Domestic Flights in Australia, are they worth it? And How to book them? The Sundays on The Travel Tester are open for all your questions about travelling, working and living in Australia.
Previous questions about Australia included how to make the first step to go travelling and the different types of discount cards and hostel membership cards available. We also talked about the question ‘is it safe to travel as a girl alone in Australia?’ and whether it’s a good idea to get a campervan or public transport to travel around.
Then it was time to get into the more difficult questions. Some things really depend on your personal taste and travel style, but I did my best and gave you (some of) the highlights on the East Coast of Australia and my personal budget tips for visiting Australia.
This week, we’ll take off (literally) and have a look at some of the best ways to see Australia, especially if you’re short on time.
Question
What is the best way to book a domestic flight in Australia? - Ben
Answer
Hi Ben,
I’ve used domestic flights a lot when I was in Australia. It’s a great way to see a lot of this massive country. You save time, but you wouldn’t expect to save money as well. Domestic travel in Australia is in comparison to train or bus travel a very good alternative.
Australia has a couple of domestic airlines, but there a four of them that you’ll probably use the most: Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Tiger Airways and Qantas. They each have connections to the most popular places in the country.
From Sydney, Jetstar flies to 17 Australian cities, but also to a couple stops in Asia, the Pacific, New Zealand and Hawaii. Virgin Australia flies to 42 Australian cities and also has many stops in the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Africa and Europe. Tiger Airways flies to 7 Australian cities and to most Asian countries. Qantas connect Sydney with 41 Australian cities and most of the rest of the world.
Generally I’ve found that Qantas is a bit more expensive for domestic flights than Jetstar, Virgin and Tiger. Some Qantas flights are operated by Jetstar.
I’ve heard quite a few people complain about Tiger Airways, as they sometimes cancel flights and have poor customer service. I never travelled with Tiger (I did travel with all the other above airlines), but I had to check a booking for a guest once and found the service lady very rude and uncooperative.
As for baggage allowance, all these airlines have a 7kg carry-on baggage allowance. For checked-in baggage, you pay extra. You can buy 15-40kg on Jetstar and Tiger and 23-32kg on Virgin.
On some longer flights, for example Brisbane to Darwin or Sydney to Cairns, there will be food&drinks served on some airlines. On the shorter flights, you can usually purchase these things.
More Domestic Flights in Australia
Check the latest deals for domestic flights in Australia on: Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Tiger Airways and Qantas.
Please send me your Australia questions!
I’ve visited Australia 3 times, travelled all around the country and lived in Sydney for 2 years, working as a hostel receptionist and Australian Travel Agent. I love to answer any questions you might have. I’ll do my best to answer to my best and current knowledge, or help you find the right resources to prepare for the trip of your lifetime. I fell in love with Australia, and I know you will too. Talk to you soon!
The post Domestic Flights in Australia – How to Book appeared first on The Travel Tester.