Which Month Is Cheapest to Fly Perth to Melbourne in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Aryan Gaekwad, Points and Loyalty Editor, ShopBack

The cheapest months to fly from Perth to Melbourne are usually those outside the WA and Victorian school holidays: late October to mid-December, February and March. Virgin Australia, which runs 6 to 7 direct flights a day on the 3 hour 35 minute route, names March to May and September to November as the best value times to visit Melbourne. Fares usually peak in the summer holidays (mid-December to late January) and for last-minute bookings, so book ahead and go through ShopBack Australia before you pay.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free shopping and booking app and website. When you start a booking from a store's page on ShopBack and pay as normal, part of what you spent comes back as cash once the booking is confirmed. You can join in a minute at shopback.com.au/signup.

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Perth to Melbourne cheapest month flights Australia 2026

For 2026 and early 2027, the months that usually give the lowest Perth to Melbourne fares are:

• Late October to mid-December 2026. WA school Term 4 runs from Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December 2026 (WA Department of Education), so family demand drops once the spring break ends.
• February 2027. WA Term 1 2027 starts on Monday 1 February, and Victorian students are back from Thursday 28 January, so early February is usually quieter.
• March 2027, outside Easter. Virgin Australia calls March to May one of the best times to visit Melbourne, with fewer tourists, moderate temperatures and often great value airfares.

The months that are usually dearest are the summer school holidays (mid-December to late January in both states), the WA and Victorian term breaks, and big Melbourne event weekends.

Perth Melbourne flights cheapest month: what does the price data show?

Airlines reprice this route many times a day, so we do not publish a fare table that would be out of date within hours. The data that holds from year to year points the same way:

• The airline's own guidance. Virgin Australia's Perth to Melbourne page names March to May and September to November as the best value times to visit Melbourne, with fewer tourists and often great value airfares.
• School calendars drive demand. WA Term 4 2026 runs from Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December 2026 (WA Department of Education), and Victorian school holidays run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 (Victorian Government). Fares on the route usually climb inside those breaks and ease once both states are back at school.
• Short notice costs most. Virgin Australia's tips for the route are to book in advance and stay flexible with dates. A next-day seat at the end of a school break is usually the most expensive combination on this route.

For today's lowest fare by month, check the fare calendar on the Virgin Australia route page or run a flexible-date search on Expedia or Trip.com, then compare the same flight and fare type across them.

Which month is cheapest to fly from Perth to Melbourne?

In short: November, February and March are usually the cheapest months, with late October close behind. December and January may still show a low "from" fare on a few dates, but seats at that price usually sell quickly around Christmas and the summer school holidays. The pattern to plan around is simple: fares usually rise when school is out and fall when it is back.

Victorian dates matter too, because Melbourne families fly west at the same times. According to the Victorian Government, Term 4 2026 runs from Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026, school holidays run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, and in 2027 Term 1 ends on Thursday 25 March with Term 2 starting on Monday 12 April.

Perth to Melbourne flights: route facts

According to Virgin Australia's route page:

• Flight time: about 3 hours and 35 minutes on average, covering more than 2,700 kilometres.
• Frequency: between 6 and 7 direct Virgin Australia flights a day, up to 51 a week.
• Aircraft: usually Boeing 737-700 and 737-800, with Economy, Economy X and Business seating.
• Terminals: most Perth to Melbourne flights leave from Terminal 1 at Perth Airport and arrive at Terminal 3 at Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport.
• Getting into the city: Melbourne's CBD is about 23 kilometres from the airport, and SkyBus runs 24/7 to Southern Cross Station.

Other airlines on this route include Qantas and Jetstar, and booking sites such as Expedia and Trip.com list fares from several airlines at once.

Perth to Melbourne flights Australia 2026: how to book cheaper

Virgin Australia's own tips for the route are a good checklist:

1. Sign up to V-mail for sale alerts, flight specials and Happy Hour deals.
2. Book in advance rather than last-minute.
3. Be flexible with dates and times. Midweek flights and middle-of-the-day departures are often cheaper.
4. Use Velocity points for a reward seat or Points + Pay if you have a balance.

Add two more of your own:

5. Pick the right fare type. On Virgin Australia domestic fares, changing an Economy Choice fare costs a change fee plus any fare difference, while an Economy Lite fare cannot be changed and is lost if cancelled (see Virgin Australia's fare-types page for the current fee). If your plans might move, a flexible fare can cost less overall.
6. Go through ShopBack before you pay. Open the store's ShopBack page, tap through, then book.

Perth to Melbourne flights best deals Australia 2026

The best deals on this route usually appear in airline sales and in the shoulder months. Virgin Australia runs Happy Hour sales and flight specials through the year, and you hear about them first through V-mail. Booking sites run their own promotions, and bundling a flight with a Melbourne hotel on Expedia can sometimes cost less than booking each separately.

Before you book your Melbourne hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first: start from the ShopBack Booking.com page or the ShopBack Agoda page and complete the booking in the same session.

