AFL final sends Melbourne flights and accommodation sky high
A clutch win by the Sydney Swans on the weekend has every die-hard Bloods supporter reeling to get themselves to Melbourne this weekend for the showdown at the MCG.
But with thousands of passionate supporters keen on witnessing a Swans victory, the cost of a Sydney-Melbourne flight has skyrocketed. Flights and accommodation are always expensive around this time of year, but with airline shortages, jet fuel prices soaring, inflation, and the extra public holiday on Thursday to commemorate the Queen’s passing, the price of travel has boomed.
The cheapest flights are with Jetstar for Friday evening (the Saturday morning flights have already sold out) which start from $455. Flights back to Sydney on Sunday start from $534.
Following the Swans’ victory on the weekend, Qantas added an extra points flight, which sold out overnight. The flying kangaroo will be using its Airbus A330s for many routes with the school holidays starting this weekend, leaving the best deal for return flights with Qantas costing over $1250.
Virgin still have flexi fares available on Saturday morning, but they start from $759 one way and the airline’s cheapest flight home on Sunday is nearly $600.
Alternatively, it would actually be cheaper to catch a flight from Sydney to Brisbane on Friday afternoon and then from Brisbane to Melbourne that same evening for a total of $488 (only if you’ve got a bit of time to kill, of course).
Hotel rooms in the Melbourne CBD are also selling fast (and becoming increasingly expensive). Staying in the Novotel Melbourne on Collins street for two adults and two children over Friday and Saturday night is priced at $1,298 on Booking.com as of Tuesday morning. The same deal is listed at $1,216 at the Pullman on Swanston and $2,016 for the Quincy Hotel Melbourne.
Driving demand amongst Swans fans to see the game is the team’s unexpected run to the grand final, with an action-packed season that included Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s 1000th goal and subsequent pitch invasion.
Tickets to the AFL grand final are currently sold out.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
AFL Grand Final Airbus A330s jetstar qantas Sydney Swans virgin australiaLatest News
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