Best Time to Book Flights Around Australian Holidays 2026

Understanding Holiday Flight Pricing

Airline pricing algorithms respond to demand, and Australian public holidays create predictable demand spikes that influence prices. Understanding these patterns helps travellers book at optimal times and make strategic choices about travel dates.

Prices typically begin rising 6-8 weeks before major holiday periods as seats fill on popular flights. The steepest increases occur in the final 2-3 weeks before holidays, when last-minute bookers pay premium prices for remaining seats. Booking early generally provides better prices and more choice, though occasional sales and last-minute deals can reward flexibility.

Peak vs Off-Peak Considerations

Not all public holidays create equal price pressure. Christmas and school holiday periods generate the highest demand and prices, while adult-only long weekends like the June Queen's Birthday see smaller increases. Easter falls between these extremes, with moderate price increases reflecting mixed family and adult travel demand.

Route popularity also matters significantly. Flights to popular holiday destinations like the Gold Coast, Cairns, and Bali experience greater holiday price increases than routes to business-focused destinations or less popular leisure areas.

Optimal Booking Windows for 2026 Holidays

Each major holiday period has an ideal booking window that balances price, availability, and schedule flexibility. Here are specific recommendations for 2026's key travel periods.

Christmas and New Year 2025-2026

For travel during the Christmas and New Year period (mid-December through early January), booking should ideally occur 3-4 months in advance. By early September, you should have flights secured for the holiday period. Peak demand flights on December 23-24 and return flights on January 2-3 fill earliest and see the highest prices.

Flexibility with dates significantly reduces costs. Flying on Christmas Day or New Year's Day is typically cheaper than adjacent days, as many travellers avoid travel on the actual holidays. Similarly, departing mid-week rather than Friday or returning mid-week rather than Sunday offers savings.

Australia Day (26 January 2026)

Australia Day falls on Monday, creating a three-day weekend. This summer long weekend sees strong domestic travel demand, particularly to coastal destinations. Booking 6-8 weeks in advance (by early December 2025) secures reasonable prices and good availability for most routes.

Consider that Australia Day weekend overlaps with the final weeks of summer school holidays, increasing demand on family-friendly routes. Routes popular with families, such as Gold Coast and theme park destinations, experience particularly high demand.

Easter 2026 (3-6 April)

Easter's four-day weekend creates significant travel demand. The combination of public holidays and school holidays makes this one of the busier domestic travel periods. Booking 8-10 weeks ahead (by late January or early February) is advisable for Easter 2026.

Thursday evening and Friday morning departures are in highest demand as travellers leave for the long weekend. Return flights on Monday evening and Tuesday morning see similar pressure. Mid-weekend flights (Saturday or Sunday) typically offer better value.

June Long Weekend (Queen's Birthday - Most States)

The June long weekend sees moderate travel demand, primarily from couples and adult groups rather than families (as it falls during school term). Booking 4-6 weeks ahead typically secures good prices for this winter long weekend.

Popular destinations include ski resorts (for those flying to gateway cities like Melbourne, Canberra, or Albury) and tropical escapes to Queensland. Routes to these destinations may require earlier booking than average.

Queensland October Long Weekend (Queen's Birthday)

Queensland's October Queen's Birthday creates high domestic demand within Queensland and from southern states seeking spring weather. Booking 6-8 weeks ahead helps secure good prices for this period, particularly for flights to reef and island destinations.

Christmas and New Year 2026-2027

Begin planning Christmas 2026 travel by August 2026. By September, you should actively search and book flights for the December holiday period. Use our 2026 calendar to identify your exact travel dates and set reminder alerts for booking windows.

Strategic Booking Tips

Beyond timing, several strategic approaches help secure better prices for holiday travel throughout 2026.

Flexible Date Searching

Most flight search engines offer flexible date views showing prices across a range of dates. Use these to identify significantly cheaper travel days around your preferred dates. Flying a day earlier or later can sometimes halve the fare, particularly for long weekends where everyone tries to maximise their time away.