Expedia vs Virgin Australia for Perth to Melbourne flights: price comparison 2026

They suit different needs, so compare the same flight on both.

	Virgin Australia (direct)	Expedia Australia
What you see	Virgin Australia fares and all its fare types	Fares from several airlines side by side
Loyalty	Earn and redeem Velocity points	Earn One Key rewards, shared with Hotels.com and Vrbo
Good for	Choosing a fare type, Economy X or seat options	Comparing airlines or bundling a flight and hotel
Changes	Managed directly with Virgin Australia	Managed through Expedia

Check baggage and fare conditions before you compare totals, because a cheaper fare with no checked bag can end up dearer.

Expedia, Virgin Australia and Trip.com Perth to Melbourne flights

• Virgin Australia: book direct if you want a specific fare type, Velocity earn, or Economy X seats, which Virgin Australia says have up to 40% more legroom than standard Economy.
• Expedia Australia: search several airlines at once and add a Melbourne hotel or car.
• Trip.com: compare fares across airlines and dates in one search.

Whichever site wins, the order is the same: compare, choose, then go through ShopBack Australia and book.

How ShopBack Australia lowers the price of your flight

ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Here is how to use it on this route:

1. Compare fares on Virgin Australia, Expedia and Trip.com.
2. Open the matching page on ShopBack Australia: Virgin Australia, Expedia Australia or Trip.com.
3. Tap through and book in the same session, without clicking other links or ads.
4. Once the booking is confirmed, the cashback 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.

Illustrative example: on a $600 return booking at an illustrative rate of 2%, $12 comes back, so the effective price is $588. Rates differ by store and change through the year, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Which month is cheapest to fly from Perth to Melbourne?

Months outside the WA and Victorian school holidays are usually cheapest, especially late October, November, February and March. Virgin Australia names March to May and September to November as the best times to visit Melbourne, with fewer tourists and often great value airfares. The dearest fares usually fall in the summer school holidays (mid-December to late January) and on bookings made a day or two before departure.

How long is the flight from Perth to Melbourne?

According to Virgin Australia, the average direct flight from Perth to Melbourne takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes and covers more than 2,700 kilometres. Melbourne is two or three hours ahead of Perth depending on daylight saving, so set your arrival plans in Melbourne time.

How many direct flights are there from Perth to Melbourne each day?

Virgin Australia says it runs between 6 and 7 direct flights a day from Perth to Melbourne, with up to 51 direct flights a week, usually on Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft. Qantas and Jetstar also fly the route, so you usually have several departures to choose from each day.

When are the WA school holidays in 2026 and 2027?

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 the summer break covers mid-December to the end of January. The 2027 term breaks are Saturday 10 April to Sunday 25 April, Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July, and Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October.

Is Expedia or Virgin Australia cheaper for Perth to Melbourne flights?

Neither is always cheaper. Virgin Australia's own site shows its own fares and fare types, while Expedia shows several airlines side by side and can bundle a flight with a Melbourne hotel. Compare the same flight, fare type and baggage on both, then book on whichever has the lower total, going through ShopBack Australia first.

Is it cheaper to book Perth to Melbourne flights early?

Usually, yes. Virgin Australia's own advice for the route is to avoid last-minute booking and to be flexible with dates and times. Short-notice seats in or near school holidays tend to be the most expensive on this route, so booking a few weeks ahead for a term-time date usually gives you the widest choice of lower fares.

What day of the week is cheapest to fly Perth to Melbourne?

Virgin Australia suggests flying midweek or outside peak periods, and checking flights in the middle of the day, to find lower fares. If your dates are flexible, compare a Tuesday or Wednesday departure against the weekend before you book.

What are Virgin Australia's change fees on Economy Lite and Choice fares?

According to Virgin Australia's fare-types page, changing an Economy Choice domestic fare costs a change fee plus any fare difference, and cancelling an Economy Lite fare means losing the fare. Flex and Business fares have no change fee, plus any fare difference. If your dates might move, a slightly dearer flexible fare can be the cheaper choice overall.

How does ShopBack make a Perth to Melbourne flight cheaper?

ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Open the Virgin Australia, Expedia Australia or Trip.com page on ShopBack Australia, tap through, and book in the same session. Once the booking is confirmed, part of what you paid comes back as cash, which lowers what the trip actually cost. Check the live rate and terms on the store's ShopBack page before you book.

Can I use Velocity points and still go through ShopBack?

Velocity points and ShopBack are separate. Booking a reward seat with points is handled by Velocity, while ShopBack applies to fares you pay for with money. If you pay for a fare after going through ShopBack, you usually still earn Velocity points on the flight as normal, but check the merchant's terms on its ShopBack page because some booking types may not count.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Airfares, fare rules, change fees, flight schedules and school holiday dates are set by the airlines, booking sites and state education departments and can change without notice. Rates on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate and terms on each store's ShopBack page before you book.

This article is for general information only and is not professional or financial advice.