Travel loophole offers Aussies $1,000 flights to Europe before the year ends – here’s how to score tickets now

Australian travelers looking to ditch their Christmas plans can score cheap flights to Europe this year.

One-way flights from Sydney to London on Christmas Day start at $1049 on Beijing Capital Airlines or $1152 on Cathay Pacific.

Prices are surprisingly low considering the departure date is less than four weeks away.

Skyscanner’s ‘Explore Everywhere’ search tool can help you find the cheapest flights, and Google Flights Explore is another useful tool that gives you options filtered by region, continent or price.

Australians looking to book their next adventure can score cheap flights to Europe for $1,000, but you’ll have to leave on Christmas Day (stock image)

One-way flights from Sydney to London on Christmas Day start at $1049 on Beijing Capital Airlines or $1152 on Cathay Pacific.  Skyscanner's 'Explore Everywhere' search tool can help you find the cheapest flights

One-way flights from Sydney to London on Christmas Day start at $1049 on Beijing Capital Airlines or $1152 on Cathay Pacific. Skyscanner’s ‘Explore Everywhere’ search tool can help you find the cheapest flights

How to use Skyscanner and Google Flights Explore

Skyscanner:

  • Go to the Skyscanner website
  • Enter your ‘From’ destination with your city and airport
  • Enter a potential travel date and click ‘Everywhere’ for the destination
  • Explore several popular destinations with flight, hotel and car rental options
  • You can also adjust your results based on your spending budget and ideal destination

Google Flights Discover:

  • Go to the Google Flights Explore website
  • Enter your departure airport and travel date, but leave the destination blank
  • You can also click on ‘Flexible dates’ to view the best possible prices
  • Click on the ‘Search’ button
  • The first flights that are devised are close and cheap options
  • Enable the ‘Update search as map moves’ button to see more flight options as you explore the map
  • You can also specifically write “Europe” or “Africa” ​​in the “To” section to display only flights to that region

This is what travel expert Jarrod Kris from Skyscanner says Escape: ‘Christmas and New Years can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year for any traveler looking to get away from it all for the holidays.

‘A great way to avoid a busy flight is to travel at less popular times, such as red-eye, which allows you to avoid the crowds and allow you to have a more relaxing trip. Another option for less crowded travel is to choose different departure locations for more choice.’

‘Alongside busy flights, many Australians already spend their money on gifts and family obligations, so it’s certainly tempting to arrange a flight bargain, something we are experts in.’

Skyscanner's travel expert Jarrod Kris told Escape: 'Christmas and New Year can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year for any traveler looking to get away from it all for the holidays' (Amalfi Coast photo)

Skyscanner’s travel expert Jarrod Kris told Escape: ‘Christmas and New Year can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of the year for any traveler looking to get away from it all for the holidays’ (Amalfi Coast photo)

When using Skyscanner or Google Flights, many often choose their destination and season – usually within fixed windows – before even exploring prices and holiday packages, saving them a lot of money.

All great bargain hunters understand that being flexible is key when it comes to finding cheap travel destinations.

If you keep an open mind, you can also discover several locations that escaped your radar.

For international flights, it is recommended to book at least six months in advance to ensure the best deal.

This is how you score cheaper flights:

Be flexible when it comes to travel dates

Make a stopover

Have an open mind about your itinerary

Travel at inconvenient hours

Fly away at the end of the week

Keep an eye on airline offers by subscribing to newsletters

Source: Escape