Download our new app<\/a> and never miss a headline<\/p>\nIf their costs remain similar for the return journey, they will have saved more than $600, and got the bonus of visiting parts of Australia they\u2019d never been.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt better value for money,\u201d Ms Neil said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really like stopping in like quirky Aussie towns and getting to know the local bakery or the feel of the place,\u201d her husband added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing is there\u2019s only two of us \u2026 if you had a family of four, it would have been well over three or four grand (to fly). (Driving) definitely works out for families as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the way home, they are excited to visit the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands.<\/p>\n
But Mr Neil said he feels sad some fans are priced out of going to the grand final due to airfare hikes when they don\u2019t have the option to drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember being a teenager trying to go to a grand final and missing out on going, not because we couldn\u2019t get tickets, but because we couldn\u2019t afford the flights, and my parents didn\u2019t have time to drive us down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This time, he has the time and money to drive, but doesn\u2019t have the tickets.<\/p>\n
Mr and Ms Neil are hoping to get their hands on some before Saturday, but if not, are happy just to be around to soak in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Neils booked flights well in advance to be in Melbourne at the time of the grand final and got lucky that their team made it in, so they avoided paying inflated prices for the flights.<\/p>\n
When news.com.au looked at airfares on Thursday afternoon to fly from Brisbane to Melbourne on Friday \u2013 the day before the grand final \u2013 the cheapest flight was on budget airline Jetstar at $409, with no checked baggage.<\/p>\n
The cheapest seat on a Virgin Australia flight was $481, with no checked baggage, and Qantas\u2019 best offer was $544, with checked baggage included.<\/p>\n
To fly back on Sunday \u2013 the day after the grand final \u2013 the cheapest airfare was priced at $699 on Virgin. Jetstar was charging $867 and Qantas $888.<\/p>\n
Dockers fans charter two planes<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 200 Fremantle Dockers fans are privately chartering two 100-seat Fokker aircraft from Perth to Melbourne, saying it was actually a cheaper option than securing commercial seats last-minute.<\/p>\n
Diehard fan and real estate agent Kathy Collett put out the call to other Dockers supporters about three months ago to see who would be willing to gamble the team would make it through to the grand final.<\/p>\n
Passengers paid $1700 return, and fly in on Friday and head back home on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf that it was a $200 deposit, which was non-refundable, so if the Dockers didn\u2019t get into the grand final, the plane wouldn\u2019t be going and that deposit is forfeited to the charter company,\u201d Ms Collett told Perth radio station 6PR, where her husband Russell Collett is a broadcaster. \u201cIt was only a $200 gamble whether we got in or not, which was great.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of time of writing on Thursday afternoon, the cheapest direct flight from Perth to Melbourne on Friday was $1288 on Virgin and $1580 on Qantas. Jetstar\u2019s non-stop flights had sold out.<\/p>\n
A direct flight back to Perth on Sunday was priced at $1080 on Virgin and\u00a0$1211 on Qantas. Again,\u00a0Jetstar\u2019s non-stop flights were sold out.<\/p>\n
Perth to Melbourne via \u2026 Bali?<\/p>\n
Melbourne is gearing up for a tourism boost this weekend as both teams in the grand final are from interstate.<\/p>\n
Flight Centre Travel Group global leisure CEO James Kavanagh said, \u201cnaturally more fans will be travelling in for the game\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who are waiting to secure a ticket to the game and have yet to book a flight, our advice is to be flexible with your dates,\u201d he said. \u201cFlying home on the Monday instead of the Sunday to beat the home-for-the-work-week rush can potentially save you hundreds in airfares. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past we\u2019ve also seen fans get creative with their routing. If they need to, Freo fans can fly from Perth to Bali and down to Melbourne when direct seats sell out. <\/p>\n
\u201cBrisbane fans can also do things like fly to Avalon as seats into Melbourne fill. Given there\u2019s no Sydney team in the Grand Final, you might also find a cheaper seat at the last minute from Brisbane to Sydney and then on to Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n
If fans find these alternatives too complex to book themselves, Mr Kavanagh suggested speaking to a travel agent to explore options.<\/p>\n
Accommodation bookings in Melbourne have seen a significant increase on last year.<\/p>\n
As of Monday, forward occupancy for grand final day was up 19 percentage points to 94 per cent. according to data from analytics company CoStar.<\/p>\n
Forward occupancy for the day before grand final day, which is also a public holiday in Victoria, was up 18 percentage points to 93 per cent.<\/p>\n
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said Brisbane and Fremantle supporters were filling up Melbourne\u2019s hotels, bars and restaurants. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know Melburnians will also be taking the opportunity of a long weekend to head out and explore the state, providing a boost for regional operators,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two footy fans from Brisbane astounded by the cost of flights to get to Melbourne for the 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