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hi i have been looking all overfor affordable airline tickets. i have been given the opportunity to take a trip to Sydney, Australia and visit my sister while she is abroad at one of the universites...

the only problem is i have been given $1000 USD, but most of the Airline websites have given me prices at or above $1500 USD. can anyone help me to find a deal?

I have tried many sites including Expedia, CheapTickets, AmericanAirlines, and etc...

Also can anyone refer me to a good Australian Airline that might be affordable? Stupid Australian Economy being raised right now!!! wish i would have know before it got s good! could have gotten a ticket before christmas.. but no, parents love to surprise me...



thanks,
Brandon

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Early feb the prices drop. Check various dates on qantas.

If you can help it don't fly united, they have the old planes without the viewscreens in the headrests and really REALLY tight seating. I'm 5'2" and was hitting the seats in front of me with my knees Plus their veggie meals are yuck. Who wants onions an peppers for breakfast!

Any ticket US to OZ is going to be close to 2K roundtrip though .

^_^

i am leaving late march and returning the first of april. i found a round trip ticket on qantas (suggested by keithgh) for about 1500$, but my only question is that USD or AUS?

i also have to take the rail from the irport in sydney to wollongong... can anyone suggest the best route, and how much does the rail cost? (would bus or taxi be cheaper?)

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Onions and Peppers for breakfast?!
I hope they were in an omlette or something...

Central stn to Wollongong is about 2 hours so train is best. (bus takes too long and taxi would cost a few hundred dollars, train will cost under $30)

1) From Sydney Airport go to central station (rail)
2) At central change to country link platforms (#16-18?) to get to Wollongong
Central-Wollongong[link] http://www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/timetable/ttable.jsp?line=sc&day=wd&dir=dn&page=03[/link]

Train will not have a dining car and only v basic washroom. Buy snacks before you get on. Bottled water and a subway/bento box. There are a few outlets quite close to the platform, once you have done a reccy you can grab a bite to carry on.

I am not very well versed in usa/australia flights but think beyond biggest names .... KLM, Cathay, Singapore Airlines

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Babel, I hear you. The urban myth that one should order a vegetarian meal becaause they are better is just that, a myth.

I did a 15hr+ flight very hungry. And resolved never to let that happen again. For the return flight I bought a bento box at the airport (reasoned the food wouldn't improve on the return).

At meal time took out my bento box and had a lovely time. Was the envy of the woman next to me. If I am provided an okay meal it is a bonus, if not I won't be put out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Its better to go from the airport to Wolli Creek station and change trains and go to Sutherland. Then catch an express from there. Just hang out at platform 2 and you will get a train south.

If you go from the airport to the city you will be lengthening the journey as central is in the opposite direction of your destination.

Should you find yourself in central station, platform 25 goes to wollongong but they are all stations. Usually platform 5,12 and 14 go to wollongong. Platforms 1-14 have random trains showing up on them (well they seem random to me) so one day a wollongong train will show up on 5 the next 12 and so on.

Sorry Im being a bit of a train nerd but I grew up south of wollongong (Kiama) and have lived at Sutherland and I use the train service nearly every day.

thanks so much wish-ga!

now i will know the proper way to get to where i need to be... and i will be sure to buy a bite to eat before going on the train...

also babel if you want good meals on a plane fly british... pricey, but the meals are delectable!!! i ordered the chicken or vegetairan most meals, and thwas onlydissapointed on one ( i flew their airline for like 2 or 3 day straight enroute to africa... was a joyous [for a flight] experience...)

i think i am gonna go qantas as they seem to have the best deals and were recommended...

the ticket price is 1528$ USD with all fees and taxes included... i didnt really work in a connector flight, but i also have not booked the flight yet either. i will get onto it after i have a chat with a qantas representative as i would rather tanlk to someone than to the computer to find the best deal possible. any suggestions? as i have never booked my own flights before and because of the budget i am trying to avoid travel agents...

thanks,
brandon

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Oh yeah, be sure to get a seat on the left hand side of the train. That way you can look out over the ocean when the train reaches coalclif. Otherwise you will just be looking at cuttings most of the way.

Thanks...

cuttings wouldnt be very interesting after about a mile or two...

does anyone know how long the trainride would be? i need to know so i can plan my return according to the train hours...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

i think i am gonna go qantas as they seem to have the best deals and were recommended...

And also, thus far never fallen outta the sky. Sorry to mention that. Not a noivous flyer are you?

TroyMc - guru on training it south. Can even say which side to sit on. True, a nice looksee out to the ocean.
I am just an occasional visitor to the area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

ok thanks so much guys... it looks like qantas is the way to go and the rail is settled... i didnt get a chance to book my flight yet but all is well, i am not a nervous or new flyer (i do get nervous at take off and landing a bit though)... i think that qantas might not be the most thrifty way to get there, but the safest and most comfortable way...!

cant wait to get there!!!!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Oh one more thing, get yourself some noise canceling headphones!!!
Adam and I both have a set like these shop around a bit you should find them cheap somewhere.
The noise isn't bad for a few hour flight but for the US to AU they really do help a lot. I usually do ear plugs with the headphones ontop. The good thing about the altec lansing ones is that they come with the jack thats' used on qantas planes.

onions and peppers for brekky, ya I think there was a bit of egg involved, not enough though.

Never got the meals cause of any myth or anything, just cause I'm veggie My body already has enough trouble dealing with the dry air on a plane, I didn't need the added issue of upset tummy from eating meat


^_^

i had a dream last night that i was on an airplane and the pilot couldnt keep the nose up, so had to wait to join an intersection on the motorway in america.
thats what watching "Air Crash Investigation" before you go to bed does to you!