West Coast Eagles fans hoping to snag one of the few remaining flights to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final will have to shell out more than they would if they were travelling to the other side of the world.
The cost of flights between Perth and the Victorian capital, where Saturday’s much anticipated final will be held, have spiked to as much as $2,000 for a return flight ahead of the Eagles’ match against the Melbourne Demons.
But despite Virgin and Qantas rushing to add extra flights to the route to meet demand, the cheapest sets of flights available will still hit punters with a bill well above $1,000.
Incredibly, a return route from Perth to London leaving on Friday was more than $100 cheaper than a flight on the same day going from Perth to Melbourne – ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final
Incredibly, a return route from Perth to London leaving on Friday was more than $100 cheaper than a flight from Perth to Melbourne on the same day
On Wednesday it would cost $1,798 for a round trip betwen the two Australian cities on Virgin
In contrast, return flights to Melbourne from the West Australian capital the weekend following the Grand Final are listed at a mere $757.
Incredibly, a return route from Perth to London leaving on Friday was more than $100 cheaper than a flight from Perth to Melbourne on the same day.
Return flights to London offered with Emirates and Qantas leaving on Friday evening are being offered through Google Flights for $1,665.
That was in comparison with $1,798 for a round trip betwen the two Australian cities on Virgin.
The costs of flights are so high that a private Uber ride costing between $3,738 and $4,984 from Optus Stadium in Perth, the home of the Eagles, to the MCG can almost be considered an option.
The Eagles will face Collingwood in the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon in their first Grand Final appearance since 2015
The cost of flights between Perth and the Victorian capital, where this weekend’s much anticipated AFL Grand Final will be held, spiked to as much as $2,000 return as the Eagles raced to a huge lead against the Melbourne Demons on Saturday
Responding to Daily Mail Australia’s offer for comment, a Qantas spokesman said the spike in their prices were down to the cheapest seats on flights to Melbourne being snapped up first – rather than prices being deliberately raised by the airline.
The spokesman said: ‘This is always a busy time for flights as it normally coincides with school holidays and a long weekend.
‘There’s always a last-minute dash by footy fans to purchase fares once they know their team has scored a spot in the Grand Final.
‘By that time, there are only a few seats left and they are often the more expensive ones.’
The Eagles will face Collingwood in the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon, who beat rivals Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, in their first Grand Final appearance since 2015.
Fans at Perth Stadium watching the Eagles’ thumping 121-55 victory were keen to snap up plane tickets to Melbourne before airlines raised their prices as early as the second quarter – to almost $1,000 one-way between Perth and Melbourne