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The cheaper the flight you can nab to Europe, the more money you have to spend on Greek-island hopping, sipping cocktails on a Mediterranean beach and cruising down the Seine, amirite?
Find the cheapest deals available and some tips and tricks to help you get the best price on your next flight to Europe here.
Flights to Europe from Western Australia and South Australia tend to be the cheapest, with fares averaging $1,200–$1,400 return. If you're flying from the east coast of Australia, expect to pay a bit more, with averages between $1,300 and $1,500.
While there are hundreds of airports around Europe, we looked at 4 of the most-searched destinations – London, Paris, Athens and Rome – for Australians to get an idea of what constitutes a good deal on a flight to Europe.
While those prices are the average lows, based on Skyscanner data, we've found many flight sales where prices can dip below the $1,000 mark.
Keep an eye on deals from budget airlines like Scoot, which is known for its cheap-as-chips fares to its 3 European destinations – London, Athens and Berlin. If you're not inclined to fly budget, there are benchmark sale fares between $1,000 and $1,100 from airlines like Qatar, Emirates and Etihad.
When is the cheapest time of year to fly to Europe?
The cheapest time to fly to Europe is during Australia's summer months, when it's winter in Europe, from October to April. On average, prices tend to bottom out in February, after the Christmas/New Year holiday season, but before temperatures start to warm up toward the end of March.
To get the best of both worlds – a fair price and fair weather – we suggest travelling during the shoulder season, in May-June or in September-October. If you're travelling to destinations further south in Europe, like Spain, Italy or Greece, you'll still get days in the low-mid 20°C range, fewer crowds than peak summer and lower airfares.
Cheapest months to fly:
February to April
Priciest months to fly:
June to August
Europe's peak season – both in terms of price and crowds – is during Australia's winter months, especially from June to August. This is when Europe is at its warmest, so if you're set on a beach holiday then you may need to pay a premium to get the best weather.
Best time to book flights to Europe from Australia
For travel during the European summer (June to August), early bird sales start as early as October and November, but we find some of the cheapest fares are available in January and February.
For European winter (December to February), book flights from March to May.
Why should I go then?
If you're off to Europe in the summer, airlines usually release their early bird specials during October and November. Keep in mind that peak summer dates in July and August may be blacked out, but June and September should have similar weather in most places.
If you're looking to experience the European winter, airlines usually have early bird sales from March to May to attract travellers after the peak summer season. Aside from over Christmas and New Year, flights are generally much cheaper in winter than in summer.
How far in advance should I book my flight to Europe?
We find with Europe, the earlier you book, the better – especially if you want to travel to Europe during its warmer months.
Airlines like Etihad, Emirates and Qatar often have early-bird Europe sales in November-December for travel from March-June.
If you're looking to experience the European winter, airlines usually have early bird sales from March to May to attract travellers after the peak summer season. Aside from over Christmas and New Year, flights are generally much cheaper in winter than in summer.
According to KAYAK pricing data for Europe if you book at least 4 weeks in advance you should be able to get a below-average price.
Keep in mind that peak summer dates in July and August may be blacked out, but June and September should have similar weather in most places.
Frequently asked questions about flights to Europe
How long does it take to fly to Europe?
Flight times depend on where you're flying from in Australia, which city you're flying to in Europe and which route you take. Currently, the only direct flight to Europe is between Darwin and London, when flying with Qantas. Otherwise, your flight will include at least 1 stop along the way. Generally, flying through a city in the Middle East, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Qatar, is the fastest way to get there but Singapore is another common stopover.
The following are the quickest times we could find from major cities in Australia to 4 popular cities in Europe. The length of your trip, especially if there's a stop involved, may be longer based on which day and with which airline you fly.
Where is the cheapest place to fly to in Europe from Australia?
The cheapest recurring flight prices we've seen to Europe have been to Athens and Berlin with Scoot. We've seen flights to Athens going for less than $600 return, while flights to Berlin have been going for less than $700 return. The airline flies to the 2 European cities from Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast via its hub in Singapore.
Which airlines fly to Europe from Australia?
Qantas is the only airline that flies direct between Europe and Australia. Until June 2022 the only direct route is Darwin to London. At that point the regular Perth to London route will return.
Dozens of other airlines can get you to cities across Europe with 1 stop, including:
Which is the best airline to fly to Europe from Australia?
According to Skytrax's annual World Airline Awards, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas and Thai Airways all sit within the list of the world's 10 best airlines.
What's the best airline to fly to Europe?
Best for price: When Scoot fares are on sale they're often the cheapest flights to Europe. Otherwise look out for deals from Qatar, Emirates and Etihad.
Best for extra inclusions: Australia to Europe is a long-haul flight, so any airline with full service such as Qantas is a good choice for maximum comfort.
Best for frequent flyer rewards: Several airlines flying to Europe allow you to earn frequent flyer points. Qatar and Emirates are both good options with the ability to transfer points to Qantas.
These frequent flyer credit card offers can give you more than enough bonus points for a complimentary flight (minus applicable taxes) to European Airports (EU) from major cities across Australia.
