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.
Arriving in Cairns
- If you are flying to Cairns from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Cairns Airport
CNS- the major gateway to Tropical North Queensland. It is located just outside of the city and you can easily reach Cairns (5 km away along the Captain Cook Highway), Palm Cove (16 km or 25 minutes drive), and Port Douglas (64 km or 1-hour drive). A taxi to Cairns city costs approximately A$25.
Cairns Airport has two passenger terminals, one for domestic flights (used by Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar), and the second for international (Qantas, Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and Air Nuigini) — linked by a 5-minute walk along a covered and paved walkway. After landing, follow the signs to the baggage claim area, where you can collect your luggage. Baggage trolleys are available for a small fee, and baggage storage is available for reasonable rates (A$6-A$10 for three hours, A$10-A$14 for up to 24 hours). If you need to freshen up after your flight, there are excellent shower and bathroom amenities located throughout the terminals.
To reach Cairns's central business district, you can opt for a taxi (the taxi rank is just outside the terminals), or budget-friendly alternatives such as Australia Coach (shuttle bus service to the city center, A$8 per person), Sun Palm Express Coaches (transportation to Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, and Cape Tribulation). - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Jetstar Airways, and Rex Airlines,. However, the “no-frills” carrier 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.
Airports of Cairns
CNS, located in the suburb of Aeroglen, approximately 7 km (4 miles) north of Cairns' central business district in Queensland, Australia.
Book cheap flights in the region
The cheapest time to fly to Cairns
The cheapest time to fly to Cairns is during the winter months of June to August. This is the low season in Cairns with fewer tourist crowds, as the colder temperatures keep most travelers away. Due to decreased demand for flights, airlines offer significant discounts and promotions on airfares. Flying to Cairns between June and August can save you at least 20% compared to the high season.
To get decent weather conditions and still avoid crowds of tourists and high airfares, book your flight for the shoulder seasons: September and November (spring) and between February and April (autumn). It is just before people start traveling for their holidays.
Remember that since Cairns is located in the Southern Hemisphere – seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Prearrange your Australian tourist visa
Most travelers flying to Cairns from overseas are required to obtain an Australian visa. It needs to be arranged in advance unless you are a citizen of New Zealand (who can obtain a visa on arrival).
The type of tourist visa to apply for would depend on your passport and the length of your intended stay:
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Available to citizens of certain countries. Allows multiple visits to Australia, each visit can last up to 3 months within a 1-year period. There is an application service charge of A$20.
- eVisitor. Free visa available for passport holders from most European countries. Allows multiple visits to Australia, each visit can last up to 3 months within a 1-year period.
- Visitor Visa. Open to all nationalities. When applying you may be granted a stay of 3, 6 or 12 months. Cost: A$150.
- Transit Visa. Free visa that will let you transit through Australia for up to 72 hours.
You can apply online, or on paper, by visiting an Australian embassy. Even if most applications are resolved in a few weeks, it is recommended to submit your application at least 2 months before your flight to Cairns.
The 80-hour rule for Qantas seat selection
Did you know that Qantas reserves certain desirable seats for their elite frequent flyers? These “good” seats are usually at the front of the plane and you may not see them as available during the booking process (they are usually greyed out).
The good news, there is a simple solution to gain access to those seats as the restrictions are lifted precisely 80 hours before the departure. So, if you want to snap up the best seat on your flight to Cairns, log in to Qantas Manage Booking 80 hours before departure, check for previously unavailable seats, and change your seat selection.
Virgin Australia has an unofficial rule similar to Qantas – where any seats previously reserved for frequent flyers are released to all passengers 48 hours before departure (when online check-in opens).
Extra checked bag for an infant
Flying to Cairns with children? 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 Cairns from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Cairns. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Cairns, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Cairns is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Cairns 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 FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Cairns from the US and Canada are: American Airlines, ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and United Airlines. 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 Cairns, 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.
Cairns from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Cairns from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (March to November).
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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 ASP is the best choice for the never-ending desert landscapes of Red Centre, Ayers Rock Airport AYG is the gateway for Uluru, and Mount Isa Airport ISA is serving western Queensland.
Avoid Australia’s public holidays
Prices skyrocket during holidays in Australia – adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Airlines start to raise their flight prices to Cairns for the Australian summer – December to February – when travelers from across the country and around the world flock to the city for the end-of-year holidays.
