Perth to Singapore offered the best value-for-money international flight out of Australia for an average of just $1.41 per minute for the 5-hour, 25-minute trip, according to Money.com.au research.
Money.com.au ranked the top 10 most popular international flights based on their average cost per minute and revealed which trips offer the best value for money.
As Australians make more than 10 million overseas trips every year, they look to get the most value for every dollar spent.
Best overall value for money
The Perth to Singapore flight sits at the top spot for having the best value for money, with an average cost per minute of just $1.41. It is around the middle of the pack in terms of flight duration, meaning travellers can easily reach southeast Asia without spending too much, enjoying both good value relative to other routes and a manageable travel time.
Melbourne to Singapore comes in second for value at $1.78 per minute, followed by Perth to Denpasar with a cost per minute of $1.96.
Long-haul flight with the best value for money
As well as taking the second place for overall value for money, the Melbourne to Singapore flight ranks one as the best value for long-haul flights at over six hours. Having a flight time of 7h 55m, it offers a reasonable cost per minute.
Best value for Bali
Perth to Denpasar is the more affordable option for Australians heading to Bali with an average cost per minute of just $1.96, followed by Melbourne to Denpasar with a cost per minute of $2.62. This is perhaps due to Jetstar expanding its Perth network.
Best value for New Zealand
The Melbourne to Auckland route offers the best value for flights to New Zealand, with an average cost per minute of $2.31, while Sydney to Auckland has a cost per minute of $2.74.
Most expensive international flight
One of the longer journeys among Australia’s most popular international routes, the Brisbane to Singapore flight comes in with the highest cost per minute at $3.18. Travellers taking this route need to do some smart planning to stretch their dollars further, like bringing their own snacks to avoid paying for pricey onboard options.
With cost-of-living pressures taking their toll, Money.com.au’s finance expert, Sean Callery, said many travellers are looking at ways to get the best possible value from their trip.
“Considering total cost together with the journey time offers travellers a fresh dimension for measuring value for money,” he said
“The research shows that in some cases opting for a longer journey will make your dollars go further too. Singapore is a good example, as flights there from Melbourne and Sydney represent very good value on average based on cost per minute, compared to flying across the ditch to Auckland.
“Singapore is also by far the most common destination for Aussie flyers overall. It’s often a stopover, but holidaymakers can also take advantage of the abundance of available flights there by making it their final destination.
“On the flip side of cost per minute, some flyers, like those travelling with kids, will tolerate a relatively expensive flight if it means touching down as soon as possible. The important thing is to think carefully about cost and what value it represents based on what’s important to you.”
Top 10 flights ranked by lowest average cost per minute
- Perth to Singapore – 5h 25m – $1.41 (per minute)
- Melbourne to Singapore – 7h 55m – $1.78
- Perth to Denpasar – 3h 45m – $1.96
- Sydney to Singapore – 8h 25m – $2.10
- Melbourne to Auckland – 3h 35m – $2.31
- Sydney to Dubai – 14h 20m – $2.31
- Melbourne to Denpasar – 6h 15m – $2.62
- Sydney to Auckland – 3h 5m – $2.74
- Sydney to Denpasar – 6h 35m – $2.89
- Brisbane to Singapore – 8h 10m – $3.18