For longer holidays like Easter and Christmas, consider returning mid-week rather than the traditional Sunday or Monday rush. Prices often drop substantially for Tuesday or Wednesday return flights.

Alternative Airport Strategies

For destinations served by multiple airports, compare prices across alternatives. Flying to Avalon instead of Tullamarine for Melbourne destinations, or Gold Coast instead of Brisbane for southeast Queensland visits, sometimes offers significant savings. Factor in ground transport costs and time when evaluating alternatives.

Booking Platforms and Direct Airlines

Compare prices across multiple platforms and directly with airlines. While comparison sites provide convenient searching, booking directly with airlines sometimes offers better prices, more flexibility with changes, and easier resolution if problems occur. Sign up for airline newsletters and fare alert services to receive notifications of sales and special offers.

Points and Miles Redemption

Frequent flyer points offer particular value during peak holiday periods when cash prices are highest. However, award seat availability is limited during high-demand periods. For Christmas and Easter travel, begin searching for award seats 6-12 months ahead, as soon as schedules are released. Points bookings often require greater flexibility with dates and times than cash bookings.

Routes and Destinations Analysis

Different routes experience different holiday pricing patterns. Understanding which destinations see the biggest price jumps helps prioritise bookings and consider alternatives.

High-Demand Holiday Routes

Routes to classic Australian holiday destinations see the biggest holiday price increases. Sydney to Gold Coast, Melbourne to Gold Coast, and all capitals to Cairns experience significant premiums during school holidays and long weekends. International routes to Bali, Fiji, and other popular short-haul destinations also see substantial holiday surcharges.

These routes require the earliest booking and greatest flexibility. If price is a primary concern, consider alternative destinations that may offer better value during peak periods.

Moderate-Demand Routes

Flights to secondary holiday destinations and capital city pairs see more moderate holiday pricing. Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and regional destinations typically experience smaller price increases than the main holiday hotspots. These destinations can offer excellent holiday experiences at more reasonable prices during peak periods.

Counter-Seasonal Opportunities

While most holiday travel follows predictable patterns, counter-seasonal destinations can offer value. Flying to Melbourne during summer (when locals head to Queensland) or to tropical destinations during southern winter (before peak dry season) sometimes provides excellent prices for quality holiday experiences.

Dealing with Sold-Out Flights and High Prices

Despite best efforts, sometimes preferred flights are unavailable or unaffordably expensive. Several strategies help in these situations.

Alternative Routing

When direct flights are expensive or unavailable, connecting flights may offer solutions. Flying Melbourne to Cairns via Sydney or Brisbane, for example, might cost less than direct flights during peak periods. Additional travel time is a trade-off against cost savings and the ability to travel on preferred dates.

One-Way Combinations

Booking one-way flights on different airlines sometimes beats return fares on a single carrier. The outbound and return flights can be priced very differently, and mixing carriers may capture better pricing. Compare total costs carefully, including baggage fees that budget carriers charge separately.

Date Flexibility as Last Resort

If prices remain prohibitive, adjusting travel dates may be the only option. Travelling a few days earlier or returning a few days later than ideal might reduce prices to acceptable levels. This requires coordination with accommodation bookings and work or school schedules.

2026 Holiday Flight Booking Calendar

Here's a summary timeline for booking flights around 2026's major holiday periods:

January-February 2026

• Book Easter 2026 flights (3-6 April)
• Book Anzac Day long weekend flights if travelling (25 April falls on Saturday)
• Book June long weekend flights

March-April 2026

• Book winter school holiday flights (late June/early July)
• Book Queensland October long weekend flights

May-June 2026

• Book spring school holiday flights (September-October)
• Book Melbourne Cup long weekend flights (Victoria)

July-August 2026

• Book Christmas and New Year 2026-2027 flights
• Book Australia Day 2027 flights

Ongoing Throughout 2026

• Monitor fare sales and special offers
• Set price alerts for routes you regularly fly
• Accumulate and strategically use frequent flyer points