Media Releases

Time Running Out For Boxing Day Bargains

Dec 2, 2009

Time Running Out For Boxing Day Bargains but Christmas Flight Deals Still in the Air

CHEAP Boxing Day flights are becoming harder to land, but it’s not too late to secure a Christmas Day airfare bargain.

With just three weeks to go until the peak Christmas travel period, Flight Centre has reviewed current domestic airfare prices for December 25 departures and compared them to prices currently available for December 26 departures.

The review, which was based on fares available on flightcentre.com.au at 3pm yesterday, found that travellers could save more than 20% on average by taking off to Australia’s holiday hotspots on Christmas Day, rather than Boxing Day.

Flight Centre Limited executive general manager of marketing Colin Bowman said heavy demand for flights on December 26 meant bargain fares were becoming hard to find.

He said Christmas Day departures could prove a more attractive option for travellers who were purely looking to save money.

“Boxing Day is traditionally the year’s busiest travel day, so the cheapest seats tend to sell-out quickly,” Mr Bowman said.

“If you are planning on travelling this Christmas and haven’t yet booked a flight, you will find it is still possible to catch an affordable flight on December 26, but you will generally find cheaper options on other days.

“Obviously, travelling on December 25 is not going to suit everyone, but there are reasonable savings on offer for those who can be flexible.

“Regardless of whether you’re considering flying on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or any other time during the holiday period, the key to saving money now is to get in as soon as possible, before the cheapest remaining economy fares sell-out.”

Flight Centre reviewed base airfare prices on the flightcentre.com.au website for December 25 and December 26 departures on 12 popular domestic routes.

Savings were on offer for December 25 departures on 11 of the 12flights.

Full details are included on the table below.

ROUTE DEC 25 DEPART (one-way base fare) DEC 26 DEPART (one-way base fare) SAVING
Sydney-Gold Coast $169 $199 15%
Brisbane-Sydney $115 $130 11.5%
Sydney-Perth $299 $279 +7%
Melbourne-Sydney $85 $119 29%
Mel-Hamilton Island $339 $499 32%
Perth-Melbourne $379 $419 10%
Adelaide-Sydney $129 $229 44%
Brisbane-Adelaide $179 $189 5%
Cairns-Brisbane $159 $179 11%
Canberra-Gold Coast $209 $339 38%
Darwin-Melbourne $209 $309 32%
Hobart-Sydney $159 $249 36%

 

London Calling as Airfare Affordability Takes Off

Nov 19, 2009

Return flights to the United Kingdom now cost little more than the average Australian earns in a week.

Research by Flight Centre shows that fares to London are more affordable than ever, following the widespread airfare discounting of recent months and growth in average full-time wages.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released late last month, average full-time weekly earnings 9 seasonally adjusted) in Australia are now $1248.20, after increasing 4.6% during the past 12 months.

This increase corresponds with significant decreases in airfare prices, with return flights from Sydney to London falling to as little as $1250 during the height of the discounting.

While cheaper fares have been available, Flight Centre advertised return flights to London for $1092 from Perth, $1247 from Melbourne, $1389 from Sydney, $1395 from Adelaide and $1493 from Brisbane on the day the ABS figures were released.

“There is no doubt that 2009 has been a year for the travel bargain hunter,” Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said.

“The combination of cheap international airfares and a strengthening Aussie dollar has delivered great savings to those taking off to the UK and USA in particular.

“In terms of overall affordability for the UK, there’s probably never been a better time to go.

“When commercial air travel took off in the 1950s, the price of a return fare to London typically represented six to seven months’ wages. By the 70s, the cost represented about three months’ pay.

“As recently as five years ago, the cheapest fare cost the equivalent of a week-and-a-half’s earnings.

“Now, we are down to one week’ earnings and that is without factoring in the benefits associated with a stronger Australian dollar.”

Based on current exchange rates, the stronger dollar means Australian budgeting to spend UK2000 pounds on a London holiday will save almost $AUD900, compared to one year ago.

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