Undeterred by the threat of deep-vein thrombosis, Prime Minister Tony Abbott cheerfully took to economy class last month to fly overseas for a short family holiday.

It was a commendable look for the leader of a government preparing to take the razor to the budget this year. And while Abbott's office didn't try to publicise his frugal travel arrangements, they did not go unnoticed.

Illustration: Matt Davidson.

A fellow traveller on the flight out of Sydney on December 20 covertly took a photograph of the Prime Minister looking relaxed in a blue polo shirt as he strode down the aisle to the back of the economy flight, and helpfully posted it to social media sites. Abbott's office later confirmed that he paid for the flights for himself and his family to visit his eldest daughter, Louise, for Christmas in Switzerland. It's understood he was not interested in an upgrade.

In recent months, living within one's means - and deliberately not making a fuss about it - has been de rigueur for MPs from the new government, which is showing it's serious about spending cuts.