Which Month Is Cheapest to Fly Australia to the Philippines in 2026?

Short answer. For Australians in 2026, February is usually the cheapest month to fly to the Philippines. KAYAK's Australia to Philippines route data, at the time of writing, names February as the cheapest month and December and June as the most expensive. February also falls in the Philippines' cool dry season (December to February, according to PAGASA). Before you book with Trip.com, open ShopBack first.

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, Agoda and Booking.com. 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. KAYAK's Australia to Philippines flight route page, PAGASA's Climate of the Philippines page, and the Trip.com, Skyscanner, Cathay Pacific and Agoda pages on ShopBack, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list fares, because they change daily; use the timing and comparison steps below on the day you book.

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Which month is cheapest to fly to the Philippines from Australia?

February is the cheapest month on KAYAK's route data, and September is the low season. Here is what KAYAK's Australia to Philippines page showed at the time of writing:

Measure (KAYAK, at the time of writing)	Result
Cheapest month for return flights	February
Most expensive months	December, then June
Low season	September
High season	December
Cheapest time of day to depart	Generally morning

KAYAK says it works out monthly averages by taking all prices for each month over the last year, removing the top 0.1% as outliers and taking the median. That makes it a guide to patterns, not a promise for your exact dates.

Why February and September tend to be cheaper. Both sit outside the busiest Australian travel periods. December and June, the dearest months on KAYAK's data, line up broadly with Australian school holiday periods, when more families travel.

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Flights to the Philippines: weather and the cheapest months together

February gives you a cheaper fare and dry weather; September gives you a low season fare but falls in the rainy season. PAGASA, the Philippine weather bureau, divides the year like this:

Season (PAGASA)	Months	What it means for a cheaper trip
Cool dry season	December to February	February pairs dry weather with the cheapest month on KAYAK's data
Hot dry season	March to May	Dry, but hotter; worth checking if February does not suit
Rainy season	June to November	Includes September, KAYAK's low season

PAGASA also notes that typhoons have a big influence on Philippine weather, and that their paths usually spare most of Mindanao. If you travel between June and November, choose flexible fares and keep an eye on weather updates before you fly.

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Flights to the Philippines from Australia in 2026: routes, airports and airlines

Most flights from Australia land in Manila, and direct flights leave from 4 Australian cities. According to KAYAK's route page at the time of writing:

• Direct routes. There are direct flights to the Philippines from 4 Australian cities, with Sydney having the most.
• Airlines. Philippine Airlines, Qantas and Cebu Pacific fly between Australia and the Philippines most often.
• Cheapest airport. Generally, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the cheapest airport to fly into.
• Popular destinations. Manila draws most searches, followed by Cebu City and Davao City.
• Shortest route. Perth to Cebu City is the shortest route, at around 6 hours.

One-stop trips through Asian hubs are also common, and they can be cheaper on some dates. Compare the total travel time as well as the fare.

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Flights to the Philippines best deals in Australia in 2026: where savings usually come from

The best deals on flights to the Philippines in 2026 usually come from a few habits:

• Travel in February or the shoulder months. February is the cheapest month on KAYAK's data, and September is its low season.
• Book ahead, but not too early or too late. KAYAK's data suggests booking around 6 weeks before departure for a below-average fare, saving about 16% compared with booking last minute, and around 16 weeks out for the lowest fares.
• Be flexible on airports. Manila is generally cheapest to fly into, but price Cebu too if it suits your plans.
• Fly in the morning. KAYAK says morning departures are generally the cheapest time of day.
• Go through ShopBack before you pay. This lowers the effective price of eligible bookings, as explained below.

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Trip.com vs Skyscanner for flights to the Philippines: price comparison

Skyscanner and Trip.com do different jobs, so many people use both. Skyscanner is a search site that compares fares across airlines and agents, then sends you to one of them to book. Trip.com is a booking site where you search and pay for the ticket on Trip.com itself.

	Trip.com	Skyscanner
What it does	You book and pay on Trip.com	You compare fares, then book with the airline or agent it links to
Best use	Booking the fare you have chosen	Checking which airline and dates are cheapest

A simple routine:

1. Use a search site such as Skyscanner to see which airlines and dates are cheapest from your city.
2. Check the same flights on Trip.com and the airline's own site.
3. Compare the final total, including bags and seat fees.
4. Open ShopBack Australia, tap the site you are booking with, then book.

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Trip.com, Skyscanner and Cathay Pacific for flights to the Philippines

Cathay Pacific is a one-stop option from Australia to the Philippines, connecting through its Hong Kong hub. It suits travellers who want a full-service airline or a Hong Kong stopover.

