Flighthacker

Emirates: Fares to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for $700 return

Ok, so this is not some $508 Jetstar deal, for for a full-service airline, Emirates‘ rates are just great. For the travel period of 28 June – 30 November 2011, fares from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur are on sale for $695 return and to Singapore for $701 return, including tax. On other booking websites, these fares are available until 30 June.

There are loads of fares available on Emirates’ website and thankfully, their booking system is one of the better ones for finding a bargain fare. So if Melbournites weren’t already spoilt for choice with fares, then scoot over to Emirates’ website – they sure are now.

Melbourne to Singapore on Jetstar, from $508 return

If you’re planning an Asian escape, there’s not many places quite like Singapore to use as a launchpad into the rest of the region. As the hub for Tiger Airways and a key destination for discount airlines like Air Asia and Cebu Pacific, it’s exceptionally well connected – not to mention, simply a pleasant place to visit for a few days.

To celebrate the upping of their frequency between Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Singapore to daily via their A330 fleet, Jetstar have quietly released bargain fares for the travel period of 19 July – 31 August, 2011. Starting at $508 return including tax (even during peak times, ie. weekends), it’s a real steal, only comparable to Air Asia’s ‘big sale’ fares to Kuala Lumpur.

As someone who finds Sydney’s winter to be a little too chilly for comfort, I’m personally very tempted to skip south to Melbourne, then north in pursuit of a strong Singapore Sling (or two). The good news is that if you’re like me and reside outside of  Melbourne, it is possible in some instances to book fares from your nearest airport, to Singapore in a single booking (and presumably have your luggage transited between connecting flights). However, if you’re travelling light and have time to burn, it’s well worth shopping around flights spanning the Sydney (or wherever you are) – Melbourne legs separately, as you may be able to save money by either selecting different flight times, or going with another carrier.

See you in SG!

Need another holiday? Singapore on sale for less than $450 return

Jetstar has dropped the prices for all its routes to Singapore, meaning that you can pick up some unbelievable return fares, including:

• Melbourne return from $386
• Sydney return from $446

All fares are including tax. Departures are in late Feb – March. The full round-up of dates and fares can be found on Adioso.

I predict that we’re going to be seeing a lot more cut-price fares as January & February bring the usual retail lull. So, there’s no rush to spend your Christmas money all at once – by the end of January, there’s certainly going to be more where this came from.

Happy new year, everyone! I wish you all great adventures and more coin to spend on cocktails in 2010.

Melbourne to Singapore for $400 return inclusive. This is madness.

Hi folks, it isn’t often that a fare has a habitual tightwad like me falling out of the flight deck, but Emirates’ $400 Melbourne – Singapore release just can’t be missed. Pair it with cheap flights from Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane and you have a real situation on the east coast.

Our friends at Best Flights have the skinny:

You will fly with Emirates from Melbourne to Singapore.

There is a minimum stay away of 3 days and a maximum stay away of 30 days.

Travel period is 1 October – 23 November. All travel must conclude by the 30th November 2009.

Please note no inbound travel is permitted from Singapore to Melbourne between 01st October-20th October 2009. Full payment is required at time of booking. Sale ends 19th October 2009.

That said, you can book directly with Emirates via their site – http://fly.emirates.com

$400 return to Singapore isn’t going to be a regular feature on the block, so if you’re considering a trip to Singapore, run. For sale chatter, check out OzBargain. Singapore wants YOU!

Update (07/10/10): OzBargain link updated to new thread, including accommodation.

Crave Singapore? On sale ex. Sydney from $416 return

I love Jetstar’s sneaky little sales and this one out of Singapore certainly brings a smile to my dial. Jetstar Singapore have announced their “Crave Sydney” sale, which is just as good for us Australian folks who crave Singapore. Fares to Singapore ex. Sydney are now $534 return including tax, for travel between 20 October – 10 December, 2009.  Sale ends 21 September.

Adioso have all the fares; make sure you select a $344 fare to Singapore and the $190 fare back to Sydney. Check out Jetstar’s Singapore sale page for details, lah!

Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia: You can almost see Perth from there. Now $219 one way with Jetstar.

Perth has had a fabulous run of sale fares these last few months and this Kota Kinabalu sale is no exception to the trend. Jetstar is offering fares via Singapore for an exceptional $219 one-way including tax for departures in 2010, hopefully marking the beginning of Jetstar’s offering of post-Christmas sale fares. I hope.

Why do I love Kota Kinabalu? In all honesty, there is nothing to dislike. Kota Kinabalu in Borneo, Malaysia’s eastern province, is a great value holiday destination, offering shopping, snorkelling and a seemingly endless array of outdoor pursuits. Kota Kinabalu’s most famous attraction, Mount Kinabalu, makes for a challenging, yet highly rewarding climb… Especially considering that Mr. Flighthacker popped the question atop the summit in March!

Sale is on now until 18 September, for travel between 24 February – 20 March and 21 April – 29 June, 2010. Check out Jetstar’s sale page for details and to book.

Like myself, you may find yourself on Mount Kinabalu with a bigger rock than you expected!

Singapore Skyline. Photo Credit: Christopher Chan

Malaysia Airlines has extended their run of great sale fares departing Australia to not only Malaysian cities, but to Asian destinations as well! Sale destinations are:

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Penang, Malaysia (home of my favourite char kway teow!)
• Singapore
• Manila, Philippines
• Bangkok & Phuket, Thailand
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

For example, Sydney to Manila return fares are selling from $725 return including tax, which is awesome as they usually retail for about a grand. Sale is on now until 15th August, for travel for various travel dates extending until June, 2010! Check out Malaysia Airlines sale page for their seemingly endless array of sale fares and to book, then get into them noodles!

Singapore Skyline. Photo Credit: Christopher Chan

Perth has been having a great run these last few weeks and this sale is no exception – hot on the heels of this weekend’s Malaysia Airlines sale, Tiger Airways are offering fares from Perth to Singapore for $148 one way, $303 return including tax! Sale is on now until 29 July, for travel between 1 September to 30 November.

Please note that check-in baggage fees start from an additional $10 per sector.

Check out Tiger’s ‘Real Deals’ sale page for details and to book. Pounce at it!

Planning an SEA holiday? Then snap up some of these insane 5c fares and tempt yourself into visiting some destinations that you otherwise thought you couldn’t afford. Note that in addition to the 5c base fare, fees and taxes start from $25. Still not shabby if you’re planning a side-trip to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore. View sale details and book

Sale is on now until 8 July, travel period varies by destination, but falls between July 09 – Mar 10.

Yes, these Tiger plugs are getting repetitive, however I won’t be the first to tell them to quit with the insane sales.

A bit of Jetstar love today, with some great Perth to Singapore cheapies for the travel period of Oct 20 – 27. Don’t say we ignore our friends on the west-coast!

Perth ? Singapore via Adioso