Hotel and apartment rates also soar during the Australian school vacations: April (Easter school holidays), July (Winter school holidays), September/October and December (Summer school holidays).
If you plan to visit Cairns during these popular holidays, book your flight at least 2-3 months before departure to avoid high fares.
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.
Qantas Explorer Pass: discounted domestic fares in Australia
Are you planning to visit more destinations after arriving in Cairns? The Qantas Explorer Pass can be an excellent way to save some money. With this pass, you can book multiple domestic flights in Australia or New Zealand at discounted rates – great for hopping between some of the region’s most iconic cities, beaches, and landscapes.
The Qantas Explorer Pass allows travelers to create their personalized itinerary with multiple stopovers, choosing from over 30 destinations, including major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. However, the pass is only available for domestic flights within Australia or New Zealand – you can’t use it to fly internationally between the two countries.
To access the Qantas Explorer Pass, you must be traveling from overseas to Australia or New Zealand with Qantas. Use the airline website to book your international flight to Cairns, and choose the multi-city option to get access to Explorer Pas cheaper fares.
Qantas Customer Support via SMS
Qantas recently introduced a convenient SMS service as a part of its customer support. SMS-es appear to be replied to much quicker than calls, live chat messages, e-mails, or even social media DMs.
To text Qantas via SMS, use 0477 QANTAS or 0477 726 827. The SMS service is available to customers within Australia only.
Flights to Cairns with stopover
Direct flights to Cairns 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 Cairns. 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 Cairns 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 Cairns 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 Cairns from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Cairns — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Cairns include British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, and Qantas.
- 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 Cairns 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 Cairns from these European airport hubs: LondonLHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Cairns
Find the lowest prices for flights to Cairns Airport in Cairns from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
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How to book SuperDeals?
At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Cairns is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.
Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.
One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.
If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:
If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Cairns). Signup now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!
Last-minute flights to Cairns. 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 Cairns 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 Cairns is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
Domestic air travel from Cairns
Most domestic routes in Australia are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Darwin, and Canberra from Cairns Airport, you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex Airlines, and Bonza. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.
If you plan to fly domestically from Cairns check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.
Flights to Cairns from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Many popular tourist destinations in the Asia Pacific have convenient direct flights to/from Cairns: Auckland
AKL, BaliDPS, Port MoresbyPOM, SingaporeSIN, OsakaKIX, and TokyoHND/NRT. - 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 Cairns 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 Cairns 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.
Flights from major Asian airports to Cairns
Asia is home to some of the busiest and most connected airports in the world. All major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Cairns — including 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.
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Fly now, pay later
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.
The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).
When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Cairns, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.
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.
Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips
Every year, airlines handle millions of bags, and a small percentage of these bags never make it to their final destinations. Globally, airlines mishandle around 0.7% of bags checked in, which translates to seven bags out of every 1,000. Losing the luggage on your trip to Cairns can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of this happening to you.
- Use GPS-Trackers. A luggage tracking device such as Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag comes with a smartphone app and is an excellent way to locate your bag if it goes missing.
Apple AirTag and Samsung SmartTag are small, trackable devices that can be attached to the check-in luggage - Label your luggage with your name, address, phone number and the name of your destination airport in Cairns. Put these details inside the case as well.
- Remove old tags. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags from previous flights can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners.
- Avoid tight layovers. Give yourself and your luggage time to get aboard the next plane by picking a flight to Cairns with a longer layover.
- Don’t overstuff your suitcase. Heavy bags are more likely to get damaged and stuck on the belts, causing the bag to be misdirected.
- Make your bag stand out. After arrival at Cairns airport, most people just want to grab their luggage and get out of the airport as soon as possible. In their haste, a case of mistaken identity can sometimes occur.
- Take a picture of your bag and the contents, and keep it on your phone. This can be helpful if you need to make a claim for lost or damaged items.
- Use a TSA-approved luggage lock. This will secure your bags and will help deter theft.
- Keep your valuables in your hand luggage. The airline liability is notoriously low (around €1,000 in most cases) and it usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance. It can act as a safety net as it can often cover the full value of your luggage. Travel insurance may also reimburse you for any emergency purchases you need to make while you wait.
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