Help with cheap flights to Melbourne

Hi

Thinking of going to Melbourne for 2.5 weeks in January 2010.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to get cheap flights? The ones
I have found at the moment are about 1100 return!!

Thanks in advance for your help [:)]

Dan

[preiffer]

Sometimes going 'the other way round' (through the US) can be cheaper....

Hi Paul

Which airlines would I do that with and via which city's? Any suggestions?

Cheers

Dan

[preiffer]

Actually, it's just dawned on me.

January next year, for 2.5 weeks, will put your return date outside of 330 days from now. The flights WILL be expensive now as a result, as airlines only *start* releasing inventory 330 days out. Realistically, you need to be looking at around the 10 month mark.

Have another look in March, and you'll see they're lower. For a US based one, try a BA/Qantas mix. I've seen them cheap before....

Also Dan worth looking at RTW tickets. These can work out less than a straight return. Great Escapade (Virgin, Air New Zealand & Singapore Airlines) is one option >> http://www.thegreatescapade.com/index.php

Mind you, if all you're after is getting to Melbourne & back then perhaps that's not the answer [:?]

Price for one of these from mid-Jan last year was £979.

So look March - April time for Jan/Feb seats. Makes sense.
You can get flights for £650 in April (Using 2009) with Qantas but not sure what the weather is like then?

Should I use the BA or Qantas website to find out about going via USA
or better to use Expedia?

[preiffer]

Personally, I'd use matrix.itasoftware.com [;)]

not sure what the weather is like?
this is Melbourne - thats the surprise.
March/April is autumn so not that bad really - no scorchers like we have just had.
46 on Saturday low 20s since!

Would imagine 'direct' to melbourne will come in pricey against the staple SYD/Perth route
Curved ball;
Price up 'sale fare' to LAX for eg (popular route)
Then look at recent established V Australia who do the Pacific route?
Or:
Direct to SYD (again usually cheapest route) then Virgin Blue domestic (or their Airpass if multicentre takes your fancy)

The off season for flights this way is April May June when the weather is not at its best and doesn't coincide with UK scholl holidays.

Cathay, Malaysia, Air Asia X, Thai, Emirates, Qantas (BA only use as a codeshare), Korean, Etihad from March, New Zealand and United all fly here. Most with at least 2 flights a day. After such a long flight from the UK the via Sydney, or any other Australian gateway, is not recommended as a straight connection. Only Adelaide and Melbourne have the international and domestic departures from the same building - all other airports require a transfer.

The route via the US is longer as it generally involves 2 stops LAX/SFO and AKL/SYD with United and New Zealand although Qantas do have a direct LAX-MEL service (and also one via AKL).

My folks generally use a consolidator who generally works out cheaper than the web fares. The problem is January is peak season both for folks coming here from northern hemisphere as its summer but also for Aussies head o/s on their summer holidays - the airlines know this and bump up fares accordingly.

Good luck

Hi.

Thank you all for your help.
I have managed to obtain a ticket under staff travel via a
friend of mine who works for BA so that is working out at about
half the website rates so will go with that.

Now just got to wait 11 months to go [y]

Dan

Nice one! [y]