

Australia is open to international travelers
Australia reopened its borders on February 21, 2022. In July, the last travel restrictions have been lifted — overseas arrivals no longer have to prove they have been vaccinated. A negative pre-departure test is no longer required. However, masks are still mandatory on planes flying to Australia.
Most passport holders need the right visa to come to Australia.
Book cheaper flights to Australia

Not happy with flight prices to Australia? Join our club to save 40% — 80% on every flight (!)
Finding great deals on flights can be a daunting task. If you don’t want to pay prices dictated by the airlines, consider joining our club. It’s the place where we share hacker fares and hidden deals to the top destinations in the Asia Pacific — including Australia.
- Weekly hacker fares found by our air travel experts
- 40% to 80% cheaper than regular fares
- Including business class seats at the economy prices
Join 110,000+ travelers — It’s free:
You can opt out anytime. Learn more.
Arriving in Australia
- If you are flying to Australia from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport — Sydney Airport
SYD
, Melbourne AirportMEL
, Brisbane AirportBNE
, Perth AirportPER
, and Adelaide AirportADL
.
These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Australia. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
- Once in Australia, take advantage of frequent flights between the major cities via domestic airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex Airlines, and Bonza. To check flight schedules/prices and to book the tickets, visit their official websites — OTAs and flight search engines often don’t have access to the flight repository of smaller local airlines. They also often fail to update prices in the event of short-lived sales and promotions that airlines run from time to time. To not miss out on these great offers, visit Promo Radar which aggregates current promotions run by popular airlines.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Australia can be easily reached with low-cost regional airlines (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Batik Air, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar, Scoot, and VietJet Air.
These budget carriers offer flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth at lower prices than full-service airlines, and they often fly to smaller airports that big players do not cover. However, the “no-frills” airlines may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support; you may not even get to choose your seats (unless you pay extra). With that in mind, they are a great option to save money if you have a stopover in Australia and then fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries.
Airlines flying to Australia | Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines |
---|---|
Australian airlines | Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia (international routes) Rex Airlines, Airnorth, Alliance Airlines, Bonza, Skippers Aviation, Maroomba Airlines, Eastern Air Services (domestic routes) |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ € 1,300 — € 1,600 (from Europe) ✈ $ 1,200 — $ 1,800 (from USA) |
Flight hacks | 40% — 80% off regular fare |
Popular airports | Sydney (SYD) Brisbane (BNE) Melbourne (MEL) Perth (PER) Adelaide (ADL) Gold Coast (OOL) Cairns (CNS) |
Airline promotions | See ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from February to April |
Use regional airports to visit Central Australia
There are no major airports that service Australia’s epic heartland. So, if you wish to visit, you’ll have to take a domestic flight to a regional airport. Alice Springs Airport is the best choice for the never-ending desert landscapes of Red Centre, Ayers Rock Airport is the gateway for Uluru, and Mount Isa Airport is serving western Queensland.
Prearrange your Australian Tourist Visa
Passport holders from most countries need a visa to come to Australia, even if they are just visiting the country for a shorter holiday. You might even need a visa to transition through Australia to another destination. The visa must be obtained before traveling to Australia. You can do this electronically (an ETA) via the Australian Government website, or your travel agent can arrange this for you.
The 80-hour rule for Qantas seat selection
Qantas restricts access to sought-after seats to elite frequent flyers, so you may not see those seats as available during the booking process. But these restrictions are lifted 80 hours before a flight. So, if you want to snap up your favorite seat, log in to Qantas Manage Booking 80 hours before departure, check for previously unavailable seats, and change your seat selection.
Extra checked bag for an infant
Virgin Australia aims to become the first choice for family travelers. It has the most generous policy regarding infant luggage allowances – a 23kg checked bag, and 3 infant items are allowed, free of charge.
This policy applies to the airline’s domestic and international short-haul and long-haul flights.
Flights to Australia fromUnited States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Australia. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Australia, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. Direct flights are just 10 hours long if you are departing from Honolulu
HNL
. The popular route from West Coast (Los AngelesLAX
, San FranciscoSFO
, VancouverYVR
) to SydneySYD
takes around 16 hours. When opting for a non-stop flight, American travelers can only choose from a limited range of flight operators: Qantas, Virgin Australia, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. - Australia is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Australia with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Australia from the US and Canada are: ANA, EVA Air, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Australia, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Australia from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Australia from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (February to October).
Flight hacking
Hacker faresto Australia
Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
The cheapest time to fly to Australia
During the low season (April – June) Australia sees significantly fewer visitors and everything including plane tickets is cheaper. This is also a good time to be in the country’s north. Book your flight at least 4-6 weeks before departure for a below-average price.
Avoid the peak season – November, December (when prices peak in the run-up to Christmas) and January.
Avoid Australia’s public holidays
Prices skyrocket during holidays in Australia – adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Cheap flights to Australia are non-existent during popular “red days” such as Australia Day (26 January), Anzac Day (25 April), Christmas and Boxing Day (25-26 December).
Hotel and apartment rates in popular holiday spots like the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and Cairns in Queensland soar during the Australian school vacations: April (Easter school holidays), July (Winter school holidays), September/October and December (Summer school holidays).
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@Qantasairways”). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Australia has multiple time zones. Some of them are half-hour and quarter-hour time zones. There are three primary time zones in Australia, which change to five when DST (Daylight Savings Time – not all states and territories observe DST) kicks in during the warmer months of the year (October – April).
Flights to Australia with stopover
Direct flights to Australia are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Australia. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Australia with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Australia will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Australia from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Australia — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. There is only a handful of direct flights from Europe to Australia, and they are all operated by Qantas. These non-stop flights are just under 17 hours: from London
LHR
and RomeFCO
to PerthPER
. - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Australia include Air China, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, Qantas, Thai Airways, United Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Australia from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Australia from these European airport hubs: LondonLHR
and ManchesterMAN
in the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRA
and MunichMUC
in Germany, ParisCDG
and NiceNCE
in France, AmsterdamAMS
in the Netherlands, MadridMAD
and BarcelonaBCN
in Spain, RomeFCO
and MilanoMXP
in Italy, BrusselsBRU
in Belgium, CopenhagenOSL
in Denmark, OsloOSL
in Norway, StockholmARN
in Sweden, ZurichZRH
in Switzerland, LisbonLIS
in Portugal, ViennaVIE
in Austria, WarsawWAW
in Poland, PraguePRG
in Czech Republic, and DublinDUB
in Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Australia
Find the lowest prices for flights to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth in Australia from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
Flight hacking
Can't finda good deal?
Get 40% – 80% off airfares from Europe to Australia:
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Australia will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

