Damon Mcknight
Australia is a popular destination for many travellers, but getting there can be expensive. However, there are ways to save money on your flight. For example, using points and miles to book your flight can be cheaper than paying with cash, as award flights tend to have more steady pricing. Many airlines offer frequent flyer programs, such as United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage, which can help you save money on your flight to Australia. Additionally, booking with flexibility can help you find cheaper flights, as prices tend to fluctuate depending on the season and day of the week.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Best time to book | February is the cheapest month to fly to Australia. Tuesday is usually the most affordable day to take off, followed by Monday. Saturday often has the most expensive prices. |
| Best websites to book | KAYAK, Expedia, Skyscanner, NerdWallet |
| Airlines to consider | Qantas Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin Australia, Tiger, Jetstar Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines |
| Cheapest airports in Australia | Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE), Perth (PER), and Adelaide (ADL) |
| Cheapest airports in the US | Los Angeles (LAX) |
| Other tips | Use miles or points, book well in advance, consider nearby airports, use Expedia's "flexible dates" function |
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What You'll Learn
Use points and miles to book your flight
Using points and miles to book your flight is a great way to save money on your trip to Australia. Here are some tips and tricks to help you maximize your points and miles:
Choose the Right Programs and Airlines:
- Some of the best programs for booking flights to Australia include All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Avianca LifeMiles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and United MileagePlus.
- Qantas Airways, the flagship airline of Australia, offers excellent redemption rates and the ability to book stopovers. You can also use Alaska miles on Qantas flights, especially for business class.
- ANA Mileage Club offers solid redemptions, but keep in mind that you can only book round-trip awards, and you'll need to pay fuel surcharges.
- American Airlines, another member of the Oneworld alliance, offers AAdvantage miles with competitive rates. You can use these miles on Qantas or American Airlines flights.
Maximize Redemption and Awards:
- Keep in mind that award availability, especially in business or first class, can be extremely limited, so book in advance if possible.
- Flexibility is key when searching for award space. Consider booking positioning flights or being willing to make a stopover to increase your chances of finding award seats.
- Consider the time of year and seasonality when booking with ANA, as their award chart is split into three seasons with different pricing.
- Look out for transfer bonuses from banks, such as Chase or Amex, which can further increase the value of your points or miles.
Credit Card Strategies:
- Sign up for co-branded credit cards that offer welcome bonuses and earn you miles or points with each purchase.
- Transfer your credit card points to airline partners. For example, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines to book award flights.
- Use the right credit card for your purchases. Cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® can help you earn bonus points or miles.
Remember to compare different programs and keep an eye out for award availability to make the most of your points and miles when booking your flight to Australia.
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Fly on a Tuesday or Monday
If you're looking to fly from the US to Australia on the cheap, it's a good idea to jet off early in the week to nab the best airfare. According to sources, Tuesday is the most affordable day to take off, followed by Monday.
If you can handle the excitement as it builds up over the weekend, it's worth putting off your flight to Australia until a Monday, as this is the cheapest day of the week to depart from the United States. Tuesday and Wednesday also tend to offer good prices, while anything from Thursday onwards is bad news for your bank account.
If you're looking to book a direct flight, the cheapest options hail from Honolulu, with an average of $1,095 for a round trip, followed by departures from Dallas and Los Angeles at around $1,500, and then San Francisco, at a cost of $1,700.
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Book with an airline that offers flexible tickets
When booking a flight from the US to Australia, it is a good idea to book with an airline that offers flexible tickets. This is because travel plans can often change at short notice, and a flexible ticket allows you to make amendments to your booking without incurring additional charges.
Webjet, for example, offers a 30-minute price guarantee that holds the price of your chosen flight for half an hour, so you can pay the price that was displayed during your search even if the ticket gets more expensive during that time. They also offer flexible payment methods, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, AfterPay, Zip, American Express membership rewards points, and NAB rewards points.
Similarly, Expedia offers a 'No change fee' option under the 'Flexible change policies' filter, allowing you to book a low-cost, flexible flight.
If your travel dates are flexible, you can also use Kayak's 'Flexible dates' feature to find the best airfare. This feature allows you to view all the options for flying from the US to Australia up to three days before or after your preferred dates, so you can choose the flights that suit you best.
