Australia is one of the most beautifully rugged vacations you'll ever enjoy. The country is filled with colorful animals, personalities and sights. But one issue that many people planning a trip Down Under may come up against is the fact that the cost of the airfare can leave you shaking your head and muttering, "crikey!" No worries, mate! Here is how to find cheap fares to Australia!
When it comes to finding cheap fares to Australia, the rule of thumb is to book your flight as far in advance as possible. It is an unspoken rule in the travel industry that the closer to takeoff you purchase your tickets, the higher the airfare will be.
Before making your ticket purchase, visit an online travel website, like AOL Travel or Travelocity and compare prices for airfare. You can just type in a few pieces of travel-related information and you will be able to quickly view the upcoming flights and seat availability.
Next, you may even save more money by looking at the the airport you will be flying in to. Every airport features a number of "hubs" which are used by certain airlines. These airlines utilize the hubs because they have a large number of flights coming in and out of that particular airport. The majority of international travelers enter Australia via Sydney's Kingsford-Smith International Airport. There are a number of airlines operating hubs there including United Airlines and V Australia (part of Virgin Blue Airlines).
Of course, when you travel will also weigh heavily on how much you pay for your airfare to Australia. Weekend travel is traditionally more expensive than weekday travel. That is because during the weekdays, airlines do not have such a high concentration of travelers, so prices are lowered to entice people to travel during those days. Weekend days see a large number of travelers, so airlines can charge premium rate for flights Friday through Monday.
You can also save money on your fare to Australia by avoiding travel during the holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving. It is best to avoid heading to Australia during college Spring Break as well. Airlines love rich college kids who travel, and their prices reflect it.
Lastly, try to visit Australia during the off-season. The Australian winter runs from June to August and the fewer tourists heading to Australia means the better the savings will be to you! Plus, the temperature will be slightly chilly, compared to the sweltering heat of summer, so you will probably be more comfortable during your trip.
So, use these tips to find cheap fare to Australia, and while you are there, put another shrimp on the barbie.
