When, where and how to book your Easter flights

By MiNDFOOD

Family in airport. Attractive young woman, handsome man and their cute little daughter are ready for traveling! Happy family concept. (Family in airport. Attractive young woman, handsome man and their cute little daughter are ready for traveling! Happ
Family in airport. Attractive young woman, handsome man and their cute little daughter are ready for traveling! Happy family concept. (Family in airport. Attractive young woman, handsome man and their cute little daughter are ready for traveling! Happ

With thousands of us set to hit the skies in the coming weeks to join family and friends for the Easter holidays, we reveal when, where and how to book to make your money – and air miles go further.   

School holidays coupled with the long weekend and Anzac Day make this Easter the perfect time to travel, and April bookings have soared by 72% according to the latest data from Webjet. This increase in demand however means an increase in price, with flights overall around 25% more expensive than off-peak periods. 

To help last-minute travellers bag a bargain, the flight booking website has done a deep dive into current pricing data to reveal its insider tips for making big savings on your booking. 

“For many people, booking flights can feel like a high-stakes game of blackjack – do you stick or twist? What’s the airlines’ next move? But once you understand how pricing works, you can unlock much better rates – saving money on your flights to spend on enjoying your holiday,” says Webjet CEO OTA, David Galt.

Here are his top tips for bagging an Easter bargain:

Fly mid-week: “Those after a cheap getaway should fly on Wednesday 17th April to take advantage of the best airfares, with up to 27% saving available according to our latest pricing data. Those looking to fly to Sydney or Brisbane could also save 17% and 15% respectively, just by leaving on Wednesday rather than Thursday or Good Friday.

“For those willing to hold until the very last minute, remember, most airlines tend to launch promotions on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fares tend to fluctuate over the weekend as airline inventory is controlled and automated, so it’s worth thinking about when you book this Easter.”

Try somewhere new: “We have also identified the cheapest local getaway destinations for the long weekend. New Plymouth came out on top, with average prices starting at just $63. 

“It’s no surprise that more people are seeking out local destinations following the price war between Jetstar and Air NZ last month. We’re already seeing people booking more staycations as lower fares entice people to stay local and take shorter, more frequent breaks.” 

Fly no frills: For those happy to travel with fewer frills, low-cost carriers are a great way to fly. According to booking data from the past 12 months, full-service carriers had an average booking price of $962 compared to $308 with low-cost airlines.

Mix & match your airlines: “One of the most under-utilised tricks for booking the best flights is to mix and match which airlines you fly with. While booking with one airline is convenient, it also means being limited to that airline’s route path and flight times.

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