Job Discussion Forums

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

So I am heading down to Australia in October-Novemberish.

I was wondering if there are any Aussies on here who have made the trip back and forth and know of any airlines or agencies that are cheap. Also, how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

So far I have heard of Jetstar from a Japanese person. The prices looked good but I heard that it is a shit company, whatever that means.

Any help would be appreciated.

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Jetstar is definitely the cheapest option for one-way. However if you're flying return sometimes their prices work out about equal to Qantas or JAL, it depends when you want to fly. For example a return trip flying in June could be around 80,000Y but in August 130,000Y, which is the same as what you'd pay for a Qantas flight. With Jetstar each leg is booked separately.

Jetstar are a budget carrier so you have to pay for meals, entertainment, pillows and blankets.

Also, they only fly out of Osaka and Nagoya.

Hope that helps,

PT

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Where in Australia - means big difference in fares.

I'm flying home for a week tomorrow and I got my flights through STA travel in Tokyo. I'm flying QANTAS simply because it was the cheapest available.

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

I thought someone might ask that.....

I am heading to Australia to backpack and do some travelling so it doesn't matter where I land. I am thinking of landing somewhere relatively northeast and then making my way down the east coast to the southern area. I have friends in Melbourne so that's where I'll end up....

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Vietnam Airlines is usually the cheapest to Australia... I'm not sure if they fly out of Osaka though, which is where I assume you'll be flying from. Unless you really want to see Vietnam, I don't really think it's worth the saving because it will basically double your travel time and the connection is not very good. Most Asian airlines will be the same. I think it's best to fly Qantas... It's fast and they have many flights per day, everyday (at least from Tokyo to Sydney). They have a special deal going on at the moment. I just booked a flight to Sydney in August for 90 000 (plus tax of course) but that also includes three free domestic flights (Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast). That was on account of it being winter so it might finish by October/November. Worth checking out though.

rdb · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Malaysia or Singapore airlines usually have pretty cheap flights to Australia. (Book direct through their websites for the best deal) You�ll have a connection wait in both these countries of about 6 � 7 hours. (My experience flying to Melbourne), but I always thought it worth it in terms of savings and service (as compared with Qantas).

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

The key is to shop around because any one airline is not necessarily always going to be the cheapest.

ultramagicalunicorn · Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 6

I'm in Korea (close enough) and a cheap way I've found back to Australia is take a Cathay Pacific flight to Singapore, then a Tiger Airways flight to Australia (although Tiger doesn't fly everywhere). Tiger is a small no-frills carrier and using them is cheaper than flying all the way on one airline.

Atlas* · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:00 am Post subject:

i'm flying on the Aussie Air Pass by Qantas. depending on the season it vairies a little in price but during the peak of august it is 90000 plus taxes with additional flights in australia as was said before. some extra cities are available at the flight price of 120000 plus taxes. if you are able to leave before peak season hits i think it is only 75000. if you are flying to more than one city it is a great deal.
unfortunately alice springs isn't on the list of cities they fly to for me, they go to uluru instead. means i'll book my own flights to alice when in australia. but seeing that i'm also going to sydney, adelaide and melbourne this deal is great for me.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

www.ab-road.net . It's all in Japanese, cheapest prices I've found. Not a travel agency but links you to the cheapest prices.
IME (travelling to Perth from Osaka) Singapore Airlines is the best combination of price and connection times at the moment, although I have used Malaysian, Thai and Cathay in the past.