Dockers final hopes send fares soaring
Dockers fans, anticipating the club's first grand final appearance, have snapped up every cheap airline seat to Melbourne from Thursday week, with the cost of getting to the big game more than doubling on some carriers.
After the club's win over Geelong on September 7, the cheapest seat was $409 on Tigerair but is now $589 for the same flight.
All cheap seats on Qantas have been sold for Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27 with the best one-way fare available at $1113.
Full flight details, including via Sydney |
Virgin Australia economy fares are sold out. Even cheap seats via Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney have been snapped up. Business class fares start at about $1774 one-way.
The airlines are closely monitoring demand and extra flights will almost certainly be added if Fremantle beats Sydney in the preliminary final this Saturday. Industry sources suggest Qantas and Virgin Australia will be quick to put on special flights. Qantas has added capacity for Swans fans heading to Perth for the preliminary final.
Return flights from Melbourne on Sunday, September 29, and Monday, September 30, start at $719 with Tigerair and $1058 with Qantas. Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to Perth from Melbourne are sold out on September 29.
Only two months ago, fares were as low as $200 one-way.
The cheapest option is still a rail-bus combination via Adelaide but it is a long journey.
Rail costs $277 one-way for a sit-up seat on the Indian Pacific leaving Perth at 11.25am on Wednesday, September 25.
The train arrives in Adelaide at 7.20am on the Friday but connecting bus services on either Firefly ($60) or Greyhound ($70) do not leave until 8.15pm and arrive in Melbourne about 6.35am on grand final morning.
