Smart fare alerts for Aussie travellers: how to set them up (and make them actually useful)

If you’re serious about value, you don’t chase prices — you let prices come to you. Fare alerts do the boring watching while you live your life, then ping you when a route drops into “buy now” territory. The trick is setting them up properly so you get signal, not spam.

Below is a clean, repeatable setup that works beautifully from Australia (SYD/MEL/BNE/PER/ADL), with examples you can copy. No myths, no “best day to book” nonsense — just a system you can run in under an hour and keep forever.

Step 1: decide your “buy price” (so you don’t freeze)

Before you touch any tools, set a buy price for each route — the number where you hit purchase without second-guessing. The easiest way is to scan the last few months of prices (Google’s calendar/graph is perfect), note the typical low outside school holidays, and pick a number you’d be stoked with. Write it down. That target becomes your filter for all the pings you’ll get.

Pro tip: have a Plan B number too (slightly higher, but with better times or bags included). Real life matters.

Step 2: Google Flights — your primary alert engine

Google Flights is fast, clean, and airline-agnostic. Set it up on desktop first; mobile’s fine later.

A. Build the search the right way

1. Go to Google Flights and choose Return or One-way (use Return for long-haul; two One-ways can also work for trickier routes).

2. Add multiple airports on each side to widen the net. Example:

3. From SYD + MEL (if you can position)

   1. To LON (LHR/LGW) + AMS + CDG + FRA (or USA: LAX/SFO/SEA, Asia: SIN/BKK/HKG/NRT)

4. Click Dates → use Date grid or Price graph. Scan a few months for patterns and cheap weeks.

5. Set filters you actually care about before tracking: bags (carry-on only vs bags included), number of stops, and preferred airlines (e.g., avoid ultra-tight connections).

B. Track prices (this is the money button)

• Toggle Track prices at the top.

• If you’re flexible, also track a “Flexible dates” version (e.g., “1-week trip in the next 6 months”).

• Repeat for 2–3 destination clusters so you’re not relying on one basket.

C. Read the graph like a human

• Use Price graph to see the range for your route; it’ll show if today is hot or ho-hum.

• If the alert email lands under your buy price, move. If it’s close but not quite, check if times/bags make it worth the stretch.

D. Keep your inbox sane

• Create a Gmail label (e.g., Flights) and a filter:
  from:(google-flights-noreply@google.com) subject:(price alerts) → apply label, skip inbox if you prefer. Star anything that hits your buy price.

Step 3: IWantThatFlight — the Aussie secret weapon

IWantThatFlight is brilliant for surfacing Aussie OTA undercuts and short-lived dips, especially on Europe/Asia. It’s not as pretty as Google Flights, but the email alerts are spot-on.

Setup

1. Search your city pair (e.g., MEL → LHR), select return, choose rough months.

2. Click Get Price Alerts. Enter your email, then refine your max price to match your buy price.

3. Check the airlines filter if you’re loyal (or leave open if price is king).

4. When an alert hits, verify baggage and refund rules — some OTA listings look cheap but add fees late in checkout. If the airline’s own site is within a few dollars, book direct for safer changes and better support.

Step 4: Backups (set once, forget)

• Skyscanner alerts: good extra set of eyes; set for the same route/date windows.

• Kayak alerts: more US-centric but can catch AU–USA dips early.

• Airline newsletters: for your favourite carriers (Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Qatar, ANA); some promos never make it to metas.

You only need one ping to be right — the rest are safety nets.

Step 5: Make your alerts smarter than everyone else’s

A. Airport clusters
From the east coast, track SYD/MEL/BNE to LON/AMS/CDG/FRA in one alert. For Asia, try SIN/KUL/BKK/HKG/TPE. For the US, bundle LAX/SFO/SEA/SAN or NYC (JFK/EWR). From PER, add SIN/DOH to catch excellent one-stop options.

B. Time your windows

• Avoid school holiday peaks if you can; alerts will spam you with high “sales” otherwise.

• Shoulder months and mid-week departures produce the cleanest signals.

C. Separate cheap fare from cheap trip
A $999 London fare with two red-eyes and 28-hour layovers is not a cheap trip. Filter for max one stop, reasonable layovers, and bags if you need them. Your time has value.

D. Return vs two one-ways
Sometimes two one-ways (different airlines) undercut a return. Set a second alert for one-ways each direction. Just make sure both sides drop within a similar window before you book the first leg.

E. Payment and baggage traps
Factor the add-ons at the start. If the fare only makes sense without bags but you know you’ll check, be honest: that’s not your deal. Don’t get price-anchored by the first screen.

Step 6: Pounce without panic (the 6-minute drill)

When a legit alert lands under your buy price:

1. Open the exact flight in Google Flights (or the meta tool that sent it).

2. Check times and stops. If they pass your sniff test, click through to the airline site (or a reputable OTA you trust).

3. Confirm bags and refund/change rules.

4. Hold or book. Some airlines allow a 24-hour hold; if not, pay with a card that has decent insurance or flexibility.

5. Screenshot the final checkout page and confirm email.

6. Stop looking. Once you’ve bought a good fare, mute the rabbit hole for that trip.

Myths to ignore (and what to do instead)

• “The cheapest day to book is Tuesday.” Nah. Sales and algos shift. Alerts beat folklore.

• “One airline is always cheapest.” Not true. Routes swing between carriers and alliances. Let the tools earn their keep.

• “Price trackers are slow.” Google Flights is often within minutes; it’s fast enough for 95% of deals you actually want to fly.

A realistic target list (so you feel calm)

You don’t need 40 alerts. Start with three:

1. Your big trip (e.g., SYD/MEL ↔ Europe within a season).

2. Your Asia escape (e.g., any AU ↔ SIN/BKK).

3. One domestic/regional you’d actually do on a whim (e.g., BNE ↔ CNS, PER ↔ HKT).

Give it a fortnight. You’ll see the rhythm of each route and whether your buy price is ambitious or bang-on. Adjust and carry on.

Final word

Fare alerts aren’t about finding some unicorn mistake fare every week. They’re about trading a little setup today for a lot less FOMO tomorrow — and never paying panic prices again. Pick a buy price, set smart alerts, and when the right ping lands, back yourself and book. Simple, calm, effective.