Last-minute flights to Australia. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Australia almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Australia is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Australia, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Lost baggage prevention
Avoid lost luggage nightmares by removing old tags on your suitcases. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags can confuse baggage handlers and the conveyor belt scanners. They are one of the reasons so many bags miss their flight or get misrouted.
Airlines of Australia
There are three main airlines in Australia that handle most of the international air traffic to Down Under. The national carrier Qantas is the largest, and apart from domestic routes it also flies to nearly 30 international destinations. Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, is a low-cost carrier with no-frills fares from United States (Honolulu), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand among others. Virgin Australia offers both budget-friendly Economy seats and Business Class seats for more demanding travelers, and you can use it to fly to Australia from United States (Lost Angeles), Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, and the UAE.
The plane is also the fastest and most economical solution to move between the Australian states and territories — New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, or Western Australia. There are several smaller carriers that mainly focus on local routes within the country. Rex Airlines allows venturing into rural Australia — Wagga Wagga, Mount Isa, Mildura, Monkey Mia or Port Augusta. Airnorth is a smaller carrier that focuses mostly on the northern part of the country, Alliance Airlines operates fly-in fly-out (FIFO) air charter services, and Bonza is the new ultra-low-cost airline that started operations in 2022.
Flights to Australia from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Australia look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Australia will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Australia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Asian airports with the cheapest flights to Australia in 2023/24
Find the lowest prices for flights to Australia from the largest airports in Asia — Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
Flight hacking
Fly half-price(or less!)
Get curated deals to Australia from our flight experts:
Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Australia to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Australia and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

How to book a superdeal to Australia?
Every superdeal you receive from Air Traveler Club includes a link you can use to book a flight. It always directs you to the website that offers the lowest price. Sometimes it’s an airline website; in other cases, Google Flights or a similar flight booking platform.
This video explains how to use Google Flights to book a plane ticket.