Compare its fare and total travel time with direct flights on the same dates.

For direct flights, compare Philippine Airlines, Qantas and Cebu Pacific on a search site, then book the fare you choose through ShopBack, for example on Trip.com.

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How ShopBack lowers the price of your Philippines flights

ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order: go through it before you pay and the effective price of your trip drops. For hotels, the same rule applies. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first.

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 confirms, usually after your trip, you can withdraw it to your bank account.

How to do it, step by step:

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the site: Trip.com for flights, or Agoda for your hotel in Manila or Cebu.
2. Check the rate shown on that page.
3. Tap through to the site, search your flights and book.
4. Your Cashback shows in your ShopBack account as pending, then confirms after your trip.

A worked example, with illustrative numbers. Say two adult return fares to Manila in February cost $1,100 in total on Trip.com. Go through ShopBack before you pay, and your effective price is $1,100 minus the Cashback, at the rate shown on the store's ShopBack page.

For more on doing this the right way every time, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.

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Promo codes, airline points and ShopBack together

• Promo codes. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.
• Airline points. Frequent flyer points are set by the airline.

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Key takeaways

• February is the cheapest month to fly from Australia to the Philippines on KAYAK's route data, at the time of writing; December and June are the dearest.
• February also falls in PAGASA's cool dry season (December to February); September is KAYAK's low season but sits in the rainy season.
• KAYAK's data suggests booking around 6 weeks out for a below-average fare and around 16 weeks out for the lowest fares.
• Use a search site such as Skyscanner to compare, then book the fare you choose through ShopBack.
• Open ShopBack, tap the site, then book. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns.

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Frequently asked questions

Which month is cheapest to fly to the Philippines from Australia?

February is usually the cheapest month to fly from Australia to the Philippines. KAYAK's Australia to Philippines route data, at the time of writing, names February as the cheapest month and December and June as the most expensive. February also falls in the Philippines' cool dry season, which PAGASA, the Philippine weather bureau, puts at December to February.

What is the most expensive time to fly to the Philippines from Australia?

According to KAYAK's route data at the time of writing, December and June are the most expensive months for return flights from Australia to the Philippines, and December is the high season. Both months line up broadly with Australian school holiday periods, so if your dates are flexible, avoid them.

When is the dry season in the Philippines?

PAGASA, the Philippine weather bureau, divides the year into a rainy season from June to November and a dry season from December to May. It splits the dry season into a cool dry season from December to February and a hot dry season from March to May. February sits in the cool dry months.

How far in advance should I book flights to the Philippines?

KAYAK's route data, at the time of writing, suggests booking around 6 weeks before departure for a below-average price, which it says saves about 16% compared with booking last minute, and around 16 weeks before departure for the lowest prices. Set a price alert early, then book once a fare you are happy with appears.

Which Australian cities have direct flights to the Philippines?

According to KAYAK at the time of writing, there are direct flights to the Philippines from 4 Australian cities, with Sydney having the most. KAYAK lists Philippine Airlines, Qantas and Cebu Pacific as the airlines flying most often between Australia and the Philippines. Schedules change, so check the airline for your city and dates.

Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Cebu?

KAYAK says that, generally, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the cheapest airport to fly into in the Philippines from Australia, and that Manila draws most searches. Cebu can still work out better if it is closer to where you are heading, since a domestic connection adds cost and time.

Trip.com vs Skyscanner: which is better for flights to the Philippines?

They do different jobs. Skyscanner is a search site that compares fares and sends you to an airline or agent to book, while Trip.com lets you search and book the ticket on Trip.com itself. Compare the final price for the same flights, then open ShopBack, tap the site you are booking with and book.

Is Cathay Pacific a good option for flights to the Philippines?

Cathay Pacific's flights from Australia to the Philippines connect through its Hong Kong hub, which suits travellers who want a full-service airline or a Hong Kong stopover. Compare its fare and total travel time with direct flights from Philippine Airlines, Qantas and Cebu Pacific before you book.

How does ShopBack lower the price of flights to the Philippines?

ShopBack Australia works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Open ShopBack, tap Trip.com or another eligible site, then book, and part of what you spend comes back as cash after your trip. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns; the live rate is on each site's ShopBack page.

Can I use a Trip.com promo code with ShopBack?

No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Fares, seasons, schedules and routes change often; the KAYAK figures are averages from its route page at the time of writing and may differ for your dates. Prices in the worked example are illustrative. Check weather and travel advice before you fly. ShopBack rates vary by store and over time; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before purchase.

This article is general information only and is not financial advice.