Comments for

2008-02-17T20:45:30Z

Like kangaroos? Flights down under may soon cost less thanks to an open skies agreement signed by the U.S. and Australia that will smash apart the duopoly enjoyed by Qantas and United. Richard Branson's discount Australian airline, Virgin Blue, has already submitted an application to mix things up and drive fares south. [L.A. Times]

Comment from Crymson_77 on 2008-02-19

2008-02-19T21:42:28Z

I would love to be able to fly to Aussieland without forking over $2k per person!

Comment from Kurtz on 2008-02-18

2008-02-18T23:02:40Z

Fly Air New Zealand instead. Cheaper fares, better service, rugby players handing out candy (at least on the flight I was on).

Comment from Ubermann on 2008-02-18

2008-02-18T22:35:01Z

They need to start Virgin Canada.

The prices of flights to Montreal from LAX are criminal during the summer. I not even going to start on intra-canadian flights

Comment from jamar0303 on 2008-02-18

2008-02-18T07:58:40Z

@sue_me: YES!

Comment from sue_me on 2008-02-18

2008-02-18T06:11:52Z

While we're at it, let's start allowing foreign airlines to fly domestic routes. And then we can watch the legacy airlines dry up and blow away.

Comment from Jamie on 2008-02-17

2008-02-18T04:56:26Z

@azntg: The service couldn't possibly get worse. I've flown between the US and AU many times (I'm a dual citizen), on both Qantas and United, and the experience has universally been bad. Including trying to feed my peanut-allergic son peanuts when we weren't looking, when there was supposed to be a three-row 'no nut' zone, and then failing to have nut-free meals for him. Two kids, 17 hours on a plane, no food. x.x

Comment from Tejas on 2008-02-17

2008-02-18T03:30:23Z

i hope so - as an aussie i'd love to see this go down as i would love to go to the states. there is already a low fare airline however flying from the US to australia - it only flys from Honolulu however. it's called jetstar and is a qantas offshoot.

Comment from TimsBoot on 2008-02-17

2008-02-18T02:43:37Z

Dont be so sure my dear Consumerists. This deal is more smoke screen than substance. Qantas will still dominate the route and continue to gouge. It currently charges 40% more per customer kilometre (the standard industry measure) than it does on the more competitive Sydney to London route. See my post on this called "there is no one I dont hate right now" here

Comment from AvatarZ on 2008-02-17

2008-02-17T23:33:47Z

I hope it goes down soon, I really want to go down to Australia and cheaper air would go a long way to helping out.

Comment from humphrmi on 2008-02-17

2008-02-17T23:29:57Z

So now will we see commercials with a little cute koala saying "I hate Virgin Blue..."? :)

Comment from grouse on 2008-02-17

2008-02-17T22:02:51Z

It's Qantas, not Quantas.

Comment from azntg on 2008-02-17

2008-02-17T21:48:21Z

Horray for some form of competition! But at the same time, expect service to tank along with the prices... (the naysayer portion of me says that)

Comment from Jonbo298 on 2008-02-17

2008-02-17T20:56:15Z

I'm glad this has happened. More competition will only help in this case.