Brits bag bargain Christmas Day airfares

Holidaymakers who are prepared to forgo the traditional Christmas Day celebrations at home and enjoy their turkey dinner mid-air, can land sky-high savings according to leading global flight search and travel deals website, Cheapflights.co.uk.  

Analysis of Cheapflights’ festive fare searches, has revealed that savings of up to 23 percent can be made on out-bound flights to the most popular Christmas holiday hotspots if travellers are happy to fly on Christmas Day.  The top 10 searched-for Christmas destinations are all long-haul with Bangkok in pole position and New York, Dubai, Sydney, Los Angeles, Goa and Cape Town also riding high.

Sydney, ranked as the fifth most popular Christmas getaway destination, is on average 23 per cent or £227 cheaper to reach on Christmas Day – at £755 – than it is on other days during the festive period, for example 23 December when average fares start from £983.  Sunseekers heading for Bangkok can save, on average, £125 (18 per cent), by flying on Christmas Day when average fares are just £551, versus 23 December, when prices are £676. Similarly, flights to Cape Town are, on average, £112 (12 per cent) lower on Christmas Day at £791 versus £903 on 22 December.

Savings on other popular December holiday destinations include Bali (£191 saving), Las Vegas (£106 saving), Auckland (£200 saving) and Tokyo (£105 saving).

Andrew Shelton, MD of Cheapflights, said: “If you have always wanted to visit Australia, South Africa, Asia or the USA but have been put off by the prices, travelling on 25 December could be the way to get you there.

“Our advice is to plan ahead and book early to make the most of the Christmas Day savings but for holidaymakers hankering for a Christmas getaway this year, there are still bargains to be snapped up.  For example:

Flights from London to Sydney with Qantas, via Dubai, on Christmas Day are currently available from £627 versus £1,141 on 22 December – saving £514

Flights from London to Bali with Malaysia Airlines, via Kuala Lumpur, on Christmas Day are currently available from £1,144 versus £1,766 on 22 Dec – saving £622

Flights from London to Cape Town with Qatar Airways, via Doha, on Christmas Day are currently available from £801 versus £1,019 on 23 December – saving £218

Flights from London to Auckland with Emirates, via Dubai, on Christmas Day are currently available from £865 versus £3,310 on 22 December – saving £2,445

“There are other benefits to a Christmas Day flight too – the queues for airport security are practically non-existent, departure lounges are deserted and you are more likely to be able to spread out on the plane with an empty seat next to you.  There is generally a festive mood so airport and airline staff are extra friendly, while some airlines even serve special festive in-flight meals.

“A word of warning, however, to those who are swapping board games for a boarding pass this Christmas: don’t rely on the airport for any last-minute holiday shopping as most of the shops will be closed; and be sure to plan your journey to the airport carefully, due to public transport restrictions,” advised Shelton.