How much do airlines actually bump up prices on busy days?

Europe map and airplane in cappuccino (made of cinnamon). Travel concept. Travel agency

New research has found that Aussie travellers are charged more than double to fly on the busiest days of the year.

Research from an unidentified airport source shows the average price for an economy seat on a flight between Melbourne and Sydney in 2017 was $199 on Qantas and $156 on Virgin Australia, but fares reached an average of $403 on Qantas and $395 in Virgin ahead of New Years Eve celebrations, reports Fairfax.

giphy (8)

The research also showed that prices are hiked up for major sporting events too, with the second Ashes cricket test match causing tickets to Adelaide from Sydney climb from an average $202 to a huge $725 on Qantas and $157 to $459 on Virgin.

A spokesman for the ACCC told Fairfax businesses were “free to set prices as they see fit, so long as they do so independently of their competitors and do not mislead or deceive consumers.”

Both airlines told Fairfax that despite these new figures, airfares have actually been falling for the past decade, but airport charges to the companies have kept going up.

“What these numbers show is that cheaper airfares sell out on the busiest days of the year, which isn’t news to anyone,” said a spokeswoman from Qantas.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman also said pricing in line with demand made it possible for airlines to be competitive as possible.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]