Airfare expert Mark Trim knows a thing or two about snagging cheap flights. 

He founded a travel group back in 2008 and has since booked over $400m of travel and now has his own travel agency, Flat Beds.

With over 15 years experience in the industry, his in-depth understanding of airfare pricing and market trends makes him a great source of tips and tricks on how to land a great flight price. 

He says we need to forget the idea of a one-size-fits-all rule for booking flights and emphasises the dynamic nature of airfares. 

“Each route operates under unique market conditions influenced by supply and demand," he explains.

"To claim there's a single best time to book all flights is a gross oversimplification of the aviation sector as it’s ever-changing and extremely nuanced."

He says "timing is everything" and that it’s best to break the year into two distinct booking periods for European travel ... 

Northern summer (April to October)

This is peak season with high demand, especially mid-June to mid-September, and school holidays (April, late September to mid-October).

“We recommend an 8-11 month booking lead time for the high season months to secure the best possible airfare when looking at price, seat selection, and stopovers," explains Trim.

"If booking 6-9 months out, you may need to be more flexible to get a good deal, and if you’re booking with six months or less, it will almost always result in more expensive airfares or more sacrifices/concessions to get a reasonable airfare.

“We have seen a lot of mid-July to late August European demand pushed back to September, which has flattened the peak season for Europe and eroded the traditional September shoulder season. If you’re looking at travelling next summer between June-September and want the best value, book now," advises Trim.

Northern winter (November to March)

Lower demand allows for shorter booking windows, typically 3-6 months. However, be mindful of events like sporting tournaments, conferences, and holidays (Christmas, Easter, and skiing season) that can impact pricing. If booking for the December holidays, look to have an 8-11 month booking lead for optimal pricing.

“If you want to make the most of the snow post-Christmas, book now to grab the best deal,” Trim suggests. 

“Keep an eye out for key events during the shoulder/off-peak months, as while February is typically a low season month, it’s arguably the best month of the year to ski in the Northern Hemisphere, and there can be midterm holidays in some markets. Easter is another variable that can impact late March to late April booking patterns.”

The trick to landing a cheap flight? Be flexible with the arrival airport

To save on flights, Trim recommends avoiding popular cities like London, Rome, and Paris. 

“To get a better deal, fly into a central hub like Milan, Frankfurt, Zurich, Helsinki, or Munich, where you can pick up a train, car hire, or cheap flight to other ports.”

Choose your travel window 

Trim says that the best deals often emerge when the fewest people are looking to travel. He suggests finding a time that offers a balance of good deals and pleasant weather in Europe, including late April to early June, mid/late July to late August, and mid-January to mid-March (avoiding the Christmas rush).

“If you’re travelling in winter, look at leaving from mid-January, after the Christmas rush, with a return no later than mid-March for better pricing.”

Think about your travel days

Tim also suggests leaving Australia between Tuesday and Thursday and returning from Europe Sunday to Wednesday. 

“Some airlines, including Qantas, Emirates and Qatar Airways also have specific day of the week fare surcharges which differ for outbound and inbound flights, whereas other airlines manage this dynamically with availability restrictions,” he says.