Where Can I Find Cheap Flights to Melbourne in 2026?
Where Australians can find cheap flights to Melbourne in 2026: when fares usually rise, Melbourne Airport versus Avalon, Virgin Australia fare types and bags, how Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner compare, and booking through ShopBack before you pay.
Short answer. In Australia in 2026, cheap flights to Melbourne usually turn up in three places: airline sales such as Virgin Australia's Happy Hour, booking sites like Trip.com that compare several airlines, and search sites like Skyscanner, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Check both Melbourne Airport and Avalon, and fly in Victorian school term if you can (Term 4 runs from 5 October to 18 December 2026, according to the Victorian Government). Then book through Virgin Australia or your chosen site via ShopBack before you pay.
Where ShopBack fits. ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that returns part of what you spend as cash when you start your booking from it. You still book on the airline or travel site you chose, at the price that site shows. Join ShopBack for free before you search for flights.
How we checked. We used Virgin Australia's baggage pages and sale terms, the Victorian Government's and NSW Department of Education's school calendars, Avalon Airport's and SkyBus's own sites, and public reference pages on Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport and Skyscanner, in October 2026. We do not quote fares, because they change many times a day.
Where can I find cheap flights to Melbourne?
The cheapest flight to Melbourne is usually found by comparing the same flight on the airline's own site, a booking site and a search site, across a window of dates. Melbourne is one of Australia's two largest cities and Jetstar is headquartered there, according to public reference data, so routes from every capital are busy and competitive.
Where to look, and what each is good for:
| Where | What it is good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Australia | Happy Hour sales and the full fare menu | Lite fares include no checked bag |
| Trip.com | Several airlines on one search | Bag and fare rules vary by airline |
| Skyscanner | A quick view of the cheapest seller | You book and pay on the partner's site |
| Qantas and Jetstar | Their own sales and fares | Compare bags and fees too |
A routine that works from any Australian city:
- Pick a window, not a date. Look a week or two either side of your ideal day.
- Check both airports. Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine and Avalon can have different fares on the same day.
- Avoid peaks. School holidays, Christmas, long weekends and big events usually lift fares.
- Match the fare to your bags, then compare the final total.
- Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. Open your chosen site from ShopBack and pay.
Cheap flights to Melbourne in Australia in 2026: when fares usually rise
In 2026, fares to Melbourne usually rise around school holidays, Christmas and New Year, long weekends and big events. Here are the school dates to plan around, as published by the Victorian Government and the NSW Department of Education:
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Victorian school Term 4 | Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026 |
| NSW school Term 4 (students) | Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December 2026 |
| NSW summer school holidays | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| Victorian summer school holidays | Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| Victorian Term 1, 2027 | Wednesday 27 January (students start Thursday 28 January) to Thursday 25 March 2027 |
Events. Melbourne's big sporting events, such as the Melbourne Cup, usually held on the first Tuesday in November, and the Australian Open in January, can push up flight and hotel prices on the surrounding days. If your dates are flexible, the weeks around these events are usually easier on the budget.
What this means in practice. Midweek flights from mid October to mid December fall in school term in both Victoria and NSW and are usually a better window than the summer holidays. If you have to fly over Christmas, book as early as you can.
Melbourne Airport or Avalon: which is cheaper to fly into?
It depends on the day, so search both airports and add the cost of getting into the city. Melbourne Airport, also called Tullamarine, is about 22 km north-west of the Melbourne city centre. Avalon Airport is about 50 km south-west of the Melbourne CBD and about 15 km north-east of Geelong, according to public reference data.
- Avalon routes. Avalon Airport lists Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and the Gold Coast among the places you can fly from Avalon, with bookings through Jetstar, according to Avalon Airport. Avalon suits people staying in Geelong, the Surf Coast or Melbourne's west.
- Getting into the city from Tullamarine. SkyBus runs a Melbourne City Express with departures every 10 minutes, according to SkyBus. A rail link to Melbourne Airport is under construction, according to public reference data.
- The real comparison. A cheaper fare into Avalon can be cancelled out by a longer, dearer transfer if you are staying in the CBD. Compare the fare plus the transfer.
Cheap flights to Melbourne best deals in 2026: where they usually come from
The best deals on flights to Melbourne usually come from airline sales, multi-airline booking sites and search sites, combined with booking through ShopBack.
- Airline sales. Virgin Australia runs Happy Hour sales. According to Virgin Australia's terms for a recent Happy Hour sale, at the time of writing, fares were on sale for a few hours only, on selected flights and travel dates, on Economy Lite and Choice fares, unless sold out earlier. Have your dates ready, because sale seats are limited.
- Booking sites. Trip.com lets you book flights, hotels, trains, car hire and tours, according to public reference data, and shows several airlines on one search.
- Search sites. Skyscanner compares fares and sends you to a partner to buy, according to public reference data.
- Your booking route. ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay.
Watch the add-ons. A low headline fare can rise once you add a checked bag, a seat or a change. Price the trip as you will actually fly it.
