Book Multi-City Flights to Australia
Explore Australia your way with flexible multi-city flight options
Book multi-stop flights to Australia
Planning to explore more than one Australian city? Multi-city flights let you visit Sydney's harbour, Melbourne's laneways and Cairns' rainforests without backtracking or booking separate tickets.
At Alternative Airlines, we make multi-city bookings straightforward. Search 600+ airlines, compare routes in one place, and pay your way with over 40 payment options including Afterpay, Klarna and Affirm!
What are multi-city flights?
Multi-city flights (also called multi-stop flights) let you fly into one city and out of another, visiting several destinations on a single ticket.
Instead of flying London to Sydney to London, you could book London to Sydney to Melbourne to Brisbane to London as one journey. You stay in each city as long as you want before catching your next flight.
How they differ from standard tickets 🤔
- Round-trip tickets take you to one destination and back. Multi-city tickets connect multiple destinations in sequence, giving you the freedom to explore without retracing your steps.
- Open jaw flights are a type of multi-city booking where you fly into one city and depart from another. For example, flying into Sydney and departing from Perth, with ground transport between cities.
- Stop-overs let you pause your journey for days or weeks in a connection city. Many airlines serving Australia offer free or low-cost stopover programs in Singapore, Dubai or Doha.
Why choose multi-city flights to Australia?
Save time and money 🤑
- Multi-city tickets typically cost 10-15% less than booking separate flights. You get integrated baggage allowances across all legs and one quick booking process instead of juggling multiple confirmations.
- Book London to Singapore to Sydney to Melbourne to London in one go, rather than arranging four separate tickets with different airlines.
See more of Australia 🦘
- The distance from Sydney to Perth equals London to New York. Multi-city flights let you experience Australia's landscapes without spending days on the road.
- Combine Sydney's beaches with Melbourne's culture, add Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef, or swing through Tasmania for wilderness. Each city offers something completely different.
Better for complex trips ✈️
- Business travellers meeting clients across multiple Australian cities save hours with multi-city bookings. Families visiting relatives in different states avoid the hassle of coordinating separate travel plans.
- Remote workers can design extended stays in Melbourne's cafes, then shift to Brisbane's subtropical weather, all on one ticket.
Popular multi-city itineraries to Australia
The classic via Singapore ✨
- London to Singapore to Sydney to Melbourne to London
- Stop in Singapore for 2-3 days on your way to Australia. Explore Gardens by the Bay and hawker markets before continuing to Sydney's harbour, then Melbourne's culture. Singapore Airlines offers free city tours for longer layovers.
- Best time: September to November or March to May for ideal Australian weather.
The Middle East stopover ✨
- London to Dubai to Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne to Dubai to London
- Emirates' free Dubai Connect program gives you accommodation and meals for layovers 8-26 hours. Start in tropical Brisbane, work south to Sydney and Melbourne, with Dubai experiences on both legs.
- Best time: April to October to avoid Australian summer crowds and heat.
The East Coast explorer ✨
- London to Doha to Cairns to Brisbane to Sydney to Doha to London
- Fly Qatar Airways with a stopover in Doha. Enter Australia at Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef, move south through Brisbane to Sydney, experiencing the full East Coast.
- Best time: May to October for best Great Barrier Reef conditions.
The cross-country adventure ✨
- London to Singapore to Perth to Adelaide to Melbourne to Sydney to Singapore to London
- See Australia coast-to-coast. Start in isolated Perth, travel through wine regions to Adelaide, experience Melbourne's culture, finish in Sydney. Two Singapore stopovers let you explore the city coming and going.
- Best time: September to November for spring weather across all regions.
The working holiday route ✨
- London to Bangkok to Sydney to Melbourne to Brisbane to Byron Bay to Bangkok to London
- Popular with digital nomads and working holiday visa holders. Spend extended time in each city (4+ weeks) with a budget-friendly Bangkok stopover. Thai Airways and connecting carriers make this route affordable.
- Best time: March to May or September to November for comfortable temperatures.
Airlines flying multi-city routes to Australia
How to book multi-city flights to Australia
Choose your cities 📍
- Decide which Australian cities you want to visit and in what order. Consider the distances involved and what you want to see.
- Australia's size means you'll likely need flights between major stops. The Sydney to Perth drive takes 40+ hours.
Select your dates 📆
- Add how long you want in each city. Most multi-city bookings let you choose different dates for each leg.
- Be flexible if you can. Flying Tuesday or Wednesday often saves 15-20% compared to weekend departures.
Search on Alternative Airlines 🔎
- Our multi-city search tool compares 600+ airlines instantly. Enter your departure city, all your Australian stops and your return destination.
- You can typically book up to 6 legs on one ticket, though complex itineraries may need splitting into separate bookings.
Compare your options ✈️
- Look at total journey time, layover lengths and which airlines you're flying. Check if stopovers in Dubai, Singapore or Doha make sense for your trip.
Choose your payment method 💸
- With 40+ payment options, you can pay in 160+ currencies.
- Split the cost with Buy Now Pay Later options, pay in full with cards, pay with PayPal or you can even pay with Bitcoin.
