Open return flights?

[beyond the blue]

Early days on this yet so just wondering if anyone as done this recently or any advise. Me and the wife will be visiting my son in Brisbane early in the new year. We will fly out together but she will be returning 3 weeks later. I want to stay out there for a further month or so with no fixed date for my return (retired, free as a bird). I believe open ended flights could be expensive and have read on tinternet that it might be cheaper to book a return flight with a distant return date and then pay the airline a surcharge to bring it forward. I don't know anyone that as done this. Anyone on here???

 

[boyfalldown]

Would I be correct in assuming you’ll be traveling on an ETA to Australia? So you’ll have up to a 3 month stay.

You’d be best off speaking to a flesh and blood travel agent, most places don’t list the best deals for this online.

Another consideration may be to buy a one way ticket and then the return when you’re here. I don’t know if that’s cheaper or not, but entry to Australia does not require a return ticket

 

[beyond the blue]

Would I be correct in assuming you’ll be traveling on an ETA to Australia? So you’ll have up to a 3 month stay.

You’d be best off speaking to a flesh and blood travel agent, most places don’t list the best deals for this online.

Another consideration may be to buy a one way ticket and then the return when you’re here. I don’t know if that’s cheaper or not, but entry to Australia does not require a return ticket

Yes ETA and I'll take your advice, it's a minefield trying to do it online.

 

[MartynK]

As above, but one way tickets tend to be expensive. I'd book a flight around the time you want to return, with a view to changing it if necessary, but shop around for the best deal. Some airlines charge a lot more for this than others.

 

[Mr Bump]

appreciate you want to have a free rein but why not just pick a nice long date and a cheep flight?

 

[beyond the blue]

appreciate you want to have a free rein but why not just pick a nice long date and a cheep flight?

Potential medical problems Paul. I've just booked with Etihad with a return date at the end of February with the option of changing it for £140 plus any increase in the fare cost. I didn't think that was bad.