December 2026 Flight Prices, Day by Day: The Cheapest Days to Fly Down and Come Home
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The short version
- Joburg → Cape Town: cheapest R1,899 on Tue 1 Dec, dearest R2,909 on Tue 22 Dec, Wed 23 Dec and Thu 24 Dec.
- Joburg → Durban: cheapest R1,219 on Tue 1 Dec, Wed 2 Dec and Sun 6 Dec, dearest R1,449 on 8 days, the first Fri 4 Dec.
- Cape Town → Joburg: cheapest R1,659 on Thu 14 Jan, dearest R3,099 on Sat 2 Jan, Sun 3 Jan and Mon 4 Jan.
- Durban → Joburg: cheapest R1,219 on Fri 15 Jan, dearest R1,709 on Sun 3 Jan.
- Checked live on Travelstart on 30 October 2026. December fares rarely fall from here: book the cheapest day that works.
Most December flight advice tells you to “book early”. This page shows you the actual price of every day instead. On 30 October 2026 we searched every single day from 1 to 24 December going down to Cape Town and Durban, and every day from 26 December to 15 January coming home to Johannesburg: 90 live searches. Use it to move your trip by a day or two and keep the difference.
Each day shows the cheapest one-way economy fare for one adult on Travelstart and the airline. Green = cheapest fifth of days, red = dearest fifth; the outlined day is the cheapest. Tap any price to open that day on Travelstart (new tab). FlySafair and LIFT fares are cabin bag only; SAA, Airlink and CemAir include a bag.
Going down: Johannesburg → Cape Town, 1–24 December
Cheapest: R1,899 (Airlink) on Tue 1 Dec. Dearest: R2,909 (CemAir) on Tue 22 Dec, Wed 23 Dec and Thu 24 Dec. The typical day was R2,649, and Tuesday was the cheapest day of the week on average.
The 5 cheapest days, and the cheapest with a checked bag
| Day | Cheapest fare | Cheapest with a bag |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | R1,899 › Airlink · bag incl. | R1,899 Airlink |
| Wed 2 Dec | R1,939 › SAA · bag incl. | R1,939 SAA |
| Mon 7 Dec | R1,939 › SAA · bag incl. | R1,939 SAA |
| Thu 3 Dec | R2,159 › SAA · bag incl. | R2,159 SAA |
| Sat 5 Dec | R2,159 › SAA · bag incl. | R2,159 SAA |
Going down: Johannesburg → Durban, 1–24 December
Cheapest: R1,219 (LIFT) on Tue 1 Dec, Wed 2 Dec and Sun 6 Dec. Dearest: R1,449 (SAA) on 8 days, the first Fri 4 Dec. The typical day was R1,359, and Wednesday was the cheapest day of the week on average.
The 5 cheapest days, and the cheapest with a checked bag
| Day | Cheapest fare | Cheapest with a bag |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | R1,219 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
| Wed 2 Dec | R1,219 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
| Sun 6 Dec | R1,219 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,449 SAA |
| Wed 9 Dec | R1,259 › FlySafair · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
| Tue 8 Dec | R1,329 › Airlink · bag incl. | R1,329 Airlink |
Found your day?
Search a return trip with every passenger filled in, and compare all five airlines on one screen.
Search December FlightsComing home: Cape Town → Johannesburg, 26 December – 15 January
Cheapest: R1,659 (LIFT) on Thu 14 Jan. Dearest: R3,099 (FlySafair) on Sat 2 Jan, Sun 3 Jan and Mon 4 Jan. The typical day was R1,999, and Thursday was the cheapest day of the week on average.
The 5 cheapest days, and the cheapest with a checked bag
| Day | Cheapest fare | Cheapest with a bag |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 14 Jan | R1,659 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,689 Airlink |
| Wed 13 Jan | R1,689 › Airlink · bag incl. | R1,689 Airlink |
| Fri 15 Jan | R1,689 › Airlink · bag incl. | R1,689 Airlink |
| Tue 12 Jan | R1,779 › Airlink · bag incl. | R1,779 Airlink |
| Thu 31 Dec | R1,809 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,939 SAA |
Coming home: Durban → Johannesburg, 26 December – 15 January
Cheapest: R1,219 (LIFT) on Fri 15 Jan. Dearest: R1,709 (FlySafair) on Sun 3 Jan. The typical day was R1,329, and Tuesday was the cheapest day of the week on average.
The 5 cheapest days, and the cheapest with a checked bag
| Day | Cheapest fare | Cheapest with a bag |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 15 Jan | R1,219 › LIFT · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
| Sat 26 Dec | R1,259 › FlySafair · cabin bag only | R1,449 SAA |
| Tue 29 Dec | R1,259 › FlySafair · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
| Thu 31 Dec | R1,259 › FlySafair · cabin bag only | R1,399 Airlink |
| Tue 5 Jan | R1,259 › FlySafair · cabin bag only | R1,329 Airlink |
How to use this calendar
- Shift by a day. The gap between neighbouring days is often several hundred rand. Check the days either side of the one you planned.
- Price your bag. On busy days the cheapest seat is often FlySafair or LIFT without a bag. If you’re checking a suitcase, use the “cheapest with a bag” column: SAA, Airlink and CemAir include one.
- Book now. We checked the same December dates four times in October and most fares rose. See the December price watch.
- Families: children’s fares differ by airline; see what babies and kids cost.
- Spread the cost: on Travelstart you can pay with Payflex in four interest-free instalments (how it works).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest day to fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town in December?
In our check on 30 October 2026, the cheapest fare was R1,899 (Airlink) on Tuesday 1 December. The most expensive day was Tuesday 22 December, Wednesday 23 December and Thursday 24 December at R2,909. Fares change daily, so tap the calendar to see today’s price.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Johannesburg to Durban in December?
In our check on 30 October 2026, the cheapest fare was R1,219 (LIFT) on Tuesday 1 December, Wednesday 2 December and Sunday 6 December. The most expensive day was 8 days, the first Friday 4 December at R1,449. Fares change daily, so tap the calendar to see today’s price.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg in the festive season?
In our check on 30 October 2026, the cheapest fare was R1,659 (LIFT) on Thursday 14 January. The most expensive day was Saturday 2 January, Sunday 3 January and Monday 4 January at R3,099. Fares change daily, so tap the calendar to see today’s price.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Durban to Johannesburg in the festive season?
In our check on 30 October 2026, the cheapest fare was R1,219 (LIFT) on Friday 15 January. The most expensive day was Sunday 3 January at R1,709. Fares change daily, so tap the calendar to see today’s price.
Do December flight prices go down closer to the date?
Rarely. In our four checks of the same December dates between 7 and 29 October 2026, most fares went up, and the cheapest seats on the busiest days sell first. If your dates are fixed, book now.
How we checked
Fares are the cheapest one-way economy fare for one adult that Travelstart’s live search showed for each date on 30 October 2026, before Travelstart’s booking fee. Bag prices are Travelstart’s own add-on prices: R210 for a FlySafair 20 kg bag and R245 for a LIFT 23 kg bag. Airfares change daily; the calendar is a snapshot, not a quote.
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