- We know flights to Australia aren't cheap. Our Buy Now Pay Later options let you secure your booking today and spread payments over time.
Get the best deals on multi-city flights
Book well in advance 📆
- International flights to Australia work best when booked 3-6 months ahead. Domestic Australian connections show better pricing 1-3 months out.
- Peak season (December to February) needs even longer lead times, ideally 6+ months for business class or premium economy.
Be flexible with dates 💡
- Shifting your trip by a few days can save hundreds. Mid-week departures cost 15-20% less than weekends. Shoulder seasons (March-May and September-November) offer the best weather-price balance.
- Avoid Australian school holidays if you can, particularly mid-December to late January.
Consider alternative airports 🛫
- Flying into Melbourne instead of Sydney, or starting in Brisbane rather than Cairns, might unlock better fares. Perth offers Australia's only direct route from London at 17 hours but often costs more.
- Check nearby departure airports in the UK too. Manchester or Edinburgh sometimes offer better deals than Heathrow.
Types of multi-city flight options
Traditional multi-stop bookings ✨
- This is the standard approach. You book flights from your home city to multiple Australian destinations and back, all on one ticket. Each leg has set dates and times.
- Example: London to Dubai to Sydney (3 days) to Melbourne (4 days) to Brisbane (3 days) to Singapore to London
Open jaw flights 🚗
- Fly into one city and out of another, covering the distance between them by ground transport, rail or domestic flights booked separately.
- Example: Fly London to Sydney, explore down the coast by car or bus, then fly home from Melbourne. This works well if you want road trip flexibility between cities.
Extended layovers 📆
- You can deliberately book longer connection times to explore hub cities. A 12-hour Dubai layover becomes a chance to visit the Burj Khalifa and souks before continuing to Australia. Just make sure your travel visa situation allows you to leave the airport.
Things to consider for your Australia trip
Visa requirements 💳
- UK and EU citizens get free eVisitor visas, usually processed within 24 hours. Valid for 12 months with multiple 3-month visits allowed.
- US and Canadian travellers need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).
- Apply at least a week before departure to avoid last-minute stress.
Connection times 🕑
- Allow at least 90 minutes for domestic Australian connections, and 2-3 hours for international arrivals connecting to domestic flights. Sydney requires longer as you'll need to transfer between terminals.
Baggage policies 🧳
- Your international flight determines your baggage allowance for the whole journey.
- Qantas offers 30kg for international flights and Virgin Australia provides 23-30kg depending on route.
- Budget carriers like Jetstar charge extra for checked bags.
Travel insurance 🛡️
- Get comprehensive coverage costing 4-10% of your total trip value. Look for policies covering trip cancellation, medical emergencies and baggage loss across multiple destinations.
- We offer Cancellation Protection should you need to cancel your trip for emergency reasons.
Ground transport between cities 🚌
- Sometimes driving or taking the train makes more sense than flying between Australian cities. The Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide offers stunning coastal views you'd miss from the air.
- Car hire with fuel costs around $200-300 AUD for Sydney-Melbourne.
- Greyhound buses run the same route for $50-80 AUD in about 12 hours.
Book your multi-city Australia flights with Alternative Airlines
Australia's too big to see in one trip, but multi-city flights get you close. Whether you're chasing perfect beaches, world-class wine or outback adventure, we'll help you book the route that works.
With 600+ airlines, 160+ currencies and 40+ ways to pay, booking complex trips gets simpler.
Compare routes across carriers, split your payment with plans from Afterpay, Clearpay, Klarna, Affirm, Slice Pay and many more, then get everything confirmed in one go.
Ready to explore beyond Sydney? Search multi-city flights now and start planning your Australian adventure.
Frequently asked questions
Is it more expensive to book multi-city flights?
Multi-city tickets typically cost 10-15% more than simple round-trips but significantly less than booking separate one-way flights for each leg. The savings increase with more complex itineraries.
How far in advance should I book?
For international flights to Australia, book 3-6 months ahead for best pricing. Peak season (December-February) needs 6+ months. Domestic Australian flights work best 1-3 months in advance.
Can I fly into one city and depart from another?
Absolutely. This is called an open jaw flight. You might fly into Sydney and depart from Perth, covering the distance between them however you choose.
Can I mix airlines on multi-city bookings?
Yes, but it depends on the airlines we ticket. Booking through Alternative Airlines gives you access to 600+ airlines. Some combinations work on single tickets but others might need separate bookings.
What happens if I miss a connection?
If all flights are on one ticket and the delay was the airline's fault, they'll rebook you on the next available flight at no cost. If flights are on separate tickets, you're responsible for rebooking the missed flight yourself. Find out more about what to do if you miss a connecting flight.
Can I change dates on multi-city tickets?
Usually yes, but fees and fare differences apply. Some tickets offer more flexibility than others. Qantas Explorer provides unlimited date changes with fees. Budget fares often have strict change penalties.
Are there restrictions on multi-city routes?
Our booking system handles 5-6 legs per ticket. Very complex itineraries might need splitting into multiple bookings. Some airlines restrict certain route combinations.
Can I earn frequent flyer points?
Yes, multi-city bookings earn points just like regular tickets. Make sure you're credited to the right program, especially when flying multiple airlines!