I was doing some research for a family member on some cheap flights through Asia and I came upon some really great deals, especially for those coming either from Asia or through Asia. Tiger Airways ( budget airline of Singapore Airlines) have flights into Darwin for about $120 Au return. These flights are in June ( I was not looking at other times) and in the same month one of Australia's budget airlines is charging $179 from Melbourne to Darwin one way. Therefore a trip from Melbourne RETURN to Singapore flying this way would cost about $480 which is fantastic. I would expect that Darwin to Sydney and other places would be about as cheap or cheaper. Tiger Airways flys into Darwin and Perth so I would expect those in Perth are getting a terrific deal from there.

Food for thought, LizzyF. Makes me want to rush off and buy a ticket - if only I didn't have to work. And I'm not that enamoured of Singapore.

However!! There are places of interest to head of to from there.

And for anyone INBOUND who is travelling in Asia, and hasn't sorted out a connex to Australia - then, wow, good news indeed.

If you check the destinations that Tiger Airways goes to you will find that there are some really great Asian connections at a fraction of the normal prices as well so Singapore could just be a stop off place OR an entry into Malaysia by train which is what I have done and loved it.

If you get to JB airport (sentai) from SG then you can also get extroadinarily low fares with Air Asia.

Agree LizzyF - train and bus in Malaysia is a doddle.

Maybe I should go take another look. I spent four weeks there eight years ago but maybe it's time to return.

Trouble is, there are so many other places I want to see. And like I said before there's that pesky job.

Topping really, I guess.

Lizzy, what is the latest on Tiger opening flights within Australia ? I saw they had registered in Darwin but that did not mean it would be their base necessarily.

Lots of budget airlines around in SEAsia now, and of course it has made the fares on regulars come down also.

Do remember to check the final far with all those add-ons, Jetstar were offering real cheap fares Thailand to Australia but on the dates I was looking by the time the extra charges were added it was close to what SQ were offering.

We get all the fly for almost nothing promotions, ok they are still great deals but those add-ons mount up.

We also have a 'low cost' airline that still gives you the same baggage allowance, free soft drink and snack and they charge a simple flat fare on their routes of B 1,750 ( very very roughly AUD 70 ). We can also call to make a booking, get a seat held for some hours, get a number and then pay over the counter at local 7-11's, so easy!

These airlines are all good news, but it will be very interesting to see what Tiger plan for th Australian domestic flights!

This is an interesting article from about a week ago relating to internal flights within Australia by tiger air

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html