Explore Australia

Cheapest Time to Fly to Australia (and the Most Expensive)

The cheapest time to fly to Australia is usually late summer and select shoulder-season weeks—while late December–January and peak winter escape weeks are the priciest.

Mitchell Falls

Flights to Australia from the US can swing a lot by season—partly because it’s a long-haul trip, and partly because Australia’s peak travel months don’t always match the US calendar.

A simple rule that helps—Australia’s summer is December–February, and that’s when demand (and prices) often jump the most.

Quick Take

Cheapest time to fly to Australia: February–March, May, late August–September, and early November
Most expensive time to fly to Australia: late December–January, June–July, and major holiday weeks

Cheapest Time to Fly to Australia

The cheapest flights usually show up when fewer travelers are booking long-haul trips and airlines have more open seats to fill—especially if you can dodge weekend-heavy dates.

February to March (Post–Holiday Cooldown)

Once the Christmas/New Year rush is over, prices often ease up. If you’re hunting for the best deal odds for Australia, this is one of the most reliable windows.

Money-saving tip: Tuesday–Thursday departures tend to price better than Friday/Saturday.
Heads-up: Some routes can still run high if you’re locked into specific weekends.

May (Late-Fall Shoulder Season)

May can be a great value month—far from the year-end spike, and often before mid-year demand ramps up. It’s one of those “quiet calendar” stretches where airfare can soften.

Money-saving tip: Check multiple gateways—Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), and Brisbane (BNE) can price very differently week to week.
Heads-up: If your dates drift toward late May or early June, pricing can start climbing.

Late August to September (Post-Winter Peak Dip)

After the busiest mid-year weeks, fares can loosen up again. September especially can be a solid mix of deal potential and good flight availability.

Money-saving tip: Consider a one-stop itinerary if you’re chasing the lowest fare—Australia deals often hide there.
Heads-up: Some school break timing can still nudge prices up on certain weeks.

Early November (Pre-Holiday Lull)

Early November is often a calm window before the year-end rush begins. If you want a shot at decent pricing without going deep into winter, this is a smart month to watch.

Money-saving tip: Keep your return flexible—late November and December can climb quickly.
Heads-up: If you fly around Thanksgiving week, your US-side travel patterns can push fares higher.

Most Expensive Time to Fly to Australia

High prices usually come down to one thing—tons of travelers wanting the same dates for the same reason.

Late December to January (Christmas, New Year, Aussie Summer)

This is typically the toughest time for deals. Australia is in full summer, and holiday travel demand stacks up fast.

Peak within peak: Late-December departures and early-January returns.

June to July (Mid-Year Peak Weeks)

Mid-year can get pricey because it overlaps with US summer travel and popular winter escape patterns within Australia—plus a lot of people booking big trips during school breaks.

Peak within peak: Late June through mid-July, especially weekend-heavy trips.

Major Holiday Weeks (US and Australia)

Any time your trip lines up with a major holiday window, expect prices to rise and the best itineraries to sell faster.

Peak within peak: Friday/Saturday departures and Sunday returns.

On a Budget But Want Good Weather in Australia?

If you want comfortable trip timing without paying the year-end premium, these windows are usually your best bet:

March: Post-holiday pricing, still a great time for many itineraries
May: Shoulder-season value with steadier demand
September: Often one of the best “value-weather” months for deal odds

Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Australia

Because Australia is long-haul from the US, the best fares tend to show up earlier—and they don’t always stick around.

Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 4–7 months ahead
Popular seasons: start tracking 6–10+ months ahead

Extra tip: If you’re willing to fly into one city and return from another, an open-jaw trip can sometimes beat round-trip pricing and save you time.

Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Australia

Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.

Month	Demand Level	Price Level	Notes
Jan	Very High	Very High	Year-end travel + Aussie summer pricing
Feb	Medium → Low	Medium → Low	Deals improve after holiday returns
Mar	Low → Medium	Low → Medium	Often a strong value month
Apr	Medium	Medium	Can rise around school break timing
May	Low → Medium	Low → Medium	Shoulder-season value window
Jun	Medium → High	Medium → High	Mid-year demand starts building
Jul	High	High	One of the pricier stretches
Aug	Medium	Medium	Can cool off after peak weeks
Sep	Medium → Low	Medium → Low	Post-peak dip—often deal-friendly
Oct	Medium	Medium	Steady pricing, decent deal potential
Nov	Medium	Medium	Early month can be good—then ramps toward holidays
Dec	High → Very High	High → Very High	Early month varies; late month surges hard