Travellers could be facing a present-sized hole in their travel budget during the end-of-year festivities, as research from travel insurance comparison site Compare the Market reveals a difference of hundreds of dollars between the cheapest and most expensive days to fly this December.

Using Skyscanner for a single one-way ticket for the cheapest available flights, Compare the Market found that flights out of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington, NZ to the rest of Australia’s major cities and Christchurch are on average cheapest between the 3^rd to the 5^th and 10^th to 13^th of December. However, vacationers may still be able to steal a bargain outside of these days.

Compared to last year’s price trends, where the cheapest prices were generally available between the 11^th and 17^th of December, there has been a shift for cheaper flights to be even earlier in the month of December.

The comparison site also found movement in when the flight prices peaked, with the most expensive prices being around the 20^th to the 22^nd of December and 26^th to the 29^th of December across all four departure destinations.

Compare the Market’s travel expert, Catriona Rowntree, said that while the household budget might be tight during the end-of-year festivities, there are still a number of ways that people can look to travel on the cheap.

“If you have the option, fly out during the day when there’s not as much demand,” Ms Rowntree said. “You’ll hit peak traffic if you’re flying out after everyone is finished at school or commuting home from work and that can be stressful.

“Airports are stressful at this time of the year. Remember that to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late and to be late is ‘holy cow we’ve missed the plane’.

“Creating family memories doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Your kids don’t care about that fancy hotel – all they really want is to spend quality time with you and that could be anywhere. When looking for accommodation always prioritise safety and convenience over luxuries.”

The cheapest deals out of Brisbane for an available single one-way ticket are:

The cheapest deals out of Sydney for an available single one-way ticket are:

The cheapest deals out of Melbourne (any airport) for an available single one-way ticket are:

The cheapest deals out of Wellington for an available single one-way ticket are:

Compare the Market also found some silver linings in the overall average flight prices during the month of December. At the point of time that Compare the Market conducted the research, most average flight prices were cheaper than around the same time last year. The biggest drop in price across the month of December was seen for flights between Melbourne (from any airport) to Cairns, with the average price around 25% cheaper than they were a year ago for these flights.

Across the flights within Australia, the average flight price out from Brisbane was 9.9% less than a year ago, 6.1% less for flights out from Sydney, and 14.3% less for flights out from any of Melbourne’s airports.

Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager for General Insurance, and travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, said that these decreases in flight prices are a welcome reprieve for families who are looking to spend time outside of their home city.

“It’s great to see some sort of reprieve for cash-strapped families who may only see their family at Christmas. We are seeing some of the prices dip from last year, but without a doubt, we would expect prices to increase in the weeks leading up to the end of year break,” Mr Taylor said.

“The best option for people would be to book early, see if there is some flexibility in the days they’re flying, and search around for a deal, just like they would for car insurance or a better rate on their home loan.”

*Wellington and Christchurch are not included in the above table as flight prices from these cities were not analysed in 2023.

*Wellington and Christchurch are not included in the above table as flight prices from these cities were not analysed in 2023.

*Wellington and Christchurch are not included in the above table as flight prices from these cities were not analysed in 2023.

However, one thing that hasn’t changed from last year is that travellers can still grab bargains on the 31^st of December to select cities across the country.

Holidaymakers from Brisbane may be able to snap up one of the cheapest tickets to Melbourne, Hobart, or Adelaide on the last day of the calendar month. Sydneysiders can also grab one of the cheapest tickets to Melbourne, while Melbournians could grab tickets to Adelaide for as little as $85. If people are looking to fly out from Wellington, they can seat for as little as $51 to Christchurch.

“The end of the year is starting to wrap up as another busy one, with many people thinking of heading over state lines or the Tasman Sea to celebrate, relax and unwind,” Mr Taylor said.

“However, just because people may be heading interstate, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pack travel insurance alongside your swimwear and sunscreen.

“Meteorologists are predicting another wet summer this year, with plenty of opportunity for torrential downpours and perhaps even a cyclone or two, meaning any open-air activity you’ve already booked could be under threat of cancellation due to inclement weather or flooding.

“And while Medicare could cover you for any medical emergencies that may arise if travelling domestically, travel insurance could help you cover the cancellation costs that are out of your control, including the flights you’ve booked.

“There are also additional travel cover options for those planning to hire a car and drive from place to place to discover Australia’s coastline. If you have cover for domestic rental car excess, and you’re responsible for a collision, travel insurance may be able to help cover the expensive hire car excess.

“Travel insurance policies with a cruise component are now also commonplace for those planning to step on a gangway and take a cruise across Australian waters, as Medicare or your private health insurance will not cover any medical expenses once you step on the ship.

“As for those heading across the Tasman Sea to enjoy an end-of-year holiday in New Zealand, travel insurance is a no-brainer.

“Whether you’re planning a visit to the adventure capital of the world or taking a more subdued approach with a wine and food tour across the country, travel insurance can protect your trip. Just make sure you have the right cover for you.

“So, if you feel like you need to let loose a bit and perhaps try skydiving, bungee jumping, or scuba diving, make sure you have adventure extras included in your comprehensive policy.”

Methodology

Prices for a single one-way ticket were gathered from Skyscanner on the 17^th of October 2024, and all prices are subject to availability. Pricing shown on Skyscanner are the estimated lowest prices only and will change to reflect the individual’s needs, and are subject to change and availability. The number of days between the cheapest and most expensive rates is calculated to be the shortest amount of time between the two days, where there are multiple days with the cheapest and most expensive prices.

Prices for flights from Melbourne are indicated from any of its three airports. Please note that averages for flights departing Wellington to Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Canberra did not have flights available every day for the month of December. As such, the average costs and all other calculations done in the research are based on the available data at the time of review.

Comparisons to 2023 data mentioned in the release are to flight prices gathered on the 3rd of November, 2023.

-ENDS-

For interviews and more information, please contact:

Phillip Portman | 0437 384 471 | [email protected]

Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy insurance, energy, and home loans products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.