Open return from UK to Australia

nicmic

Hi,

I'm going out to work in Australia for six months. Will prob return mid-term to mow the lawn etc, unless my son offers to do it for me (fat chance:eek: ) then book another open return. On the other hand I may just use the return portion at the end of my stay.

Does anyone have any experience of booking open-ended returns to Oz? Someone suggested a round-the-world ticket would do the trick - could be useful as I could use it to visit relatives in the USA.

TIA,
Nick.

HXDave

open dated tickets are difficult to come across these days, and where you can get them, can work out very very expensive.

best option cost wise is to book a ticket with either a 6 or 12 month validity (depending on when you are likely to use it) with a fixed return date that can be changed for a fee. depending on where you want to go un Aus. Emirates & Etihad are good at offering the ones with the option of changing the return date either FOC or for a small fee (subject to availability in the same class). Changing the routing however can be more difficult, and more costly.

I take it that you have got all appropriate paperwork & visa's.

Regards

HXDave

Doshwaster

Tickets from the UK to Oz are usually very flexible as the airlines know that people tend to go downunder for long trips and may not know exactly when they are going to return. They do need you to specify a return date within a year (and Oz immigration need to know this too) but you can usually change the date for free.

Skoorb

It might also be worthwhile speaking to travel agents that cater for students and young people on gap years / career breaks, they do this sort of thing as normal. Though do check if if it's cheaper to just get a 'normal' flight and change the return date later, as everyone is suggesting.

STA Travel can get you Quantas tickets with dates that can be changed before and after departure for example.

Also, Australia's "Working Holiday Visa" might be better than a normal tourist one if you're going for a while. More details are on the Dept for Immigrations website, or on BUNAC's


HTH!