Dealing with the jet lag
Jet lag affects people differently depending on age, physical fitness, and genetics. The most accepted rule suggests that you should allow one full day to recover from jet lag for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east and a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed when you traveled west.
The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. You can begin before getting off the plane: set your watch to the time in Australia, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new time zone. Close the window shade when it’s time to simulate darkness. During your first day on the ground in Australia, get outdoors, stay physically active during the day, and absorb sunlight.
FAQ: Flying to Australia
Q: How much is the flight ticket to Australia from Europe?
A: Australia is the world's sixth-largest country – the price of your ticket will depend on the choice of your city of arrival. Moreover, the chosen airline and the number of stopovers, and the booking period will also play role in ticket pricing. Flights from Europe to Western and South Australia (Perth, Adelaide) tend to be the cheapest, with fares averaging €700 – €900 for one-way, and €1300 – €1600 for a return ticket if booked at least a few weeks in advance. Flying to the east coast of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) is a bit more expensive, with averages of €800 – €1100 (one-way) and €1300 – €1600 (return).
Air Traveler Club can help you cut these prices by more than half.
Q: How much is the flight ticket to Australia from USA?
A: The prices of flights from the US to Australia fluctuate and will likely increase closer to your departure date. Assuming you book well in advance, you can find return flights from USA to Australia ranging from $1,200 to $1600 (departing from the West Coast) and $1,300 to $1800 (departurting from the East Coast).
Q: Which airlines fly directly from North America (US/Canada) to Australia?
A: The vast majority of flights from North America to Australia have at least one stopover between the two locations. Currently, there are only four airlines that operate direct (non-stop) flights from the US and Canada to Australia: Qantas, Virgin Australia, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. Direct flights to Australia depart from Dallas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, and arrive to three major international airports in Australia: Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
Expect to pay 20%-40% more for direct flights, compared to 1-stop or multi-stop flights.
Q: What are the major international airports in Australia?
A: Australia has more than 600 airports, including all the international airports, domestic airports, private airports, and military airports. As in any country, airports with the largest volume of flights are located near major cities. If you are flying to Australia from abroad, you will be most likely landing at one of the biggest international airports — Sydney Airport (IATA code: SYD), Brisbane Airport (BNE), Melbourne Airport (MEL), Perth Airport (PER), Adelaide Airport (ADL), Gold Coast Airport (OOL) or Cairns Airport (CNS). These are hubs for major Australian airlines like Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways, and Rex Airlines, with large passenger terminals, first class lounges, shops, and restaurants. These primary airports are usually located about 10 to 20 kilometers from the city center, with public transport and airport shuttle service available.
There are also numerous medium-sized international airports scattered around the country. The most known are Canberra Airport (CBR) in the country's capital, Hobart Airport (HBA) and Launceston Airport (LST) in Tasmania, Australia’s island state, Darwin Airport (DRW) in Northern Territory, Townsville Airport (TSW) in North Queensland, Newcastle Airport (NTL) in New South Wales, and Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) north of Brisbane.
Q: When is the best time to book a flight to Australia?
A: Due to multiple factors, expect to potentially pay more if flying between December to February (high season). On average, prices tend to bottom out after February, when the Christmas/New Year holiday season ends, but before temperatures start to warm up toward the end of March. Low season – the cheapest time to fly to Australia – starts from June to August.
Q: How far in advance should I book a flight to Australia?
A: Plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date. Even these reasonably priced flights in the low season sell out quite far ahead of the date of travel – it pays to book your ticket well in advance. The best time to buy can vary among airlines but the golden time for international flights to Australia usually falls between 2 months and 6 months before the departure.
User Review
4.41 (922 votes)Flights to Australia
Whether on a vacation of a lifetime or a business trip, flying to Australia is not as easy as booking local travel.
Most likely you are looking at a long-haul trip — and every layover will add a few more hours if you choose not to take a direct flight. Choose your airline wisely, by reading the online reviews left by passengers who have already taken a similar route. Always look for their in-flight experience: seats (are they comfy and spacious?), menu (was it delicious with plenty of choices for different tastes and diets?), and the entertainment options available onboard (the quality of screens and headphones, the range of movie/music/tv channels on offer, etc).
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. Leave it too late and you might have to pay almost double the price, especially if you want to fly during school holidays and popular times like New Year's Eve. If you're not yet an Air Traveler Club subscriber, sign up now — we'll send you lots of discounted offers for free. Our members often save $500 or more on flights to Australia!
Pros
- Plenty of airlines flying to Australia
- Cheap tickets available
- Flight hacks available
Cons
- Long-haul flights can be expensive