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.

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.’

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.