How Do I Find Cheap Flights to Brisbane in 2026?
How Australians can find cheap flights to Brisbane in 2026: searching a spread of dates, avoiding Queensland school holidays, checking Gold Coast Airport as well as Brisbane Airport, matching the Virgin Australia fare to your bags, comparing Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner on the same flight, and opening ShopBack as the last step before you book.
In Australia in 2026, the cheapest flights to Brisbane usually come from searching a spread of dates, flying outside Queensland school holidays and long weekends, and picking a carry-on only fare if you can. Queensland's summer school holidays run from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027, according to the Queensland Department of Education, so fares around then usually climb. Compare the same flight on Trip.com, Virgin Australia and Skyscanner, then open ShopBack before you book.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including Trip.com, Virgin Australia and Skyscanner. You open the store from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
How we checked. School holiday dates come from the Queensland Department of Education, baggage allowances and sale terms from Virgin Australia's own pages, and airport facts from public reference data, in October 2026. We do not quote fares, because they change many times a day.
Cheap flights to Brisbane come down to timing, the right fare type, the right airport and comparing the same flight in two or three places. This guide covers when fares into Brisbane usually rise, whether Gold Coast Airport is worth checking, how Virgin Australia's fare types and bag rules change the real price, how Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner differ, and why opening ShopBack is the last step before you book.
How do I find cheap flights to Brisbane?
The quickest way to find a cheap flight to Brisbane is to look at a window of dates, compare the same flight in more than one place, and judge each option on the final total. Brisbane Airport is a hub for both Qantas and Virgin Australia and an operating base for Jetstar, and it has the third highest number of domestic connections in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne, according to public reference data. Several airlines flying the main routes is what makes comparing worthwhile.
A routine that works from any Australian city:
- Pick a window, not a date. Look at a week or two either side of your ideal day. A day earlier or later can change the fare a lot.
- Avoid the Queensland peaks. School holidays, Christmas and New Year, Easter and long weekends usually fill planes into Brisbane and lift fares.
- Fly at less popular times. Midweek and very early or late flights are often cheaper than Friday evening and Sunday afternoon flights on busy routes.
- Check the Gold Coast too. If you are staying on the Gold Coast or in southern Brisbane, fares into Gold Coast Airport may be worth comparing.
- Match the fare to your bags. A carry-on only fare is usually the cheapest headline price, but a bag added later can close the gap.
- Compare the same flight in two or three places, then open ShopBack. Check the airline's own site, a booking site and a search site for the same flight number and fare. The last step before you book flights or hotels: open ShopBack.
Cheap flights to Brisbane in Australia in 2026: when fares usually rise
In 2026, fares into Brisbane usually rise around Queensland school holidays, Christmas and New Year, and long weekends, so the weeks either side are often better value. Here are the Queensland dates to plan around, as published by the Queensland Department of Education:
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Queensland school Term 4 | Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December 2026 |
| Queensland summer school holidays | Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
| Queensland Term 3 holidays (just finished) | Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October 2026 |
What this means in practice. Mid October to early December 2026 is school term in Queensland, so it is usually a better window for a Brisbane trip than mid December to late January. Flights into Brisbane can fill from mid December as local families head away and visitors from other states arrive. If you have to fly over Christmas, book as early as you can, because the lowest fares on peak days usually sell first.
Coming for a big event? Concerts, sporting finals and conferences in Brisbane can push up fares and hotel prices on those dates. If your dates are flexible, arriving a day earlier or leaving a day later is often cheaper.
Cheap flights to Brisbane best deals in 2026: where to look
The best deals on flights to Brisbane usually turn up in three places: the airline's own sales, booking sites that compare several airlines at once, and search sites that point you to the cheapest seller.
- Airline sales. Virgin Australia runs Happy Hour sales, which are short and cover selected flights, travel dates and fare types, unless sold out earlier. Sales like this are limited, so have your dates ready before one opens. Virgin Australia also sends flight specials and Happy Hour alerts through its V-mail Sales Alerts, according to its specials page.
- Booking sites. Trip.com shows several airlines on one search, so you can see Virgin Australia next to other carriers for the same day.
