Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Which airport in Australia?

My son is graduating from college and wants to go to either Sidney or Melbourne, Australia this summer before he go to medical school.

My question is: which airport that is best to fly from west coast? I put in Australia for air tickets and came up with so many airports in Australia that I cant even find Sydney or Melbourne on the list.

I need to start watching the price for the best deal and help research/plan this trip for my son and his college buddies.

Thanks!

From USA(?) look for fares to Sydney, Melbourne and possibly (with a bit more hassle) Auckland (can be via Oz with stopover = free or nearly free trip to NZ).

LAX to SYD has the most competition by far. SFO and MEL are normally common-rated (same fare +/- small differences in taxes).

from the US, Sydney and Melbourne are the only airports that that you can fly to directly. Why make life difficult for yourself? Just do 1 search for flights to SYD and another for flights to MEL. I'm surprised that you can't find those airports on this list - there are far fewer airports in Australia than in the US - you can't be looking very hard!!

Think of it the other way round, would you ever search for a flight from Melbourne to 'USA' you could end up on completely the other side of the continent!

from the US, Sydney and Melbourne are the only airports that that you can fly to directly. Why make life difficult for yourself? Just do 1 search for flights to SYD and another for flights to MEL. I'm surprised that you can't find those airports on this list - there are far fewer airports in Australia than in the US - you can't be looking very hard!!

Think of it the other way round, would you ever search for a flight from Melbourne to 'USA' you could end up on completely the other side of the continent!

You can also fly to Brisbane from the LAX on Qantas. V Australia has also announced (but not yet commenced) non-stop service to Brisbane.

(Technically the once-weekly Continental Micronesia flight from Guam to Cairns is also a direct flight from the U.S. to Australia, but I don't think that's much help here.)

Most (all?) travel search engines will have Sydney (not Sidney) and Melbourne in them. Considering all the international hub cities in Australia have only one international airport it can't be that hard to find Sydney/Melbourne on the list.

I think you might need to try a little harder.

There is alot of new competition on this route with the new V Australia, and Delta soon to start so prices will be under pressure.

We are going to Oz for the first time in June/July. Here's my comments based on a lot of research and zero experience:

- If your son is graduating this summer, realize that it's winter Down Under.

- MEL is more southerly than SYD so their winter weather is cooler. Go north to Cairns or into the Outback and weather will be more mild.

- Do you plan to visit only one city, or travel around the country? Australia is the size of the continental US and as diverse...desert, rainforest, cities, ranches, reefs, skiing, palm trees, camping, fine dining...all of these are options. Decide what you want to do and that will narrow down the places to go.

- Because of increased airline competition and capacity, Qantas has some great fares from LAX to either MEL or SYD. US$ 299 each way plus about $150 in taxes and fees. That is simply unprecedinted; you need to purchase tickets in the next few days. Check other airlines too. You can get from PHX-LAX for $50 or less each way (or drive).

- Fares within Australia are not too bad considering the distance. Virgin Blue, Jetstar, and Tiger are discount airlines that fly domestically.

Hope this helps!

It might sound like a stupid comment, but bear in mind it'll be winter in Australia, and Melbourne winter can be quite miserable. He might be better off going up north.

I have found Melbourne easier to get through in the morning rush when coming from the USA. I've not flown through BNE international, but Sydney can be a nightmare with lots of flights arriving early morning.

I guess it could depend what you want to do or see. If your son plans to see Sydney only, it makes sense to just fly there. If there is onward travel then the choices start poping up.

I've not flown through BNE international, but Sydney can be a nightmare with lots of flights arriving early morning.

BNE can be pretty bad too, unfortunately - especially the quarantine queue.

I have found Melbourne easier to get through in the morning rush when coming from the USA. I've not flown through BNE international, but Sydney can be a nightmare with lots of flights arriving early morning. Use the Hawaiian service from HNL to SYD and you arrive in the early evening. SYD is quieter then, you shoot through customs much more quickly.