West Coast Eagles fans hoping to watch their team play in the AFL Grand Final will have to pay through the teeth after airlines hiked their ticket prices between Perth and Melbourne.
The spike in prices came as early as the second quarter in Saturday night’s preliminary final between the Eagles and the Melbourne Demons – as West Coast raced to a 69-6 halftime lead.
Flights shot up to at least $859 one-way on Virgin Australia on Thursday or Friday between the two cities – with other airlines charging close to $1,000.
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
Prices had rocketed even further by 9pm on Saturday evening, with a single direct flight between Perth and Melbourne on Friday costing as much as $2292 on Virgin in economy – incredibly even more than a business class ticket on the same flight
Only a few spots were left, meanwhile, on a Friday night Qantas red-eye for $463.
Getting home wasn’t much better with flights on Sunday and Monday as high at $1,500 one way and $632 at a minimum on Jetstar.
Prices had rocketed even further by 9pm on Saturday evening, with a single direct flight between Perth and Melbourne on Friday costing as much as $2292 on Virgin in economy – incredibly even more than a business class ticket on the same flight.
Fans at Perth Stadium watching the Eagles’ thumping 121-55 victory were keen to snap up plane tickets before the airlines raised their prices.
While still sat in their seats, two fans could be seen in one photo posted to Twitter searching for flights before the half-time siren had sounded.
Fans could attempt to sacrifice their time and fly cheaper by leaving Perth on Thursday though – and flying to Melbourne via either Brisbane or Bali.
The spike in prices came as early as the second quarter in Saturday night’s preliminary final (pictured) between the Eagles and the Melbourne Demons – as the Eagles raced to a 69-6 halftime lead
Qantas have laid on an additional four flights in each direction, while Jetstar have added 2500 more seats to their schedule to ensure Eagles fans are able to get across to Melbourne in time for the 2.30pm AEST ball-up.
In contrast, return flights to Melbourne from the West Australian capital the following weekend cost a mere $757 on Virgin Australia.
Qantas in June had offered a ‘Back Your Team’ sale offering fares from $399 one-way for those Eagles fans confident their team would make the grand final.
The Eagles will face Collingwood, who beat rivals Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, in their first Grand Final appearance since 2015.
Collingwood player Mason Cox humorously noted his parent’s flights from Texas to see him play against Richmond were cheaper than the amount Melbourne fans had to pay to fly to Perth this weekend
Flights shot up to at least $859 one-way on Virgin Australia on Thursday or Friday between the two cities as early as the second quarter of the Eagles-Melbourne preliminary final (stock image)
Melbourne fans were equally at the mercy of the flight carriers this weekend as they paid almost $2000 for return flights to Perth – only to see their side thoroughly beaten at the hands of the Eagles.
Collingwood player Mason Cox noted his parent’s flights from Texas to see him play against Richmond were cheaper than the amount Melbourne fans had to pay to fly to Perth this weekend.
‘Just a reminder Melbourne fans my parents flight from Dallas to Melbourne return was cheaper than Melbourne to Perth this weekend,’ Cox had posted on Twitter.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia for comment.