Cheap December flights in Mzansi: Is October already too late?

Cheap December flights are on almost every South African’s mind right now.

Schools head back for the final term this week.

The braai invitations are rolling in.

Somewhere between Joburg traffic and Cape Town beach dreams, a nagging question pops up.

Have you left it too late to book? The answer depends on where you’re flying, and when.

December is the most expensive month to fly.

Demand isn’t slowing down either.

Public schools close on Wednesday, 9 December, which kicks off the annual rush to the coast.

Last year, airports prepared for up to 40% more passengers over the festive season.

With that many people travelling at once, seats sell out fast.

WHEN SHOULD YOU BOOK CHEAP DECEMBER FLIGHTS?

For domestic December flights, travel booking guides put the sweet spot at 8 to 12 weeks before departure.

Count back from mid-December, and that window runs from late September to late October.

In other words, October isn’t too late. But it’s close.

The 2026 school calendar confirms Term 4 runs from 6 October to 9 December.

There’s a reason timing matters so much.

Speaking last festive season, FlySafair chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon explained that the airline uses dynamic pricing. The lowest fares are released first.

As those seats sell, prices go up.

So the longer you wait, the fewer cheap seats are left.

Not everyone thinks there’s time to spare. 

The National warned that waiting until October or November could mean paying more, with fewer accommodation and transport options, especially in popular coastal destinations.

The message is simple. If you’ve already found a fare you can live with, don’t sit on it.

International trips need even more urgency. 

Travelstart advises booking earlier for December and school holidays.

It also notes that December flights to destinations like Dubai usually come with peak-season pricing.

As a year-round benchmark, the average return fare from Johannesburg to Mauritius sits around R11,500.

Expect December fares to land above that.

WHAT CHEAP DECEMBER FLIGHTS ARE COSTING RIGHT NOW

In August, The National priced a December trip for two adults and two children from Durban to Cape Town, travelling from 14 to 16 December.

It used a standard FlySafair fare of R2,813, with baggage charged separately.

Flying came to roughly R25,237, including transfers and food. Hiring a car and driving came to about R18,621.

Those fares were checked two months ago, so expect them to be higher now.

Cape Town is one of the hardest-hit routes.

Flights to the Mother City, Durban and Plettenberg Bay sell out weeks in advance over the festive season.

Long-haul flights into Cape Town also stay pricey from December to February, when overseas visitors arrive in numbers.

HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR DECEMBER FLIGHT

Timing your booking helps.

Travelstart’s data shows Tuesday is usually the cheapest day to book a domestic flight.

Afternoons tend to be cheaper than mornings, when business travellers book. 

Fridays and Sundays are the most expensive days to book.

Gordon added that booking ahead and staying flexible are “the best ways to secure the lowest fares.”

Flexibility can make a real difference.

Speaking to The National in August, Flight Centre’s Western Cape regional manager, Shirley-Ann McQuade, suggested moving your travel dates by a week or two where possible.

She also warned that travellers still anchoring their expectations to pre-pandemic domestic airfares are going to be disappointed. Shorter trips and self-catering stays can stretch the budget too.

I don’t think there’s a magic trick for December.

The data keeps pointing to the same boring answer: book early and stay flexible.

My advice?

Set a fare alert today, pick your dates, and try booking on a Tuesday afternoon. Eish, December comes faster every year.

When it comes to cheap December flights, October is your moment to act.

WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS DECEMBER, AND HAVE YOU BOOKED YET?