Yep; I was comparing exactly like for like - i.e. flex fares paid a few months ago vs an enquiry for the same dates now which were dearer.

I know fares go up early Dec until early Jan - our previous 4 or 5 visits were late Nov to avoid this peak. In 2014 we decided to go later and I looked for the 1st day when prices went down and so we flew out on 10th Jan (higher fares until 9th). For 2015 I found the fares on 6th were the same as 10th/11th Jan so have booked for then.

Just to add therefore to the other comments - not only is it hard to fathom when fares will be cheaper in terms of how long before departure you book; it seems that Emirates change the dates for the peak season around Christmas/New Year. I would have expected for example that the peak was say 10th Dec to 9th/10th Jan but this doesn't appear to be the case as the goalposts keep getting shifted.

Anyway, we gain from this - last year we arrived the day before the Australian Open started; next year we'll get there 4 days before so will be more acclimatised!