Cheap flights to Oz... when to book?

[madcows]

Hi there,
We're planning to fly to Melbourne to visit family next summer - ie July or August 2013. I tried looking at flight prices - thinking i'd get a bargain by booking really early - but nothing was available that far ahead.
So, how do people get 'cheap' flights? Is there such a thing as the 'best' time to book?
thanks,
madcows

Flights become available something like 340 days in advance. Check sky scanner website and they check all of the airlines.

So if they become available 340 days in advance, will they be cheapest then, and gradually get more expensive (and then cheaper if you get them v late?) Or do they go up and down - seemingly randomly.
I'm hoping someone understands these 'trends' better having followed them before, and can give me the foresight. It is no good me knowing in hindsight that I could have bought them cheaper if I'd waited until x months before!!
thanks!
madcows

You can't tell these days. It used to be the earlier you book the better deal you got but now a days you just take your chances. Remember when books g your return that is the bit that needs to be the 340 or so days in advance.

We flew to Sydney two years ago with Etihad, we have flown with them loads but when I went to book for this Xmas they were so expensive. We are only going with one of the children (the others are older, fear not they wont be home alone!) The price with Etihad for two adults and one child was £4300. I phoned around because the internet just confused me and if you see offers on the net they are only enticing you to phone and the offers dont exist! In the end called a company called Travel house, spoke to a guy called Tony, he got amazing flights at great times with Singapore Airlines for £3300, I booked immediately. Another good airline is Virgin Australia, they use Etihad flights but are much cheaper than Etihad, they were fully booked otherwise we would have used them. Hope that helps.

Not that helpful but I do know that for the last two years flights before dec 9th were a third cheaper than flights after.