Cheap flights, the honest way.
We're not a flight agent — and that's a good thing for you. Flight prices are most competitive when you search them yourself on a flight aggregator. Here are the tools we'd use.
Skyscanner
Best overall aggregator
Searches almost every airline and OTA in one shot. Use the "anywhere" search to find dirt-cheap getaways, and "whole month" view to time your dates. Free to use.
Search flights on SkyscannerGoogle Flights
Best for flexible dates
Slick UI, price-tracking alerts, and the cheapest-day calendar is unbeatable. Set up an alert for your route and pounce when the price drops.
Search on Google FlightsBackpacker flight cheats
A few rules of thumb we've learnt the hard way.
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Book ~6 weeks ahead for domestic, ~3 months for international
Sweet spot for AU/NZ/Asia routes. After that, prices usually rise.
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Tuesday/Wednesday flights are usually cheaper
Weekend flights add 15-30%. If your dates are flexible, mid-week wins.
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Search incognito — but it's mostly a myth
Some airlines do track. Doesn't hurt. The bigger trick: use Skyscanner's 'anywhere' and 'whole month' views.
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Set price alerts on Google Flights
Pick your route, hit the bell, wait for the email. Saved travellers $200+ on Sydney → Bali in our experience.
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Budget carriers + add-on baggage = sometimes more expensive than full-service
Always compare the total price. AirAsia + 20kg can cost more than Singapore Airlines on the same route.
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Multi-city beats two one-ways
If you're doing Sydney → Bali → Sydney with a stop somewhere, search as multi-city. Often $200+ cheaper.
Disclosure: some links on this page include affiliate tracking. You pay the same price.