Talk about favouritism. Qantas is offering Americans exceptionally cheap flights to Australia but it seems Aussies do not get the same cheap flights to the USA:

Qantas offers Americans $859 return flightsJanuary 12, 2010 - 10:59AM
A new $1 million marketing campaign has been launched to try to lure more visitors from the US to NSW.

The state government and Qantas are spending the cash trying to further exploit a market which in 2009 provided the fourth highest number of visitors to NSW.

Qantas is promoting round-trip flights from LA and San Francisco for $US798 ($A859) and from New York for $US998 ($A1074).

Comparatively, Qantas sale fares from Australia to Los Angeles return started from $A1432, according to the airline's website.


Tourism minister Jodi McKay said the state government was promoting the region this week through G'Day USA, an annual festival which this year includes events in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Diego and Palm Springs to promote Australian film, wine, food, tourism, trade and fashion.

Celebrity chef Neil Perry is part of the campaign, promoting Sydney restaurants in the US.

"Neil is playing an important role in this year's G'Day USA event by showcasing Sydney's global appeal as a superb dining destination and promoting the excellent fresh produce and great wines available in NSW," Ms McKay said.

The minister said there were 2.7 million international overnight visitors to NSW in the year to September 2009, of which 228,000 were from the US.

AAP

I was telling my DD about this today when I was skyping her. I told her the fares were
$ 399.00 return and her eyes lit up. Then when I went back to the Qantas site I realised my mistake and it was $ 399.00 each way. Interesting that it's the same price from LA to Australia as it it from LA to New Zealand.

I just paid US $850 each for my husband and I to fly from Perth to Singapore and return on SIA. I then booked the same flight for my brother, same airline, same day, same everything, except in reverse, from Singapore to Perth and return. His ticket was US $610. It makes me crazy, but I'm told it has something to do with high Australian taxes.

Why didn't you use Air Asia Melnq8 or doesn't it go to Perth? I didn't think that the taxes were that great here but I must say that they seem to change every so often.

Best as I can tell Air Asia doesn't fly from Perth to Singapore. I checked a few other carriers, but there were some issues...we're continuing on to the US via Narita and SFO and connections were really, really bad among other things. It's a long enough trip as it is! I don't mind paying more for SIA so much, but a US $240 price difference for originating in Perth rather than Singapore bothers me.

note that the travel dates are 1 May - 8 June 2010 and 24 jul - 21 sept. A big range but the cheap fares are not valid for travel Feb-> April

No Air Asia does not fly direct from Perth to Singapore but does fly to Singapore via KL which is less than one hour flight and costs about $15 when on special which is most of the time.
I just checked the cost and its $480 return in a non special period. I have flown with them and will be again in May. Its a nice airline and efficient.

OOOPs click submit too quick: I am flying Air Asia to KL in May at a cost of $143 return Melbourne - KL then $66 return KL - Abu Dhabi then $390 Return Abu Dhabi Istanbul which makes that flight the cheapest flight to Europe ever I think.

Sounds like a great deal ivenotbeeneverywhere.

"I'm told it has something to do with high Australian taxes."

That sounds suspiciously like an excuse invented on the fly - I can't think what Australian taxes would account for the discrepancy. Such imbalances are common and determined largely in response to market conditions.

Anyone have a theory about 8 June-24 July not being part of the sale? (May be a busier time coming from the US due to school vacations, not sure.) I thought I remembered prices like this throughout June/July last year, and was tentatively planning my trip for about July 01...but it might be worth it for me to wait until the end of July.

Amy, I think that's the US high season. If you can wait, I'd do that. I've often found with airfares that a week or two makes a huge difference in price.

We purchased last year at end of may SFO-Syd and return 459+tax was 625.00 all in. Of course that was then this is now. We are looking to return later this year and do the west and are now watching fares.

have travelled frequently to US in June/July from Oz and it's always been high season which is the reason why it's excluded from the air fare specials.