[Smithy789]

Hi Frequent Flyers,

I would like to fly from Melbourne to London to be there on the 31 August for a family pow-wow. Plans are a bit last minute, but I don't want to / can't pay 'through the nose' for the priviledge of flying at short notice. Tickets seem to be about the A$3,000 level including taxes - which is too rich for me I'd prefer to pay up to A$2,000. Is that totally unrealistic?

Do you have any tips on securing cheap flights at the last minute? I don't mind if I:
- travel on standby,
- travel with carry-on luggage only
- travel as an On-Board Courier,
- simply book at the last minute direct via an airline
- book through one of those websites where seats are auctioned off (any of those in Australia?)
- Go via some weird route, e.g. the US (I am platinum with AA)

If I can find a good price, I will go, otherwise I will stay in Melbourne and mope while I miss the party.

If I can go via Hong Kong, then I can have a meeting or two there and in London, and make the trip deductible.

All tips and advice very welcome.

smithy789

[Mwenenzi]

Originally Posted by Smithy789

Tickets seem to be about the A$3,000 level including taxes - which is too rich for me I'd prefer to pay up to A$2,000. Is that totally unrealistic?

Yes. Fuel prices have pushed air fares up.
Look at www.bestflights.com.au, www.flightcentre.com.au, Emirates, Malaysian and other 2nd tier Asian or Middle East carriers. Flying mid week may be cheaper than a weekend. You will get more options out of Sydney

[dajop]

Sometimes it can also be less expensive to purchase separate flights MEL-ASIA (HKG, SIN, BKK, KUL) and then another flight from there to London. [although with the AUD performance over the last week, this is becoming less attractive option]

You could try eg. getting Jetstar to SIN or BKK and then another fare from there to London (if you could cope with Jetstar). Even just purchasing two separate fares MEL-HKG-MEL and HKG-LHR-HKG on Qantas on the random dates I chose was $180 less than purchasing same flights MEL-LHR-MEL.

[Mwenenzi]

The Olympic's finish on 24 Aug so demand for seats from Asia will be higher than normal

[NM]

you are looking to travel to Europe in peak travel season, so the chance of finding a last minute cheap deal is low. I would suggest the best option to finding a $2000ish fare to London will be to consider an Asian or Middle Eastern carrier who may have cheaper fares. Fare with the major airlines servicing the route will remain high, including QF, BA, CX, SQ, VS, so perhaps try EK, EY, BI, MH. or perhaps a destination other then London such as AF to CDG and then a cheapies from there. But these may all be still above your gaol fare price due to the high-season travel time.

[serfty]

ITA Fare Finder shows an option on Qantas airways via SIN (SQ) and DOH for $2854.

Or book MEL-HKGrt on Qantas for $1450 and HKG-LHRrt on Qatar via DOH for $1064 (HKD7315) (separate tickets).

[straitman]

Originally Posted by serfty

ITA Fare Finder shows an option on Qantas airways via SIN (SQ) and DOH for $2854.

Or book MEL-HKGrt on Qantas for $1450 and KKG-LHRrt on Qatar via DOH for $1064 (HKD7315) (separate tickets).

serfty,

Should that be HKG-LHRrt on Qatar

[dajop]

Originally Posted by serfty

Or book MEL-HKGrt on Qantas for $1450 and KKG-LHRrt on Qatar via DOH for $1064 (HKD7315) (separate tickets).

QF website, depending on specific dates has MEL-HKG rtn late August for $1256.