As keen travellers ourselves, we love finding bargain flights and saving some money along the way.
We've got you covered across everything from the latest flight sales, comparing airlines and answering questions like "how to get upgraded on a flight?" and more below.
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Founded in 2000, Wotif has grown into one of Australia's most popular sites for booking travel. It specialises in late and last minute deals, but also has options for future bookings.
One of the world's most popular travel planning sites, Expedia finds you deals on everything from flights and insurance to activities and cruises.
One of the world's largest travel agency groups, Australia-based Flight Centre is most people's first source for the best price on their next trip.
If you're booking flights for the future but worried border closures might affect your travel, Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar all have flexibility policies. Their various offers include things such as letting you change your travel dates or receiving a fare credit to be used at a later time.
Qantas, Rex Airlines and Virgin Australia all allow up to 23kg of checked luggage per person with their standard economy class fare.
Squeezing just a little too much into your bag at the last minute before you head to the airport? Don't. Airlines have strict baggage weight limits and weigh every piece of checked luggage that boards the plane. If you're flying domestically in Australia, you can expect to find the following excess baggage fees.
Excess baggage fees by domestic airline:
| Virgin Australia | $45 for each piece over your allowance |
| Qantas | $50 heavy charge for each piece over your allowance $100 for each extra piece |
| Rex Airlines | $5.50 per kg over your allowance |
| Jetstar | $15 per kg over your allowance |
Rex Airlines gives you the most wiggle room, penalising the least for excess weight.
If you want to avoid all the fuss and risk of extra charges at the airport, you can add additional baggage when you're booking or before you head to the airport.
Additional baggage price by domestic airline:
| Virgin Australia | $45 per 23kg |
| Qantas | $50 per 23kg |
| Rex Airlines | $10 per 5kg |
| Jetstar | $21* per 15kg $23* per 20kg *Prices vary by route. |
It's the dream to buy economy and get bumped up to first class absolutely free, but how do you make that dream a reality?
While there's no hard and fast rule on how to score this holy grail, there are a few ways you can increase your chances of nabbing that premium economy, business or first class upgrade.
Here's how:
1. Join the frequent flyer program: Many luxury airlines like Qantas let you trade in your hard earned frequent flyer points for upgrades. This option might not be free, but this way you are guaranteed to get that upgrade on your flight. Also, it doesn't hurt to be part of the frequent flyer program to show that you have loyalty to the airline itself.
2. Bid in a flight upgrade auction: Again, this option might not be a freebie, but it does increase your chances of getting an upgrade for cheap. Many major airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines and Etihad let you "bid" for a seat in a more premium class. You nominate how much you're willing to pay and if you're the highest bidder before a designated period, you could win that premium seat. You might also like to look into bidding upgrade sites like Optiontown, which let you bid on certain benefits such as extra baggage allowance, lounge access and flatbeds on airlines including AirAsia X, SAS and Vietnam Airlines.
3. Download upgrade apps: Get notified as soon as possible so you can nab the limited number of discounted upgrades available. Due to launch later this year, Seatfrog is designed to notify those who have registered their flight with the app when the airline is offering discounted upgrades prior to departure. Those looking to step up a class can name their price through the app.
4. Don't go for the special meal: It might seem like an odd tip, but if you can deal with the options on the onboard menu, opt out of having a special meal. These meals are linked to your seat number, so airlines generally don't upgrade anyone who has nominated one.
5. Fly during quieter periods: During peak times you'll find that business flyers will fill up the business and first class seats leaving nothing for eager upgraders. Fly during quieter periods and you've automatically increased your chances of snatching up one of the spare seats on board.
6. Timing is everything: Be early or be late, they both have their benefits. If you're early then you could be the first one to be offered an upgraded seat. If you're late and you haven't been assigned a seat yet, then there's a chance that the flight has been overbooked for your class and you could be bumped up. Of course, being late has its negatives too, including missing your flight, having the upgrades take by those who arrived early or being bumped to the next flight because your flight is full. That's the risk you have to take.
7. Make an impression. There's a lot of advice going out about complaining about something, playing to the emotional side of the person at the counter or just generally being nice and complimenting them. We're leaving it on this list because some say it has worked for them. Feel free to try one or the other, however there's no guarantee it'll work.
8. Bump yourself off the plane: If the plane has been overbooked and you can sacrifice the waiting time, nominate yourself to be bumped off the plane on the provision that you be upgraded on the next flight. If the airline can accommodate for this request, they might very well honour it.
