Most expensive and cheapest days to fly from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane this Easter

If you were planning on flying from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane on these dates, you may want to reconsider your plans.

If you were planning on booking a flight from Melbourne on March 25 or Sydney and Brisbane on March 28, you may want to consider another date.

Compare the Market has crunched the numbers and found what days will the cheapest and most expensive to fly this Easter.

According to its analysis of single one-way ticket prices on Skyscanner, the most expensive deals out of Melbourne (any of its three airports) will be to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra on March 25, and Hobart and Cairns on March 28.

Melburnians flying to Darwin may want to avoid March 26.

For those flying out of Sydney, March 28 appears to be the most expensive day on average to fly to Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Cairns, while travellers to Brisbane should watch out for March 13 and travellers to Melbourne may want to reconsider March 21.

Sydney to Hobart deals were most expensive on March 29 and Sydney to Canberra was March 17.

Not only will prices for flights skyrocket from March 25 to 28, domestic terminals being packed to the brim. Picture: David Crosling

Aussies flying from Brisbane should also consider avoiding March 28 if they are flying to Hobart, Adelaide, Perth or Cairns.

Flights from the Queensland capital to Sydney or Canberra were most expensive on April 1 and flights to Melbourne were the most pricey March 22. For Darwin-bound flights it was March 18.

Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said not only was it most expensive to fly between March 25 and 28 in the lead up to Easter, domestic airport terminals are expected to be at their busiest.

“While Easter is a time that people enjoy spending with their loved ones, it also means there’s increased demand for flights, which is why we see these inflated prices around this period,” he said.

“To make matters worse, it also increases foot traffic at our terminals, which means it can take longer to get through security, check-in baggage and get to your flight on time.

“It’s vital that anyone travelling gives themselves enough time and ensures they’re covered with appropriate travel insurance, even for a domestic trip.”

The cheapest flights are between March 18 and 22 before Easter, and between April 4 to 12. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

In the week leading up to Easter, Mr Ford said their research found flight prices could jump hundreds of dollars.

“There are some significant differences in prices between travelling during the peak Easter period and off-peak times,” he said.

“The exact dollar difference is going to depend, but our research found that there was a $280 difference for someone flying to Adelaide from Brisbane, more than a $250 difference flying between Sydney and Darwin and a whopping $338 if flying to Cairns from Melbourne, at different times.

“Our key message is to get in as early as possible and do your research. There are many tools and comparisons available online that allow you to search for the best deals. But, with so many people snapping up tickets, you need to get in quick if you see a deal.”

Mr Ford said travellers may be able to some cash by opting for an early morning flight or travelling with an airline they may not usually fly with.

Aussie TV presenter and Compare the Market’s travel expert, Catriona Rowntree, warned people to be prepared for the unexpected.

“I have loved ones who had booked a trip to New Zealand and have just learned their flights have been delayed a whole day. It’s completely thrown out their plans,” she said. “If that happens to you, be the squeaky wheel that gets the oil!

“Airports are stressful at this time of the year. Remember that to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late and to be late is ‘holy cow we’ve missed the plane.’”

Cheapest days to fly this Easter

The cheapest single one-way fares without baggage from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Australia’s major cities are available between March 18 and 22 before Easter, and between April 4 to 12.

Compare the Market found the cheapest Melbourne to Sydney flights were on April 3 and 9 from $46.

Melbourne to Brisbane was cheapest on March 16, 19 and 20, and April 10 and 11 – from $89.

The cheapest day to fly from Sydney to Melbourne (from $46) or Brisbane (from $66) was March 26.

The least expensive flight from Brisbane to Sydney were found on March 19 (from $66), and for Melbourne on March 25 and 26, and April 3 and 9 (from $89).