What Is the Cheapest Way to Fly to Perth in 2026?

Short answer. For Australians in 2026, the cheapest way to fly to Perth is usually an economy fare found by comparing the same flight on Trip.com, Virgin Australia and Skyscanner, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. WA's Term 4 2026 runs to Thursday 17 December, according to the WA Department of Education. Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack.

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 site from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

Sources. The WA Department of Education's school dates; Virgin Australia's domestic fare types, Happy Hour sale, flights to Perth and Sydney to Perth and Melbourne to Perth pages, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list fares, because they change by the hour; use the method below on the day you book.

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Perth is a long flight from the east coast, so the fare is often the biggest single cost of the trip. The good news is that most of the saving is in your control: the weeks you pick, the fare type you choose and where you book. The last part, going through ShopBack before you pay, brings down what the flight finally costs you.

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What is the cheapest way to fly to Perth?

The cheapest way to fly to Perth is a fare chosen on price per trip, not price per seat: the right dates, the right fare type and the same flight compared in more than one place. A routine that works for most travellers:

1. Search a month, not a day. Use the fare calendar or flexible-date view on the airline or booking site.
2. Fly when WA schools are in term. Families fly to and from Perth in the breaks, so fares usually rise then.
3. Price the fare with your bags. A Lite fare plus a checked bag can cost more than a Choice fare that includes one.
4. Compare direct and one-stop options. A connection can be cheaper on some dates, but count the extra hours.
5. Check the same flight in two or three places. The airline's own site, Trip.com and Skyscanner.
6. Before you pay, open ShopBack, tap the site, then book.

Steps 1 to 5 find the lowest fare. Step 6 lowers what you actually end up paying for it.

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Cheap flights to Perth: when to fly

Cheap flights to Perth usually fall in weeks when WA schools are in term and outside the summer holidays. According to the WA Department of Education at the time of writing:

• Term 4 2026: Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December 2026.
• Term 1 2027: Monday 1 February to Friday 9 April 2027.
• Autumn break 2027: Saturday 10 April to Sunday 25 April 2027.

So late October to mid December 2026, and February to early April 2027, are the windows worth searching first. Your home state's school holidays matter too, because families from the east fly west in their own breaks.

Season. Virgin Australia calls spring, from September to November, the ideal time to visit Perth, with comfortable temperatures and wildflowers in bloom. Summer, from December to February, suits beach time and brings Fringe World and Perth Festival, but it overlaps the summer school holidays, when fares usually climb.

Cheap flights to Perth in Australia 2026: picking the right fare

For a Perth flight in Australia in 2026, the cheapest fare is the one that covers what you actually bring. According to Virgin Australia's domestic fare types page at the time of writing:

	Lite	Choice	Flex
Carry-on	8kg total	8kg total	8kg total
Checked baggage	Available for purchase	1 x 23kg	1 x 23kg
Standard seat selection	Available for purchase	Included	Included
Best for	Short trips with carry-on alone	Longer stays with a suitcase	Plans that might change

Perth trips from the east coast tend to be longer, which often means a suitcase. Price the Lite fare plus a bag against the Choice fare before you decide. Changes and cancellations also differ by fare type, so read the fare rules if your dates might move.

Direct or one stop. Virgin Australia notes that some fares shown on its route pages may be for connecting flights with a stopover. A one-stop fare can be cheaper on some dates, but on a long trip the extra hours and a possible tight connection are part of the cost.

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Cheap flights to Perth best deals in Australia 2026

The best Perth flight deals in Australia in 2026 usually come from short airline sales, off-peak dates and comparing the same flight across booking sites. Where to look:

• Virgin Australia Happy Hour sales. Virgin Australia runs limited-time Happy Hour sales on selected fares and travel dates, and invites travellers to sign up to V-mail to hear when deals go live. Seats are limited, so have your dates ready.
• App-only sales. Virgin Australia sometimes runs sales that are only visible in its app. Compare the app sale fare against the website fare booked through ShopBack and pick the lower effective price.
• Booking sites. Trip.com and Skyscanner show fares from several airlines at once, which helps on routes into Perth with more than one carrier.
• Velocity Points. If you have a balance, a reward seat can be the cheapest way of all. Virgin Australia says Velocity Frequent Flyer members earn Velocity Points on eligible fares.

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Virgin Australia vs Trip.com for cheap flights to Perth: price comparison 2026

Neither Virgin Australia nor Trip.com is always cheaper for Perth flights in 2026; compare the same flight, fare type and bags on both. Each has its strengths:

	Virgin Australia	Trip.com	Skyscanner
What it is	The airline's own site	A booking site selling many airlines' fares	A comparison site that shows fares, then sends you to book
Best for	Virgin Australia's full fare range, sales and Velocity Points	Comparing airlines and times to Perth in one search	Scanning prices before choosing where to book
Booking through ShopBack	Website	Website	Fixed cash amount on flights at the time of writing

A store that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted. Compare effective prices, not just the fare on screen. See the worked example below.

Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner for Perth flights from Australia

Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner work best together: Skyscanner to scan, then the airline or Trip.com to book. Virgin Australia's flights to Perth page shows fares found from cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Broome. Each store's ShopBack page shows its own rate. At the time of writing, the ShopBack Skyscanner page shows a fixed cash amount for flights rather than a percentage.

Other airlines and booking sites in the category include Qantas, Jetstar, Expedia and Webjet, so include any you prefer when you compare fares.

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How ShopBack lowers what your Perth flight costs

Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. You open ShopBack Australia, tap Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner, and book as normal. ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay.

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.

Illustrative worked example: which site is really cheaper? Say the same return flight to Perth costs A$640 on one site and A$650 on another. The site that looks A$10 dearer can still work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted, so compare the price after ShopBack on both. The live rate for each store is shown on its ShopBack page and can differ by booking type.

Timing. Flight bookings are confirmed after you travel, so the cash arrives after the trip.

Promo codes, sale fares and ShopBack

Whether a promo code works with ShopBack depends on the store, so read its ShopBack page first. Airline sale fares that need no code are simply the price on the day, so book them through ShopBack as usual. Credit card points are earned on the payment from your bank, separately from ShopBack.

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Getting from Perth Airport into the city

Plan the last leg before you book, because transfers add to the cost of a cheap fare. Virgin Australia's Perth route pages say Perth City is about 14 kilometres from Perth Airport. They list Airport Shuttle Perth, which runs 24 hours a day and should be pre-booked, Transperth public transport, taxi, rideshare and car hire as ways into the city. Check which terminal your flight uses in your booking before you travel.

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Key takeaways

• Fly in WA school term. Term 4 2026 runs 12 October to 17 December; Term 1 2027 starts 1 February.
• Search a month on a fare calendar and compare direct with one-stop options.
• Price the fare with your bags. Lite suits carry-on alone; Choice includes a 23kg bag.
• Compare the same flight on Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner, using effective prices.
• Skip outside promo codes on Trip.com and Virgin Australia, and book Virgin Australia on the website.
• Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to fly to Perth?

The cheapest way to fly to Perth is usually an economy fare that matches your bags, on dates outside WA school holidays, found by searching a whole month and comparing the same flight on the airline's site, Trip.com and Skyscanner. Then go through ShopBack before you book, so the flight costs you less once the cash comes back.

When are flights to Perth cheapest?

Flights to Perth are usually cheaper when WA schools are in term, because fewer families are travelling. According to the WA Department of Education, Term 4 2026 runs from Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December 2026, and Term 1 2027 starts on Monday 1 February 2027, so late October to mid December and February are worth searching first.

Is a direct flight to Perth always more expensive than one with a stop?

No. A one-stop fare can be cheaper on some dates, but it adds hours to a long trip and can mean a tight connection. Virgin Australia notes that some fares shown on its route pages may be for connecting flights with a stopover, so check the itinerary, not just the price.

Which Virgin Australia fare is cheapest to Perth?

Lite is usually the lowest fare, but it suits carry-on travel. On Virgin Australia's domestic fares, Lite includes an 8kg carry-on allowance with checked baggage available for purchase, while Choice includes one 23kg checked bag and a standard seat. On a long trip with a suitcase, price both before you book.

Is Virgin Australia or Trip.com cheaper for Perth flights?

Neither is always cheaper. Virgin Australia's site shows its full fare range and sales, while Trip.com compares several airlines in one search. Compare the same flight, fare type and bags on both, and remember a site that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted.

How far is Perth Airport from the city?

Virgin Australia's Perth route pages say Perth City is about 14 kilometres from Perth Airport. They list Airport Shuttle Perth, Transperth public transport, taxi, rideshare and car hire as ways into the city.

Can I use a promo code with ShopBack on Perth flights?

Compare first. Weigh what a code saves against the price after ShopBack, and pick whichever saves you more.

Does booking in the Virgin Australia app count with ShopBack?

Use the website route. Start from ShopBack and book on the Virgin Australia website, and compare any app-only sale fare against that.

When is the best time of year to visit Perth?

Virgin Australia calls spring, from September to November, the ideal time to visit, with comfortable temperatures and wildflowers in bloom. Summer, from December to February, suits beach time and brings Fringe World and Perth Festival, but it overlaps the summer school holidays, when fares usually rise.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a Perth flight?

Open ShopBack Australia, tap Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner, and book as normal. Once the flight is completed and confirmed, part of what you paid comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay.

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Ready to start?

Compare Perth fares on Trip.com through ShopBack, book your Virgin Australia flight from its ShopBack page on the website, or scan Perth fares on Skyscanner through ShopBack before you click through.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Routes, fares, fare inclusions and sales are set by each airline and booking site and change often; school term dates are from the WA Department of Education at the time of writing. ShopBack rates and confirmation times are shown on each store's ShopBack page.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.