Summary
- Monitoring 5–10 hubs instead of just your home airport unlocks 5–10× more Superdeals.
- East coast hubs like Sydney and Melbourne have the densest Asia networks, creating more competition and more Superdeals.
- Pick your destination first, then find which Australian/NZ or nearby Asian hub has the best deal.
- Travelers gain by separating the flight into two legs: local hop and long haul.
- Budget carriers (Jetstar, Rex, Scoot, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific) make the “hop” affordable from most AU/NZ cities.
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What is the continental hop trick?
Many of our customers from Australia and New Zealand miss amazing Superdeals just because they only look for offers from their home airport. The Continental Hop Trick (TCHT)—a fare-bridging strategy using major Australasian and nearby Asian hubs plus budget airlines—can expand your pool of usable Superdeals by a factor of 10!
Instead of waiting for a deal from your home airport—which may rarely appear—you proactively hop (reposition) to a hub where Superdeals regularly originate to catch the long-haul flight at 40–80% off regular price. Optionally, you may extend this trip via regional budget carriers to reach your final destination.
This comprehensive guide shows you exactly which hubs to target, how to time your connections, and when separate-ticket risks are worth taking.
Superdeals on Air Traveler Club. Your dream destination just dropped in price—but it might be leaving from a nearby airport. One short hop, and you’re flying to Asia at half price.
Understanding key terms
Repositioning (“reposition flight”, “feeder flight”)
This is simply the short, usually cheap flight you take from your home city to reach the hub where the big Asia/Pacific deal departs from. Think of it as getting yourself into the right position to catch the bargain.
Example: You live in Adelaide, but the A$570 Superdeal to Tokyo leaves from Sydney. Your reposition flight is the Adelaide → Sydney ticket on Jetstar that gets you there.
Average reposition cost
How much you’ll typically pay for that short flight to reach the hub. Lower is better (obviously).
Positioning (“geographic positioning”)
How close a hub sits to Asia or how well-connected it is. Hubs further north/west (e.g., Darwin, Perth) are physically closer to Asia, which means shorter flights, less fuel burned, and often cheaper tickets. Singapore’s excellent “hub positioning” gives you vast onward options at low cost.
Three ways to execute the trick
Unlike generic “positioning flight” advice that simply suggests flying to a bigger airport, the Continental Hop Trick is built on three specific advantages: geographic positioning, hub connectivity patterns, and low-cost carrier networks. The strategy comes in three distinct types, each suited to different travel scenarios:
Regional → long-haul
Reposition to Superdeal
You take a short regional or domestic flight from your home city to a major Australian hub, then catch a Superdeal on the long-haul leg to Asia/Pacific. This is the most common approach when your home airport lacks direct deals.
An Adelaide traveler might book Jetstar to Melbourne for A$150 roundtrip, then catch a Superdeal: Scoot from Melbourne to Bangkok for A$532 roundtrip. The total cost of A$682 often undercuts non-sale full-service fares by a few hundred dollars.
Long-haul → regional
Superdeal, then extend
You use a Superdeal to land in a major Asian hub, then take a short regional or local flight to your target destination. This works brilliantly when your final city isn’t directly served from Australia/NZ but sits within a budget airline network from a major Asian hub.
Consider a Sydney traveler booking a Superdeal to Singapore for A$466 roundtrip (Scoot), then adding AirAsia to Phuket for about A$114 roundtrip. This ~A$580 total often beats booking Sydney–Phuket as a single through-ticket.
Regional → long-haul → regional
Reposition to Superdeal, then extend
The most advanced variation combines both strategies: reposition within Australia/NZ, catch the Superdeal to Asia, then extend to your final destination. While this adds complexity, it dramatically expands your options and can produce the largest savings.
A Gold Coast resident might book a positioning flight to Sydney for about A$120 roundtrip, then Scoot to Singapore for A$466 roundtrip, followed by AirAsia to Phuket for around A$114 roundtrip—totaling roughly A$700. Compared with many direct Gold Coast–Phuket options, you’re typically ahead while enjoying better schedules.
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A simple shift that changes everything
Many travelers don’t realize there’s a different way to search for flights on ATC platform—one that uses The Continental Hop Trick to open up far more opportunities.
