Booking cheap flights Perth to Asia

April 2010


Three airlines take you cheaply to Asia from Perth.

www.tigerairways.com   to Singapore

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.aspx to Singapore

www.airasia.com  to Kuala Lumpur

Tiger is currently the cheapest  followed by Airasia and Jetstar is usually more. Prices alter on a daily basis. (Sometimes down!)

Although economy services, they fly modern aircraft.  Tiger Airways is Singapore Airlines in cheap disguise.

 So, the first thing to do is to look for the cheapest flight and date.  Use:

    http://www.skyscanner.net/

Put in "Currency" then pick Australia  Perth

Then destination "Singapore" as one exercise and  "Malaysia" "Kulala Lumpur" as a separate  exercise. Allow  "any terminal"

Then date of travel  "WHOLE MONTH"

A barchart will indicate the varying costs during the month.

The earlier you book, the cheaper the fare.


Check in reverse for your return leg.

Having a general view of perhaps "August 2010" (whenever you intend to travel) go to the fare and it will give you a good indication of the cheapest price and airline.

It will probably be Tiger for Singapore and Airasia for Kuala Lumpur.

Now separately go directly to the airline on your browser and, for your research, do single journey booking dates. Your fares will be indicated. Juggle by going  "previous day"  " next day" etc.

Play with the variations.  For example you may decide to use Tiger going up but Airasia returning.  There is NO penalty for booking two one way tickets and I book one leg at a time (easier if I have to change the ticketing)

So for one of many examples book to Singapore on Tiger and the flight may leave in the evening one day and arrive eary in the morning THE NEXT DAY. So your next leg is the NEXT date!!! Be careful.

Then if you want to go to Phi Phi your next leg will be to Krabi  or Phuket  as either destination works for Phi Phi. So maybe you choose a few days in Phuket  followed by a few in Phi Phi , then return via Krabi (Phuket-PhiPhi-Krabi are overland/water).  Then possibly Airasia from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur and Airasia to Bali and a few days there and home to Perth on Airasia.

There are umteen variations you can play with. Do not book until you have finished playing with dates and pricings that suit you.

Finalise and then you need your credit card to book and pay.

Spend some time on the airline search engines. You may think that Hanoi would be fun etc. Take a look at the flight timings and prices. There are lots of routes and city options. Both Tiger and Airasia have multiple ongoing destiations. Jetstar less I think.

Accommodation I do not book until I arrive, So get the required Lonely Planet guide out of the library or just use the net. Example: Google search "Backpacker accommodation Saigon".
Have more fun googling likely places within your budget. Unless peak period, maybe around Xmas or Chinese New Year, go to your accommodation when you arrive and negotiate. Booking accommodation over the net is usually relatively more expensive.

Having said that, both Tiger and especially Airasia give good package rates for flights and accommodation, but the journeys are out and return. Maybe look at the "Flight + Hotel" on Airasia Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai for "x" days with return flights  etc. 

The variations are endless! But YOU are in control and you have a virtual holiday just mucking about with bookings!! It is not time wasted as you become much more proficient as you research. For example Airasia fly to India and UK.  Perth-KualaLumpur-Stanstead (UK) would be your cheapest ticket into Europe.

You are safe playing with bookings up to the time they ask for your credit card details, by then you know the prices and so you have got your info. Be absolutely sure and double check airports, dates and flight timings before confirming.


You may select your seat and meals on booking. Seats can be quite "tight" especially Tiger. Longer leg room is extra.


Changing dates on tickets after payment confirmation is penalised quite heavily.

If you get stuck for overnight accommodation near the airport at KL, take look at http://tunehotels.com/
Singapore not so easy.

Have fun!