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
Up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points Discounted $295 first year annual fee
Offer may be withdrawn at any time
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
When's the best time to book Christmas flights to Europe?
The best time to book flights to Europe for the Christmas holidays is 6 months in advance, in July and August. This is when the sales start to appear. By booking this far in advance, you can save up to 5% on your flight.But don't worry if you're not ready to book quite yet or you've missed this window of opportunity – you'll still save up to 3% when you book as late as September.When choosing departure dates, flying out in the first week of December gives you affordable fares. When returning, dates between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve are generally quite affordable.If you plan to spend New Year's in Europe as well, keep in mind that prices peak after 1 January. To cash in on the bargain flights, you'll need to fly back on New Year's Day or on or after 15 January for extra savings.
What are the major airports in Europe?
If you're looking for the best deals (and fewest stops on your journey from Australia), it's best to look into flights to major cities in Europe. They'll also be more likely to be serviced with more airlines, meaning more competition on fares and lower prices. Based on what we've seen from flight sales, look for flights into the following cities:
Amsterdam
Athens
Barcelona
Berlin
Dublin
Frankfurt
London
Madrid
Manchester
Milan
Munich
Paris
Rome
Do I need a visa to travel to Europe with an Australian passport?
If you're travelling to a Schengen Area country, which includes the 26 countries listed below, you don't need a visa if you're travelling with an Australian passport (or one from New Zealand) if you're planning on staying for 90 days or less. Although a visa isn't needed, it's expected that from some time towards the end of 2022 (there's no set date yet), the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) – a visa waiver program – will come into effect for Australians looking to travel to a Schengen zone country.
When's the best time to book Christmas flights to Europe?
The best time to book flights to Europe for the Christmas holidays is 6 months in advance, in July and August. This is when the sales start to appear. By booking this far in advance, you can save up to 5% on your flight.
But don't worry if you're not ready to book quite yet or you've missed this window of opportunity – you'll still save up to 3% when you book as late as September.
When choosing departure dates, flying out in the first week of December gives you affordable fares. When returning, dates between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve are generally quite affordable.
Though, if you plan to spend New Year's in Europe as well, keep in mind that prices peak after 1 January. To cash in on the bargain flights, you'll need to fly back on New Year's Day or on or after 15 January for extra savings.
Tips and tricks to finding cheap flights
Be flexible. Once you see a heavily discounted fare to Europe, jump on it, no matter where in Europe the flight might take you. Thanks to budget carriers like Ryanair and Easyjet, once you're in Europe, travel is cheap. It might just cost you $50 with a budget carrier to get you to the city you'd like to visit from where the sale fare takes you, while booking a ticket from Australia to your final destination could easily cost hundreds more. Plus, you might just fall in love with your bonus city!
Consider the pros of a longer stopover. If you're just after a cheap fare, an overnight or hours-long layover along the way could be worth saving a few hundred dollars on your fare. Longer stopovers in destinations where you can leave the airport may also be welcome. A wander around a new city for a few hours could be a nice break between two very long flights.
Shop around. Sounds obvious, but it pays to shop around. One of the easiest ways to find cheap flights is to use a comparison booking engine like I Want That Flight, BYOJet, Wotif or CheapOAir. They compare flight prices across various airlines and travel agents and hook you up with the lowest price.
Book a package. Package holidays can sometimes be cheaper than purchasing flights and accommodation separately. They can also save you heaps of browsing time. has one of the widest selections of European tours and packages online.
Watch out for credit card fees. Many payment systems charge extra for you to pay with a credit card. Check carefully before you buy to see what fee-free options are available, such as direct debit and PayPal.
Use those price match guarantees. Travel agents such as Expedia, Helloworld and CheapOAir offer price match guarantees. If you find the same flight cheaper elsewhere, contact them to see what they can do.
Stephanie Yip was the shopping editor at Finder. Previously she was Finder’s travel editor and before that was our lifestyle writer. She has been writing in the travel, shopping and lifestyle space for over 15 years. During her time at Finder she was featured in a number of publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian Australia, Travel Weekly, Escape and KarryOn. Before joining Finder, her previous jobs include editor for kids' magazine DMAG and writer for Thomas Cook and Wizz Air's in-flight magazine. Stephanie previously studied a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
Heading from Sydney to Manila for work, I was concerned about entertainment for the 8-hour flight, but with a bit of preparation, the journey is just fine.
Hoping to fly the friendly skies but not sure where to start? Check out these nine sites to book flights online and find the best sales and deals available.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to view fares for flights to Europe from Australian cities for next September 2018 as of today.
You may check back on our site and check our listed Europe flights in the following months to see the availability for September 2018.
Alternatively, you may contact the airline companies directly to confirm the possibility of booking flights for September 2018.
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Cheapair
Omio
Priceline.com
is it possible to view fares for flights to Europe from Australian cities from Sept 2018 as of today?
Hello,
Unfortunately, it is not possible to view fares for flights to Europe from Australian cities for next September 2018 as of today.
You may check back on our site and check our listed Europe flights in the following months to see the availability for September 2018.
Alternatively, you may contact the airline companies directly to confirm the possibility of booking flights for September 2018.
Cheers
Gru