- Search sites. Skyscanner compares fares and sends you to an airline or booking site to buy. It is a fast way to see which seller is cheapest for your Brisbane dates.
- Your booking route. Before you pay on whichever site wins, open it from ShopBack.
Watch the extras. A cheap headline fare can grow once you add a checked bag, seat selection or a change. Price the trip as you will actually fly it.
Brisbane Airport or Gold Coast Airport: which should you search?
Search Brisbane Airport first, and add Gold Coast Airport if you are staying on the Gold Coast or in Brisbane's south. According to public reference data:
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) serves 31 airlines flying to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations, and handled over 23 million passengers in 2024. It has separate domestic and international terminals.
- Gold Coast Airport (OOL), formerly Coolangatta Airport, sits at the southern end of the Gold Coast, about 90 km south of Brisbane.
- Airtrain runs 16.7 km from the Domestic Terminal to Roma Street in the city, with services continuing on the Varsity Lakes line towards the Gold Coast.
How to compare fairly. Add the cost and time of getting from each airport to where you are staying. A slightly cheaper fare into the Gold Coast can lose its edge if you then need a long transfer into Brisbane's north. If you will hire a car, see our guide to avoiding extra fees on car hire at Brisbane Airport.
Virgin Australia fare types and bags: which is cheapest for Brisbane
Virgin Australia's Lite fare is usually the cheapest headline price to Brisbane, but it includes no checked bag, so the right fare depends on what you pack. According to Virgin Australia's checked baggage page at the time of writing, for its Domestic and International Short Haul network:
| Fare | Non-members and Red Velocity members | Silver and Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | No checked bag included | No checked bag included |
| Choice | 1 x 23kg | 2 x 23kg |
| Flex | 1 x 23kg | 2 x 23kg |
| Business | 2 x 32kg | 2 x 32kg |
Carry-on. Economy guests, including Velocity Red and Silver members, can bring one carry-on bag of up to 8kg, with maximum dimensions of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm, plus one small personal item up to 45cm x 33cm x 20cm that fits under the seat in front, according to Virgin Australia.
So which fare? For a long weekend in Brisbane with a cabin bag, Lite is usually the cheapest choice. For a longer stay or a family trip with suitcases, compare Lite plus a purchased bag against Choice, which already includes one checked bag. If your plans might change, a more flexible fare can work out cheaper overall.
Virgin Australia vs Trip.com for cheap flights to Brisbane: 2026 price comparison
Neither Virgin Australia nor Trip.com is always cheaper for a flight to Brisbane, so compare the same flight on both. The same Virgin Australia flight can show a different total on the two sites depending on the date, the fare type and any sale running at the time.
| Virgin Australia | Trip.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The airline itself | A booking site covering many airlines |
| Good for | Happy Hour sales, choosing fare type, seats and bags directly | Comparing several airlines on one search |
| Watch for | Fare type and bag rules | Fare and baggage details for each airline |
| On ShopBack | Virgin Australia page | Trip.com page |
How to compare fairly:
- Search the same flight number, date and fare type on both.
- Add the bags you actually need, then compare the final total, not the headline fare.
- Check change and cancellation rules on each.
- Book the cheaper total from its ShopBack Australia page.
Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner: which to use for Brisbane
Use Skyscanner to see who is cheapest, Trip.com to compare and book across airlines, and Virgin Australia when you already know you want to fly Virgin.
- Trip.com: a booking site for flights, hotels, trains, car hire and tours. Start from the ShopBack Trip.com page before you book.
- Virgin Australia: the airline's own site, with Happy Hour sales and the full fare menu. Go through the ShopBack Virgin Australia page before you pay, and book on the website.
- Skyscanner: a search site that compares fares and then sends you to a partner to book. Open the ShopBack Skyscanner page first.
Other airlines Australians compare on Brisbane routes include Qantas and Jetstar, which you will see on search and booking sites.
How ShopBack lowers the cost of a flight to Brisbane
The last step before you book flights or hotels: open ShopBack. You start on ShopBack instead of typing the site address, then book as normal on the site you chose.
- Open the ShopBack Australia app or website and sign in.
- Tap Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner.
