How far in advance should I book a flight 2023 Australia?

In our experience, while fantastic deals can pop up at any time, the best time to book a flight (what we call the Goldilocks Window) is 1?3 months ahead for domestic travel and 2?8 months ahead for international travel?unless your trip is around a popular holiday or peak travel time, or you have very specific travel ...



For a flight to Australia in 2023, the general "sweet spot" for booking was 22 to 24 weeks (5 to 6 months) in advance. Because Australia is a "long-haul" destination with limited direct flight paths from Europe and the Americas, prices tend to remain high and volatile. Booking early ensures you secure a "Saver" level fare before only the expensive "Full Flex" seats remain. If you were traveling during the Australian summer (December–February), the window was even longer—often 8 to 10 months ahead. Conversely, for domestic flights within Australia (e.g., Sydney to Melbourne), the ideal booking window was much shorter, typically 3 to 6 weeks. In 2026, these trends have largely held steady, though the use of "Price Alerts" on sites like Google Flights or Skyscanner has become the most popular way to snag a deal during the "second wave" of discounts that often occur 3 months before departure.

Excellent question! For travel to, from, or within Australia in 2023, the ideal booking window has shifted due to post-pandemic changes in travel demand and airline capacity. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

The Golden Rule: 3 to 6 Months in Advance

This is the current sweet spot for securing the best combination of price and availability for international flights, especially from long-haul destinations like North America, Europe, and Asia.

  • For Peak Seasons (Dec-Jan, Easter, July): Aim for 4-6 months out, or as soon as your plans are firm. Flights for Christmas 2023 in December are already booking up.
  • For Shoulder Seasons (Mar-May, Sep-Nov): 3-4 months in advance is typically sufficient.
  • For Domestic Flights within Australia: The window is shorter. 4-12 weeks in advance is often best. Last-minute sales are more common, but prices can also spike close to departure.

Key Factors & Seasonal Breakdown for Australia

  1. Australia’s Peak Seasons (Book 5-6+ months out):

    • Summer Holidays (Mid-December to Late January): The absolute peak. Includes Christmas, New Year, and Australian school holidays. Book as early as possible.
    • Winter Holidays (Late June to Mid-July): Peak for skiing in NSW/Victoria and for Australians escaping the cold in Queensland. Also coincides with northern hemisphere summer holidays.
    • Major Events: Research if your trip coincides with events like the Australian Open (Jan), F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne (Mar/Apr), or school holiday periods (varies by state).

  2. Shoulder Seasons (Book 3-4 months out):

    • Autumn (March-May) & Spring (September-November): Often the best time to visit. Great weather, fewer crowds, and better prices than peak season.

  3. Domestic & Trans-Tasman (to NZ):

    • Be flexible. Use fare alerts. While booking 1-2 months out is standard, airlines like Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar frequently have “Happy Hour” or “Friday Fare Frenzy” sales for travel in the next 2-4 months.

Pro Tips for 2023 Bookings

  • Use

People Also Ask

But even compared to pre-pandemic prices, airfares are lower. Average U.S. airfares are more than 6.5% lower in September 2023 than they were in September 2019, meaning prices aren't just lower than they were last year, but even lower than what they were pre-pandemic.

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Air fares have risen because of an imbalance between demand and supply. Aviation measures supply by examining the number of seats in the market; in the case of Australian domestic flights, over the six months to June 2023 there were still 6.5% fewer seats in the market than before Covid.

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According to Qantas, the high (or peak) season, which runs from about the second week of December through January, is when airfare tends to be the priciest because of the heavy holiday-oriented traffic. This period is Australia's summer.

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Instead, we recommend booking your flight at least 45 days to 60 days before a domestic trip. For international flights, give yourself even more time: start looking at flight prices at least two to six months beforehand. These general rules of thumb will help make sure you're not paying too much.

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Factors such as fuel costs, staffing shortages, aging IT infrastructure and hidden fees all contribute to expensive flights in 2023.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $512 for one-way flights and $863 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

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“It's well-known that flight prices vary based on the day of the week,” Mr Kidman told news.com.au. “I am very much a Tuesday traveller. I always aim to book domestic flights between Tuesday and Thursday. That's generally when the cheapest sale seats are available too.

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While the cheapest day to actually pay for airfare can vary from one week to the next, Expedia data shows consumers who book airfare on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save approximately 5 percent on domestic flights and 15 percent on international airfare.

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The airline said on Monday fuel prices had increased by about 30% since May 2023, driven by a combination of higher oil prices, higher refiner margins and a lower Australian dollar.

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