Flights between Sydney and Melbourne drop by $1,000 in time for July school holidays as airlines lure customers back after COVID-19 – but you will have to be quick
- Sydney to Melbourne soared more than $1,000 return during lockdown
- But fares will be cheaper by July – with one-way tickets costing $79-$160
- Airlines are advertising frequent flights but there will be cuts based on demand
- Experts say buy while prices are low – and get moved to the next available flight
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Flights between Sydney and Melbourne are set to plummet in time for the July school holidays as airlines lure customers back after the COVID-19 crisis.
Over the past two months, tickets between the two cities have surged to as much as $1,600 for a one-way ticket after Australian airlines jacked prices to make up for lost revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
But reasonable fares are on the horizon as airlines adjust their prices to reflect eased travel restrictions.
Domestic travel is set to become more affordable by July after months of exorbitant airfares induced by the coronavirus crisis
And with the border between NSW and VIC the only one open, the price drop is great news for residents seeking an interstate trip during the school holidays.
In July, Virgin is selling one-way tickets between Sydney and Melbourne from $165 while Qantas flights start at $160 and Jetstar at $79.
While Qantas and Virgin are currently advertising frequent flights between Sydney and Melbourne for that period, their schedules will reduce in coming days to reflect demand.
However, any tickets purchased will be honoured and passengers will be shifted onto the next available flight.
Industry experts say if you can be flexible with dates- it is an ideal time to snatch up an cheaper airfare.
Neil Hansford of Strategic Aviation Solutions said he believes Australia will be coming back alive by July.
‘By that time business activity will have picked up and there will be this backlog [of demand],’ he told Traveller.com.au.
Mr Hansford said while future flight schedules may change, the price paid for tickets will be locked in.
‘If they sell you a ticket at $150 and it’s ticketed, that’s what you’re going to pay.
‘If you book it on a credit card and the flight is cancelled and you’re not provided an alternative you go back to your credit card issuer and say the service hasn’t been provided – it’s a straight charge back. To me there’s no risk in it so long as you’re booking it on a credit card.’
Flights between Sydney and Melbourne are currently limited to a few a day, with return flights exceeding $1,000.
For example, Virgin Australia and Qantas each have one single-way flight from Sydney to Melbourne this Friday and ticket costs $799 and $922 respectively.
The only available seats from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday are in Virgin Australia’s business class, and will leave you $1,199 out of pocket.
Many flights remain unavailable with no flight options between the two cities over this weekend, while a Virgin return flight from Sydney to Melbourne next weekend costs $1,259.
Prices remain expensive through June- sitting at almost $500 for one-way flights before plummeting in July.
Industry experts say the best way to snatch up a low cost return airfare between Sydney and Melbourne is to purchase tickets in advance and be flexible with your dates