Qantas launches Back Your Team fares for AFL Grand Final fans

Qantas has launched an early-bird sale for AFL fans travelling to Melbourne for the Grand Final. And this year’s jaw-dropping offer is a definite win-win for those who love the game.

Exclusive: For footy fans, it’s a win-win situation.

A cheap flight to Melbourne for the AFL grand final, booked months in advance.

Then, if your team doesn’t make it, you can use the fare as credit towards another flight.

Qantas is launching a four-day Back Your Team early-bird sale for AFL fans in Sydney to travel to Melbourne over the Grand Final weekend in late September.

In news that will no doubt thrill fans, the $99 standard change fee will be waived if a passenger’s team doesn’t make it to the September 28 grand final and they have to cancel their trip to Melbourne.

Qantas is launching a four-day Back Your Team early-bird sale for AFL fans.

The fares are available for footy fans for the next four days or until sold out from $169 one-way.

Airfares to Melbourne for the Grand Final have skyrocketed in previous years, a price rise that the airlines put down to supply and demand.

For last year’s final between the West Coast Eagles and Collingwood at the MCG, fans were charged up to $1430 by Qantas for a one-way fare.

At the time, a Qantas spokeswoman said the fares were determined by “a customer’s origin and final destination”.

Airfares to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final have skyrocketed in previous years. Picture: Jason Edwards

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David said this year’s ‘Back Your Team’ sale meant Sydney Swans’ and Greater Western Sydney Giants’ fans could lock in a cheap fare to Melbourne for the Grand Final but if results don’t go their way they can travel at another time or go somewhere else.

“Because fans do not know if their teams will make it until a week before, and it’s the busy school holiday period, there are generally only a small number of seats left one week out from the big game and they are often the more expensive fares,” he said.

The West Coast Eagles after their 2018 AFL Premiership Grand Final win. Picture: Mark Stewart

“By booking well in advance, fans can enjoy avoid a last-minute dash to purchase flights and enjoy the season knowing they have locked in a great fare to Melbourne with the option to change their flight if their team if their confidence is misplaced.

“Footy fans should get in quick as we expect these special fares to sell out quickly.”

If the four-day sale proves a hit, Qantas will look at rolling out a similar sale for NRL fans.

The NRL Grand Final will be held in Sydney on Sunday, October 6.

Footy fans can buy their fares in advance via the dedicated sale website qantas.com/footyfinals. Customers should look for the specially marked ‘Back Your Team’

fares when booking. Fares are on sale until 11.59pm AEDT on Monday, March 25 (unless sold out prior).