9. Dress to impress: Some people swear by this one and it can't hurt to look like you belong in first class when at the airline counter.
10. Don't let a delay get the better of you: Every time I've been upgraded, a flight delay has played a part. I haven't complained about the delay, I've either just been automatically given an upgraded ticket at the counter, or been called to the counter at the gate to exchange my ticket for one with a better seat. Make of that what you will.
11. Use your status: People with titles like Dr or Judge can sometimes be upgraded purely because of their status in society. The same goes for those with diplomatic passports.
Offer may be withdrawn at any time
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
Offer may be withdrawn at any time
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Australia flights from $70 one way
Available for travel on select dates across Australia. Sample fare departs from Ballina Byron to Sydney. T&Cs apply.
Wotif
Wotif
100% off return flights on select holiday packages
Fly for free when you book your flight and hotel together with select Australia holiday packages at Wotif. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways
Up to 10% off for Privilege Club members
Get up to 10% off on flights when you signup and become a Privilege Club member with a code. Available for travel until 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.
Booking.com
Booking.com
Late Escape Deals 2024: Up to 15% or more
Ends
Available for booking from 1 October 2024 to 7 January 2025 at Booking.com. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Port Moresby flights from $613.22
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Solomon Island flights from $728.09
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Port Vila, Vanuatu flights from $597.09
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Fiji flights from $399.60
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Timor - Leste flights from $1,178.58
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Bali flights from $504.49
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Flight Centre
Flight Centre
Noumea flights from $1,139
Available for travel on select dates at Flight Centre. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
New Zealand flights from $265.31
Available for travel on select dates at Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways
30% off extra baggage
Purchase extra baggage allowance at least 6 hours before your flight and save 30% at Etihad Airways. T&Cs apply.
Trip.com
Trip.com
Up to 50% off with member-exclusive deals
Register to access member-only deals, earn bonus Trip Coins and unlock exclusive rewards.
AirAsia
AirAsia
Up to 30% off flight + hotel
Book your flight and accommodation at AirAsia and get up to 30% discount. T&Cs apply.
Pay Later Travel
Pay Later Travel
Get $10 off your first flight
Sign up now and get exclusive offers and updates from Pay Later Travel. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Christchurch flights from $689 return
Book a flight and discover the beauty of New Zealand at Emirates. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Dublin flights from $2,169 return
Book a flight to Dublin this holiday season at Emirates. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Paris flights from $2,089 return
Book a flight to Paris at Emirates this holiday season. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
London flights from $1,949 return
Book a flight and visit the beautiful places of London at Emirates. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Athens flights from $2,069 return
Book a flight and explore exciting adventures in Athens at Emirates. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Rome flights from $1,989 return
Book a flight to Rome and enjoy the beautiful attractions at Emirates. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Milam flights from $1,959 return
Book a flight and visit the beautiful places of Milan at Emirates Airlines. Flights are available on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
International flights from $429 on Virgin Australia
Sample fare departs from Melbourne to Queenstown. Destination includes Apia (Samoa), Denpasar (Bali), Tokyo (Haneda), Nadi (Fiji) and Port Vila (Vanuatu). T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to Bali from $539
Available for travel on select dates. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Nadi, Fiji flights from $589
Available for travel on select dates. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to Queenstown from $525
Available for travel on select dates. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to Vanuatu from $508
Book your flights now to Vanuatu starting from just $508. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to New Zealand from $404
Book your flights now to New Zealand starting from just $404. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to Fiji from $589
Book your flights now to Fiji starting from just $589. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
Flights to Bali from $539
Book your flights now to Bali starting from just $539. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Karachi flights from $1,839 return
Book a flight to Karachi starting from $1,839 at Emirates this holiday season. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Emirates
Emirates
Lahore flights from $1,839 return
Book a flight to Lahore starting from $1,839 at Emirates this holiday season. Available for travel on select dates. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Flights to New Zealand from $325
Available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand flights to Cook Islands from $490
Available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand flights to Samoa from $506
Available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand flights to French Polynesia from $756
Available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand flights to Tonga from $464
Available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Expedia.com.au
Expedia.com.au
Member Price: 10% off or more on over 100,000 hotels
Available for travel on select dates across Australia at Expedia. Destinations include Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and more. T&Cs apply.
Flight Centre
Flight Centre
Flights to Port Moresby from $1,124
Available for travel on select dates. T&Cs apply.
*Trustpilot reviews are from June 2020.
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