Cheap Times to Fly to Melbourne, AU (and Most Expensive)

Q: What is the cheapest month to fly to Melbourne?

The cheapest month to fly to Melbourne is often May, with strong deal potential also in February and September (outside major event weeks).

Q: What is the most expensive month to fly to Melbourne?

The most expensive months are usually July and December, with pricing peaking in late December and staying high into early January.

Q: What is the cheapest day of the week to fly to Melbourne?

Midweek departures (Tuesday–Thursday) often have better pricing odds than weekend-heavy travel patterns on long-haul routes.

Q: How far in advance should I book flights to Melbourne?

Plan on 3–7 months ahead for cheaper seasons and 6–10+ months ahead for peak windows like June–August and late December—especially if you need exact dates.

Q: Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne (MEL) or Sydney (SYD) and connect?

It depends on the week. Sometimes Sydney (SYD) prices better from the US, and adding a separate flight to Melbourne (MEL) can reduce the total. Price-check both and compare total travel time.

The cheapest time to fly to Melbourne is usually late January–March and select shoulder-season weeks—while June–August (US summer), late December–early January, and major Aussie event weeks are often the priciest.

Flights to Melbourne from the US are long-haul—and that’s why timing matters. A small shift in dates can mean a huge difference in price, especially when US summer travel lines up with Australia’s winter peak, or when late-December holiday travel kicks in.

Quick Take

Cheapest time to fly to Melbourne: late January–March, May, late August–September, and early December
Most expensive time to fly to Melbourne: June–August, late December–early January, and late September–early November (event-heavy weeks)

Not A Member? ✈️

Save 40%-95% with Jetsetter Alerts - Airline Mistake Fare & Flash Sales Alerts!

Get Personalized Airfare Alerts

Cheapest Time to Fly to Melbourne

These are the windows where demand usually cools off and you’re more likely to catch a good fare from the US.

Late January to March (post-holiday slowdown)

After New Year travel fades, prices often drop—this is one of the more reliable “deal” stretches for Australia.

Money-saving tip: Midweek departures: Tuesday–Thursday flights often price better than weekend-heavy dates.
Heads-up: School timing: if your dates overlap US spring break, some weeks can price higher than expected.

May (shoulder-season value)

May is a sneaky-good month for Melbourne flights—fewer big travel weeks, steadier demand, and often better pricing than June or July.

Money-saving tip: Be flexible on connections: a different gateway (like LA vs Dallas vs San Francisco) can change the price a lot.

Late August to September (late-winter pricing dip)

By late August, some routes soften after the mid-winter rush. September can still be deal-friendly, as long as you dodge peak event weeks.

Money-saving tip: Avoid long weekends: they can spike prices even when the rest of the month looks decent.

Early December (before the holiday surge)

Early December can be a sweet spot—often better than late December, with decent availability before holiday travel ramps up.

Money-saving tip: Return before mid-December: it can keep you out of the most expensive holiday pricing.

Most Expensive Time to Fly to Melbourne

Melbourne gets expensive when peak travel patterns stack—especially US summer and late-December holiday travel.

June to August (US summer + Australia winter peak)

This is commonly the toughest stretch for pricing from the US. Even though it’s winter in Melbourne, it’s peak long-haul travel season for a lot of Americans.

Peak within peak: Late June through late July often prices the highest.

Late December to Early January (holiday travel)

Late-December departures and early-January returns are frequently priced at a premium—high demand, limited cheap seats.

Peak within peak: The week after Christmas through the first week of January.

Late September to Early November (big event weeks)

Melbourne can run pricey around major event timing—especially if you’re traveling when lots of people are trying to be in town.

Heads-up: Springtime events: certain weeks can price like peak season even if the month “usually” isn’t.

Good Weather Without Peak Flight Prices

If you want Melbourne when it feels nice outside—but you’re trying to dodge the most expensive airfare—these windows usually hit the sweet spot:

March: still comfortable, often cheaper than December and January
May: cooler weather, often better pricing than June–August
Early December: better odds than late December, with good availability

Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Melbourne

For long-haul routes like this, the “best price” seats can disappear quickly—especially for summer and holiday travel.

Lower-demand periods: start Watching 3–7 months ahead
Peak periods (June–August, late December): start tracking 6–10+ months ahead
Sign up for Jetsetter Alerts cheap flight alerts to automatically get notified of any great deals to Melbourne in real-time.

Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Melbourne

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

Month	Demand Level	Price Level	Notes
Jan	High → Medium	High → Medium	Prices ease after New Year
Feb	Medium	Medium	Often solid deal potential
Mar	Medium	Medium	Shoulder season for many travelers
Apr	Medium	Medium	Can rise around some school breaks
May	Low → Medium	Low → Medium	Often one of the better-value months
Jun	High	High	US summer demand starts
Jul	High	High	Peak pricing for many US routes
Aug	High → Medium	High → Medium	Can soften late month
Sep	Medium	Medium	Often deal-friendly outside event weeks
Oct	Medium → High	Medium → High	Event-heavy weeks can spike pricing
Nov	Medium	Medium	Often steadier than December
Dec	Medium → Very High	Medium → Very High	Early month can be okay; late month surges

What is the cheapest month to fly to Melbourne?

Answer: The cheapest month to fly to Melbourne is often May, with strong deal potential also in February and September (outside major event weeks).

What is the most expensive month to fly to Melbourne?

Answer: The most expensive months are usually July and December, with pricing peaking in late December and staying high into early January.

What is the cheapest day of the week to fly to Melbourne?

Answer: The best pricing odds are often on midweek departures (Tuesday–Thursday). Weekend-heavy patterns tend to run higher on long-haul routes.

How far in advance should I book flights to Melbourne?

Answer: Plan on 3–7 months ahead for cheaper seasons and 6–10+ months ahead for peak windows like June–August and late December—especially if you need exact dates.

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne (MEL) or Sydney (SYD) and connect?

Answer: It depends on the week. Sometimes Sydney (SYD) prices better from the US, and adding a separate flight to Melbourne (MEL) can reduce the total. Price-check both and compare total travel time before you commit.

What’s the cheapest way to find deals on flights to Melbourne?

Answer: Use flexible-date calendars, avoid peak windows like June–August and late December, and compare multiple departure airports if you can. If you want deals sent to you, sign up for airfare alerts from Jetsetter Alerts and get notified when amazing deals on flights to Melbourne pop up.