What's going on with airfares right now and how can you get the best deal?
Aussie travellers are facing a confusing time.
Some plane ticket prices are spiking amid the Middle Eastern conflict and the resulting cost of fuel, with flights also being cut back and airlines issuing profit warnings.
But on the other hand, airlines are also shouting about sales and discounts.
READ MORE: Aussies are flying via the Middle East despite 'do not travel' warning
It's a confusing time to book a holiday, with sales on but also prices rising. Getty
It's making it a complex time to plan a holiday.
So what's going on - and how can you ensure you get a good deal?
Flight expert Justin Brownjohn, Senior Manager at RMIT Aviation Academy explained airlines are making nuanced decisions amid a maelstrom hitting the industry.
"In one part of the market, we have a large disruption to fuel oil supply chains causing the cost of jet fuel to increase rapidly," he said.
"In another, there is a cost-of-living crisis causing the travelling public to rethink their holidays, which is causing the discounting of fares."
Indeed, both Qantas and Virgin Australia launched sales this week.
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Qantas is cutting back some flights but also launching sales. Supplied
They're mostly on domestic flights and are likely due to airlines being keen to stop people cancelling holiday plans as they try and cut back spending, Justin said.
Virgin Australia has just extended its mega sale on 1.5 million domestic seats with fares starting from $55.
Qantas is meanwhile offering fares from $99 on routes from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney as part of its latest sales push.
Jetstar also has its usual regular sales running.
"This is not just a simple sale to fill seats," Justin said.
Flights to Byron Bay, NSW are on sale right now. Getty
"This is an attempt to shift capacity to ensure routes are sustainable to ride out the current turbulence, but also to create availability elsewhere in the system where higher fares can be commanded to offset the losses elsewhere."
Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long confirms airlines want to send planes where there's demand and sell tickets which can also command a high price.
It comes as airlines continue to cut capacity and even cancel flights altogether on routes which don't make them money.
"You've got to have planes going on the right routes," Dean tells nine.com.au.
Aussie travellers are facing a confusing time. Getty
Aussies are also considering rising interest rates and fears over fuel supplies are also putting some off travelling, he says, leading to airlines trying to lure customers in.
He predicts popular routes with multiple flights per day such as Sydney to Melbourne will also likely be pared to only most popular times.
Indeed, Qantas revealed it's cutting back on that popular route according to reports.
However, it has actually increased capacity on Sydney to London flights, including by rerouting the popular Perth route via Singapore.
Despite the sales and discounts, Dean says one thing is for certain.
"Airline prices are going to be going up," he says.
READ MORE: Once free hotel items may not be free anymore, travellers warn
Fliers are trying to avoid the Middle East amid travel warnings. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
When is the best time to book flights?
So, how can you make sure you're getting the best deal, especially when going overseas?
Justin recommends travellers use an online search engine such as Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best option, he tells nine.com.au.
But then he advises to book direct with the airline. Booking six months out is still optimal for a family looking to get to Europe, he adds.
Dean, however, advises always booking with an expert, an accredited travel agent.
He also agrees booking in advance is best, but consider things other than just the price, such as the best route.
"The cheapest airfare may not actually be the best option with what you're wanting to achieve," Dean tells us.
"Booking early is your friend at the moment.
"Yes, you might miss a small discount opportunity, but fundamentally, all input costs of running an airline are growing."
If you are heading to Spain with the family you should probably book around six months ahead. Getty
READ MORE: Apparently we're planning holidays like it's 1995 again - what's really going on
Flights for later in the year are already blowing out, as previously reported by nine.com.au.
The traditional time to head home for expats, December, returning in January will come at a cost.
Qantas flights to London, which go via Perth or Singapore, are set to be sought after and for a family of four come in at $18,375.
Chinese airlines are also flying from Australia via China and usually have lower prices.
China Eastern can get you from Sydney to London Gatwick for $3246 per adult.
Meanwhile, despite travel warnings, some Aussie travellers are still flying via the Middle East to Europe, despite official government advice against it.
