In Australia, airfares to Melbourne reached $6,000 ahead of the AFL Grand Final — ABC News Australia
In Australia, the cost of air tickets to Melbourne has risen sharply ahead of the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final, which will take place this Saturday. The price of return tickets from Perth reached 6,000 Australian dollars as fans of the Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions searched for seats on flights to the host city.
As ABC News Australia reports, fares began to rise rapidly after Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions won their preliminary finals last weekend. Fremantle fan John Cook said he knows supporters who paid 1,900 Australian dollars for a one-way flight from Perth. He bought his tickets in advance but believes carriers are taking advantage of the situation because of limited competition on the route.
Fans seek alternatives
Brisbane Lions supporter Wendy Elson has already booked a one-way flight to Melbourne but has not yet found a ticket to return home. According to her, prices jumped noticeably immediately after the participants in the decisive match were determined. She believes that she and her son may have to rent a car or look for shared transport for the return journey.
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Griffith University aviation industry expert Justin Wastnage explained that airlines use increasingly complex dynamic pricing systems to maximize revenue from a limited number of seats. According to him, such systems can take into account major sporting events and passengers' geographical data, including their postcode.
Carriers increase the number of flights
Airlines have announced additional flights and seats, but complaints about high prices continue. After Fremantle's victory, Qantas added 13 flights between Perth and Melbourne, offering one-way tickets from 766 Australian dollars. Qantas and Jetstar also added seven flights between Brisbane and Melbourne.
Virgin increased capacity by 4,000 seats between Perth and Melbourne and by another 1,000 seats from Brisbane. Travel company Flight Centre said that the number of bookings to Melbourne from Brisbane and Perth is already 126% higher than during the same period last year.