Another way to book a flexible ticket is to take advantage of frequent flyer programs, such as United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage, which often offer cheap flights to Australia. For example, American Airlines, one of the "Big Three" US airlines, offers 40,000 AAdvantage miles for a one-way economy ticket and 80,000 miles for a business class ticket. These flights will usually be operated by Qantas Airways or American Airlines, and you won't be charged extra if you need a connecting flight from the East Coast.
Additionally, Alaska Airlines, a member of the Oneworld alliance, has a partnership with Qantas Airways that allows Alaska members to redeem their miles for flights at attractive rates.
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Compare prices with different travel dates
When comparing prices with different travel dates for cheap flights from the US to Australia, it is important to consider the seasonality and monthly variations in pricing. February is typically the cheapest month to fly to Australia, with average round-trip prices as low as $1,046. On the other hand, December is the most expensive month, with average prices soaring to $1,643 for a round-trip flight.
It is worth noting that the day of the week you choose to fly can also make a significant difference in pricing. Monday is generally the cheapest day to depart, followed by Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday to Sunday flights tend to be more expensive, with Saturday often being the priciest option. Therefore, if you have flexibility with your travel dates, consider departing on a Monday or Tuesday to secure the best airfare deals.
Additionally, booking in advance can result in significant savings. On average, the cheapest fares for US-Australia routes are found around 100 to 200 days before departure, potentially saving you up to $350. November, February, and March are also great months to find deals, with round-trip prices averaging around $1,550.
To find the best deals, utilize price comparison tools offered by websites like Skyscanner, KAYAK, and Webjet. These platforms allow you to compare prices based on different travel dates, departure cities, and flight classes. KAYAK's Price Forecast tool uses historical data to predict price changes within 7 days, helping you decide whether to book now or wait. Webjet's Multi City/Stopover tool can also help you find convenient and affordable multi-city flight packages.
By being flexible with your travel dates and using price comparison tools, you can significantly increase your chances of finding cheap flights from the US to Australia.
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Check visa requirements before booking
When travelling from the US to Australia, it is important to check the visa requirements for both countries before booking your flights. The type of visa you need will depend on the length of your stay, your passport, and the purpose of your visit.
US Visa Requirements
US authorities have broad powers to decide if you are eligible to enter the country and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law. If you are visiting the US for less than 90 days, you may be eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If you are not eligible for the VWP, you will need to obtain a visa before travelling. An approved ESTA or valid visa does not guarantee entry to the US. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port of entry will determine your eligibility and the date by which you must leave the country. If you stay past this date, you can be detained, deported, and banned from re-entering the US.
Australian Visa Requirements
To enter Australia, you will need to secure the appropriate visa before travelling. The visa you need will depend on the length of your stay and your passport. If you are visiting Australia for tourism purposes, you can use the Visa Finder to explore your options. If you are a US citizen, you will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Australia. The ETA is linked to your passport and is valid for up to a year, allowing you to visit Australia multiple times for up to three months at a time. You can apply for an ETA online through the Australian ETA app, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required. It is important to ensure that all details are correct and provide all required documents when applying for a visa. Incomplete or incorrect applications can delay the process. Additionally, you may be required to undergo a medical examination before being issued a visa.
It is recommended to check the websites of the relevant government departments for the most up-to-date and accurate information on visa requirements: the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
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Frequently asked questions
Using points and miles is one of the cheapest ways to fly from the US to Australia as award flights tend to have more steady pricing than cash prices. Various frequent flyer programs offer cheap flights to Australia, including United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage.
Booking well in advance, being flexible with your travel dates, flying on a Tuesday or Monday, and using tools like KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool can help you find cheap flights from the US to Australia.
Some cheap flights from the US to Australia include flights from Honolulu for $1,693, from San Francisco for $3,320, and from Los Angeles for $3,813. Booking with airlines like Qantas, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines can also help you find cheap flights.
Yes, all US citizens are required to obtain a visa to enter Australia. The process can be done electronically and allows for multiple entries for a maximum of three months per trip and up to a year from the date of issue.
