671. This flight has a 16-hour stopover in Nadi (Fiji).

The fastest flight, meanwhile, is a direct flight from LA to Sydney, taking just 14 hours in total with no stopover. However, this return flight will cost $2,888, which is almost double the cost of the cheapest connecting flight!

If you’re not in a rush to reach your destination or don’t mind a night in a new city, then taking the long way to your destination can be a great way to save.

Book two one-way tickets

In some cases, booking two one-way tickets with different airlines can be more cost-effective than a return ticket. Although not always the case, return flights can often cost more for their convenience.

Compare prices for one-way and round-trip options to find the best value.

Compromise with cheaper accommodation

Sometimes, there just isn’t much you can do about the high cost of airfares. But you still have control over most other aspects of your holiday budget. In most cases, accommodation is the second-biggest travel cost behind flights, so this is where you can make the biggest savings. 

For example, a couple travelling to Europe for two weeks might pay over AUD $4,000 for extravagant accommodation. However, this cost could be cut down by 80% just by opting for mid-range hotels instead.

Consider staying in budget-friendly accommodations, such as hostels or vacation rentals, instead of a four or five-star hotel. Other ways to save on accommodation include:

• Booking in advance: Especially during peak seasons, booking well in advance can help you secure better rates.
• Using booking websites: Platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb might offer deals or discounts.
• Consider homestays: Staying with locals can be cheaper and offers a more authentic experience.
• Look for Package Deals: Some travel agencies offer package deals that combine flights, accommodations, and activities.

Pack light!

Finally, a good way to save a surprisingly large amount is to pack light and avoid baggage fees at the airport. There are usually limits to the number of bags you can check in for your flight and the weight of these bags. 

Our two largest airlines - Qantas and Virgin - charge quite a lot for additional or overweight baggage. For example, Virgin will charge extra for luggage weighing over 23kg with a maximum limit of 32kg.

According to their websites, you can be charged the following as of 2024 for domestic flights:

These fees can be even greater for international trips. Some tips to avoid these fees before getting to the airport include:

• Travel with just a carry-on bag, if possible, and buy what you need at your destination.
• Pack versatile clothing and plan to do laundry if necessary during your trip to reduce the need for excess luggage.
• Buy a lighter suitcase, or borrow one from a friend.
• Weigh your luggage before you head to the airport.
• If you’re over the limit, put some heavier items in a travelling companion's suitcase if they’ll let you.

Personal Loans for your flights

According to our data, holidays and travel are among the most common reasons for taking out a loan. When you consider how much flights alone can cost, let alone the cost of an entire holiday, using a Personal Loan to fund your next trip is entirely reasonable.

A Jacaranda Holiday Personal Loan can provide up to $25,000 for your next holiday. You can apply in just 5-12 minutes¹ and receive your funds on the same day². What’s more, you can check if you qualify first without impacting your credit score at all!

Thanks to our fixed interest rates and flexible loan terms, you can repay this loan over time with manageable instalments suited to your budget.

Check out our Holiday Loans today, or download our app below and get started on an application.