Wild way Taylor Swift fans plan on getting to her Australian shows

Taylor Swift is a big deal – so much so fans are willing to go to “extreme” lengths to see the mega star ahead of her Aussie concert shows.

Tay Tay fever is running hot — and so are the prices of flights and hotels around her upcoming Melbourne and Sydney shows.

The mega star will kick-off the Australian leg of her Eras Tour with three concerts in Melbourne from this Friday and then four in Sydney from February 23 — and fans who haven’t yet secured flights and accommodation better act swiftly because prices are surging.

“This is the biggest show in the world right now and it’s certainly having an impact on travel,” Flight Centre Travel Group global leisure CEO James Kavanagh told news.com.au.

“Commercial flights and accommodation are at a premium and we’ve even seen some travellers opting for a private charter flight to get to the concert as a result.”

Taylor Swift fans are opting to charter flights ahead of her Australian concerts. Picture: Instagram/Avmin

That’s right, fans are considering private jets as commercial flights peak with Flight Centre revealing one-way routes from Brisbane to Melbourne will set you back about $569 for the February 16 show. For comparison, the following week post concert that same route is $118.

“While it may seem extreme, we’re not surprised to see people opting for private flights through our charter aircraft company AVMIN and we’ve had bookings for both Taylor’s Sydney and Melbourne shows,” Mr Kavanagh said.

According to Flight Centre, a charter flight can actually end up costing less than footing the bill for inflated flights and accommodation to Taylor’s shows.

“The concerts present a unique situation because unlike most artists who will play all major cities, she’s only playing two, so fans who aren’t Melbourne or Sydney based must factor travel into their plans.”

According to Visit Victoria, more than 85 per cent of Melbourne CBD hotels and motels are booked for this Friday and Saturdays concerts with bookings continuing to build.

Crowds are expected to reach 260,000 over three nights, with fans travelling from across Australia and New Zealand to see the pop star perform.

Chartering flights

Taylor Swift’s Era Tour in Australia kicks off in Melbourne on February 16. Picture: Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP

Mr Kavanagh said Swifties will do whatever it takes to get to the concert and a day trip on a charter flight can actually end up costing them less than footing the bill for inflated flights and accommodation.

“Depending on the origin and destination, it can cost between $12,000 and $20,000 for a same-day return charter and with aircraft catering to between five and 10 passengers the shared cost can be less than the cost of commercial flights and accommodation on concert days.”

Mr Kavanagh explained that while flights and accommodation tend to become scarce and more expensive around major events such as the AFL Grand Final, “this is like that on steroids” because it’s a one-off, multi-night sell out.

One-way routes from Brisbane to Melbourne are costing around $569 for her February 16 show. For comparison, the following week, post concert, that same route is $118. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

“The cheapest Melbourne city hotels in the four-star range are sitting at a minimum of $600 per night over the concert dates,” he said.

“It’s similar for Sydney on February 23 – our cheapest one-way ticket from Brisbane is currently $421. One week later, the same route is available from $155. For accommodation on show nights, you’re unlikely to get a four or five-star property in Sydney for anything less than $1000.”

Meanwhile, Webjet revealed its flight bookings have also jumped with Sydney prices up 184 per cent around Swift’s tour compared to the week before, while flight bookings to Melbourne have jumped 92 per cent over her tour dates compared to the week before.

Cheaper alternatives

Mr Kavanagh said fans who are prepared to be a little creative and travel a little further afield, may be able to save.

“For instance, you could fly from an airport that has less ‘Taylor traffic’ than the major domestic city gateways,” he said.

“If you take off earlier in the week, you can also get a much cheaper fare but you then have to factor in additional accommodation and living expenses.”

Another option is campervans or a luxe motorhome. While it may not be something you’ve considered in the past, it could be a budget friendly alternative.

Jucy rentals have their Crib Campervans from $112 that house two to four people and Star RV Motorhomes from $420, that house up to six people.