China Southern Airlines has issued a marvelous fare for flights from Western Europe to Australia. The airline takes you and your checked bags up to 23kg each all the way to Australia for just €610. Both Melbourne and Sydney are possible destinations.
The routing requires you to take a Chinese domestic flight between Beijing and Guangzhou on either the in- or outbound flight (sometimes both). Alternatively, you can also have a long layover in Guangzhou. Given that many European Citizens can visit China visa-free, this shouldn’t be much of an obstacle.
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. You can proceed from there to China Southern’s website and also check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €30 cheaper.
All flights from and to Beijing take place on an Airbus A350 with 3-3-3 seating in economy class. That applies to both the domestic and international segments. Flights from Guangzhou are also operated by the Airbus A350. Melbourne receives Boeing 787 service from Guangzhou. Nonstop flights from Amsterdam to Guangzhou, sparing you the detour via Beijing, are Airbus A350 services, too.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, these tickets are on sale until April 15, 2024 for departures before September 30, 2024. A blockout occurs during the Summer holidays in July and August. You need to stay at least six days in Australia to get the lowest fare. A maximum stay of three months applies.
Google Flights will help you find additional flight dates. It also reveals that trips with short layover or sans the Chinese domestic segment are at least €200 more expensive. We recommend purchasing tickets on China Southern’s website, although Skyscanner offers cheaper options.
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.
Mileage
China Southern issues tickets for all flight segments in booking class N. A trip via Beijing and Guangzhou to Melbourne earns the following miles and points:
- 7,664 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 5,354 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- 5,354 Award Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 5,354 RDM + 1,070 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
Destination
Information & Tips for Australia
Australia, also know as ‘Down Under’, is an absolute dream destination because of its distance to Europe and its beautiful countryside. But because it’s so far away, the flights are costly. Nevertheless, there is always Dealz for less than 1.000€.
Best Time to Visit
Australia is a vast country with different climate zones. Summers (November to February) are hot and mostly dry, winters (June to September) are relatively mild.
Entry & Visa
Most European citizens require an eVisa which has to be issued before your arrival. You can apply online, and the process will be free of charge.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as RedteaGO and Airalo. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Australia 🇦🇺 Compared
→ All Dealz for Australia
Information & Tips for Sydney
Sydney is Australia’s most populous city and offers a lot to see for tourists. The metropolis on the east coast of the country is also Australia’s largest transport and trade center and therefore relatively easy to reach.
Flights to Australia usually start at around €1,000 for Economy Class tickets. However, we regularly show you deals with prices far below € 1,000.
From the airport to the city
The airport is 9km from the city center and easily accessible by train, bus, taxi, and ferry. A ride by train costs about 10€, a taxi ride about 25€.
→ All Dealz for Sydney
Information & Tips for Melbourne
Although Melbourne is not the capital of Australia, the metropolis with a population of 4.4 million is in constant competition with Sydney for becoming the cultural capital of the country.
From the airport to the city
Depending on the traffic, the journey by Skybus or taxi takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Airport busses cost around 9€, a taxi ride between 35€ – 42€, Uber is slightly cheaper.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are the most suitable periods for tourism thanks to moderate temperatures and right weather conditions.
→ All Dealz for Melbourne
Cover Picture: © jovannig - stock.adobe.com