- Check the rate shown on that store's ShopBack page.
- Book your Brisbane flight.
- Once the booking confirms after your trip, the cash shows in your ShopBack account and you can withdraw it.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.
Working out the effective price. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. A slightly dearer fare can still work out cheaper once the Cashback is counted. Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book, because it varies by store and changes over time.
More: how to earn money back on travel bookings.
Promo codes and ShopBack on a Brisbane flight
No code needed. Go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. Sale fares are different from codes: a fare that is already reduced on the site, such as a Happy Hour fare, is simply the price you book.
FAQ
How do I find cheap flights to Brisbane?
In Australia, the cheapest flights to Brisbane usually come from searching a spread of dates, flying outside Queensland school holidays and long weekends, and choosing a carry-on only fare if you can. Compare the same flight on Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner, check the final total with bags, then open ShopBack Australia as the last step before you book.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Brisbane?
There is no fixed cheapest month, but fares into Brisbane are usually higher in Queensland school holidays, over Christmas and New Year and on long weekends. Queensland's summer school holidays run from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027, according to the Queensland Department of Education, so mid October to early December is usually a better window.
Is Virgin Australia or Trip.com cheaper for flights to Brisbane?
Neither is always cheaper. The same Virgin Australia flight can show a different total on Virgin Australia's own site and on Trip.com depending on the date, the fare type and any sale. Search the same flight number, date and fare, add the bags you need, and compare the final total on the day you book.
Is it cheaper to fly into the Gold Coast instead of Brisbane?
Sometimes. Gold Coast Airport sits about 90 km south of Brisbane, according to public reference data, so it can suit trips to the Gold Coast or southern Brisbane. Compare fares into both airports for your dates, then add the cost and time of getting from each airport to where you are staying before you decide.
Which Virgin Australia fare is cheapest to Brisbane?
The Lite fare is usually the cheapest headline price, but it includes no checked baggage, according to Virgin Australia. Choice and Flex fares include 1 x 23kg checked bag for non-members and Red Velocity members, and 2 x 23kg for Silver and Gold members. If you need a suitcase, compare Lite plus a bag against Choice.
How much carry-on can I take on Virgin Australia?
According to Virgin Australia, Economy guests, including Velocity Red and Silver members, can bring one carry-on bag of up to 8kg, with maximum dimensions of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm, plus one small personal item that fits under the seat in front, up to 45cm x 33cm x 20cm.
Does Virgin Australia run flight sales to Brisbane?
Virgin Australia runs Happy Hour sales across its network. They are short and cover selected flights, travel dates and fare types, unless sold out earlier. Each sale has its own terms and routes, so check whether Brisbane is included.
Can I book a flight on Skyscanner?
Skyscanner is a travel search site. It compares fares and then sends you to an airline or booking site to buy the ticket, and you complete the booking and payment on that partner's site. It is a quick way to see who is cheapest for your Brisbane dates.
How does ShopBack lower the cost of a flight to Brisbane?
The last step before you book flights or hotels: open ShopBack. Open Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner from its ShopBack Australia page and book, and part of what you pay comes back as cash. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns, and the live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same flight booking?
No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback.
Is the money back from ShopBack paid as points?
No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Once it is confirmed, you can withdraw it from your ShopBack account.
Key takeaways
- Search a window of dates and avoid Queensland school holidays, Christmas and long weekends where you can.
- Queensland's summer school holidays run from 12 December 2026 to 26 January 2027; mid October to early December is usually a better window.
- Check Gold Coast Airport as well as Brisbane Airport if you are staying in the south, and count the transfer.
- Virgin Australia's Lite fare has no checked bag; compare Lite plus a bag against Choice if you need a suitcase.
- Compare the same flight on Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner, and judge each on the final total.
- Open ShopBack as the last step before you book. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Related reads
Ready to start?
Open the ShopBack Trip.com page to compare airlines for your Brisbane dates, or start from the ShopBack Virgin Australia page if you already know you are flying Virgin.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Fares, fare types, baggage allowances, sale terms, routes and school holiday dates are set by the airlines, booking sites, airports and the Queensland Department of Education, and can change. Rates on ShopBack vary by store and change often; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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