SkyTeam member China Eastern Airlines currently sells heavily discounted tickets from Milan to Sydney, with prices going as low as €564. Two changes of planes in Xi’an and Shanghai are necessary to get the lowest fare. Departures are available in late February and March 2025.
Between flights, you need to take a Chinese domestic flight to get the cheapest ticket. That means you need to clear Chinese immigration twice – one time each way. Luckily, visa-free-entry to the country is currently possible for most European citizens. And even if your passport doesn’t allow visa-free travel, you can still apply for visa-free transit.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates. There you can check what OTAs have to offer, or let the site forward you to China Eastern’s website, where flights are €30 more expensive.
Flights between Milan and Xi’An are operated by China Eastern using an Airbus A330 with a 2-4-2 configuration in economy class. Following that flight, you will likely fly to Shanghai on one of China Eastern’s Airbus A320 family with a 3-3 configuration. Finally, for the onward journey to Australia, an Airbus A350-900 will get you to Sydney on a 3-3-3 seating configuration.
Most Europeans need a visa to enter Australia. You can apply for the visa online. It’s best to apply at least 1 month before travelling. The visa is free.
Until December 2025, citizens of 33 countries in Europe may enter China for 30 days without applying for a visa, including Italy. Even if your home country is not on that list, you can apply for visa-free transit.
Search & Book
The fare rules don’t offer a travel period, sales period or minimum stay. Departures are available in late February and March 2025.
Google Flights will help you find additional flight dates. The site also hints at cheap tickets to Melbourne & Auckland, but price usually jump by at least €100 when selecting dates. Since booking on China Eastern’s website is prone to errors and the airlines isn’t exactly famous for top-notch communication, booking via an online travel agency isn’t a bad choice.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
China Eastern issues all flight segments in booking class Z. A trip to Sydney earns SkyTeam members the following miles and points:
- 6,462 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 5,386 RDM + 1,078 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 5,386 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 5,386 Award Miles + 120 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Customize Calculation
Destination
Information & Tips for Australia
Australia is known for natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and the beaches of Sydney, along with vibrant cities like Melbourne and Sydney. The local currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The price level can be high, especially in major cities, but there are budget options available for food and accommodation. The weather varies by region—tropical in the north, temperate in the south, with hot summers and mild winters. The best times to visit are typically during spring and autumn for mild temperatures.
Australia’s transport infrastructure is generally good, with well-developed road networks, public transit systems, and domestic flights. In major cities, public transport options like buses, trams, and trains are widely available, though some areas may require a car for convenience. Between cities, domestic flights are common and fast, but bus and train travel can be slow and less frequent for long distances. Driving is a popular option for exploring regions outside cities, with roads in good condition but long travel times due to the country’s vast size.
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Information & Tips for Sydney
Sydney is known for its iconic sights like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach. The currency used is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The city can be expensive, particularly for accommodation and dining in tourist areas, though there are more affordable options in less central locations. Sydney has a temperate climate, with mild winters and warm, humid summers, making it a year-round destination. The best time to visit is typically during the spring and autumn months for pleasant temperatures.
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The Best eSIM Plans for Australia 🇦🇺 Compared
→ All Dealz for Sydney
Comments (6)
I can’t find flights on these dates anywhere near that price. Has it finished already ?
Hi Nigel! The fare is still available. I switched the links on the screenshot and “Show Deal” button.
Yesterday, this deal was for premium economy flights. I could only find economy flights at the price you promoted. Today, it’s an economy class fare. What happened ?
Hi Nigel, I fear you might be mistaken: This has always been an economy class fare.
China Eastern Z doesn’t earn on Delta! Wheretocredit hoodwinked my last month.
True, we had noticed the change for booking class P last month but didn’t see that booking class Z was also affected. Thanks for pointing it out, we’ve fixed the mistake now