Virgin Australia fare types and bags for Melbourne flights
Virgin Australia's Lite fare is usually the cheapest headline price to Melbourne, but it includes no checked bag. According to Virgin Australia at the time of writing:
| Domestic fare | Checked bags, non-members and Red Velocity members | Checked bags, Silver and Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | None included | None included |
| Choice | 1 x 23kg | 2 x 23kg |
| Flex | 1 x 23kg | 2 x 23kg |
| Business | 2 x 32kg | 2 x 32kg |
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, according to Virgin Australia. For a weekend in Melbourne with a cabin bag, Lite is usually cheapest. For a longer stay with a suitcase, compare Lite plus a bag against Choice.
Virgin Australia vs Trip.com for cheap flights to Melbourne: 2026 comparison
Neither Virgin Australia nor Trip.com is always cheaper for a flight to Melbourne, so compare the same flight on both. The total can differ by date, fare type and any sale.
| Virgin Australia | Trip.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The airline itself | A booking site covering many airlines |
| Good for | Happy Hour sales, managing seats and bags directly | Comparing several airlines on one search |
| 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 need and compare the final total.
- Check change and cancellation rules.
- Book the cheaper total through its ShopBack Australia page.
Codes. Promo codes come from the airline or booking site itself. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.
Virgin Australia, Trip.com and Skyscanner: which to use for Melbourne
Use Skyscanner to spot the cheapest seller, Trip.com to compare and book across airlines, and Virgin Australia when you already know you want to fly Virgin.
- Trip.com: start from the ShopBack Trip.com page before you pay.
- Virgin Australia: go through the ShopBack Virgin Australia page before you pay.
- Skyscanner: open the ShopBack Skyscanner page first.
Other places Australians compare fares to Melbourne include Qantas, Jetstar and Expedia.
How ShopBack lowers the cost of a flight to Melbourne
Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. You start on ShopBack instead of typing the site address, then book as normal on the site you chose.
- Open the ShopBack app or website and sign in.
- Tap Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner.
- Book your Melbourne flight.
- Once the booking is confirmed after your trip, the cash shows in your ShopBack account and you can withdraw it.
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.
Working out the effective price. Your effective price is what you pay minus the Cashback, at the rate shown on the store's ShopBack page. Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
More: how to earn money back on travel bookings.
Key takeaways
- Cheap flights to Melbourne usually come from airline sales, multi-airline booking sites and search sites; compare the same flight in two or three places.
- Search both Melbourne Airport and Avalon, and add the transfer cost before you decide.
- Victorian Term 4 (5 October to 18 December 2026) is usually a better window than the summer holidays.
- Virgin Australia's Lite fare has no checked bag; compare Lite plus a bag against Choice.
- Book through ShopBack before you pay. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find cheap flights to Melbourne?
In Australia, cheap flights to Melbourne usually turn up on airline sales, on booking sites such as Trip.com that compare several airlines, and on search sites such as Skyscanner. Compare the same flight in two or three places, check both Melbourne Airport and Avalon, travel outside school holidays if you can, and go through ShopBack before you pay.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Melbourne?
There is no fixed cheapest month, but fares are usually higher in school holidays, over Christmas and New Year, on long weekends and around big Melbourne events. Victorian Term 4 runs from Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026, according to the Victorian Government, so midweek flights in that window are often better value than late December.
Is it cheaper to fly into Avalon or Melbourne Airport?
It depends on the day, so check both. Avalon Airport lists Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and the Gold Coast among its Jetstar destinations, and it sits about 50 km south-west of the Melbourne CBD, while Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine is about 22 km north-west. Add the cost of getting into the city before you decide which fare is cheaper.
Is Virgin Australia or Trip.com cheaper for flights to Melbourne?
Neither is always cheaper. The same Virgin Australia flight can show a different total on Virgin Australia's 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.
Does Skyscanner sell flights to Melbourne?
Skyscanner is a travel search site, not a travel agent. It compares fares and then sends you to an airline or booking site to buy the ticket, according to public reference data, so you pay the partner directly.
Which Virgin Australia fare is cheapest to Melbourne?
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 Economy guests can bring one carry-on bag of up to 8kg plus a small personal item. If you need a suitcase, compare Lite plus a bag against Choice.
How do I get from Melbourne Airport to the city?
SkyBus runs a Melbourne City Express between the airport and the city, with departures every 10 minutes, according to SkyBus. A rail link to the airport is under construction, according to public reference data, so check current transport options before you fly.
Does Virgin Australia run flight sales?
Yes. Virgin Australia runs Happy Hour sales. According to Virgin Australia's terms for a recent Happy Hour sale, at the time of writing, fares were on sale for a few hours only, on selected flights and travel dates, on Economy Lite and Choice fares, unless sold out earlier. Each sale has its own terms, so read them before you book.
How does ShopBack lower the cost of a flight to Melbourne?
Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. Open Trip.com, Virgin Australia or Skyscanner from its ShopBack Australia page and book. ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay, and the live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.
Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same flight booking?
Promo codes come from the airline or booking site itself. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.
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, and once it is confirmed you can withdraw it.
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Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. Fares, fare types, baggage allowances, sale terms, routes, airport transport and school holiday dates are set by the airlines, booking sites, airports, transport operators and state governments, 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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