The natural instinct is to filter only by your home airport and browse from there. That works, but by limiting your search, you miss out on hundreds of incredible choices and the cheapest way to travel. The key to repeating savings is maximizing your destinations.
A different approach
Instead of starting with “What deals are available from my airport?” try flipping it: “Where do I want to go?“
Here’s how it works:
- Traditional search: Filter by Sydney, see what Asia/Pacific destinations have deals today.
- Repositioning search: Decide you want Delhi, then check all the Delhi Superdeals on ATC platform.
When you find a great Superdeal—say A$540 round rip to Delhi from Melbourne—simply check budget airlines for positioning flights. A Jetstar return between Sydney and Melbourne can be as low as A$90 during flash sales, and even at regular prices it’s often ~A$150 roundtrip. Add that A$150 positioning cost to the A$540 Melbourne-Delhi Superdeal and you’re at A$690 total—still hundreds cheaper than a typical Sydney-Delhi direct fare of A$1,100-1,400. You’ve saved almost A$700 and didn’t have to wait weeks or months for a Sydney departure.
Repositioning flights are surprisingly cheap
Australasia’s robust network of low-cost and regional carriers makes the continental hop surprisingly affordable. Carriers like Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex, Air New Zealand, and regional links to Scoot, AirAsia, and Cebu Pacific connect nearly every major city with competitive base fares.
This wide network gives you two major financial advantages. First, the cost of your “hop” is a tiny fraction of your total savings: even if your positioning flights (outbound + inbound) cost A$150 and the Superdeal from that hub saves you A$400–A$700 compared to flying direct from home, you’re still well ahead. The additional cost barely impacts the overall savings potential of the Superdeal.
Second, these low-cost carriers frequently run their own flash sales and promotions (which you can track with ATC alerts), sometimes dropping the hop cost to near zero.
Table 1. Typical repositioning flight prices.
| Route example (repositioning) | Typical base fare range | Example airline |
|---|---|---|
| Perth → Melbourne | A$180–A$260 | Jetstar / Virgin Australia |
| Adelaide → Sydney | A$100–A$180 | Jetstar / Qantas |
| Melbourne → Sydney | A$90–A$150 | Jetstar / Rex / Virgin |
| Brisbane → Melbourne | A$120–A$200 | Jetstar / Virgin Australia |
| Wellington → Auckland | A$70–A$120 | Jetstar / Air New Zealand |
A real example
You’d love to visit Bangkok, Thailand. You’re based in Adelaide.
One approach: wait for an Adelaide → Bangkok Superdeal. Could happen tomorrow, could be weeks.
Alternative approach (repositioning): search Bangkok deals across all Australian/NZ airports. You find a fantastic economy Superdeal (which is always round-trip) to Bangkok for A$532 departing from Melbourne. You quickly book a low-cost positioning flight from Adelaide → Melbourne and back for, say, A$150 (assuming ~A$75 each way).
Total cost: ≈ A$682 (A$532 Superdeal + A$150 Positioning RT).
Regular Adelaide→ Bangkok economy round-trip fare: ≈ $1,400.
The result: you’ve saved over A$700 and you’re booking now instead of waiting months for a direct deal.
The bottom line
Browse by destination first, departure city second. Your dream destination probably has a Superdeal right now—it might just be leaving from a neighboring hub. One short positioning flight, and you’re on your way to Asia/Pacific at half price.
Is continental hop worth it?
The Continental Hop Trick makes most sense when you can save A$300–A$700 per trip and travel to Asia/Pacific at least once or twice yearly. If you live away from major east-coast hubs, enjoy planning logistics, and stay flexible with dates, the strategy pays off quickly.
The approach becomes borderline when savings drop to A$150–A$200 or require overnight stays. Skip this strategy entirely if savings fall below ~A$100, your trip is time-critical, or you’re traveling with small children or elderly family members who need simplicity.
Top Australian & NZ hubs for continental hop
Choosing the right hub makes or breaks your Continental Hop Trick. Use the wrong hub and you’ll waste money on expensive positioning flights while gaining little on the long-haul segment. Pick the right one and you’ll unlock access to more Superdeals while keeping total costs well below direct routing.
We list Australian/NZ hubs across multiple criteria essential for effective TCHT execution. Use it to identify your top three to five target hubs, then watch Air Traveler Club alerts for all of them to maximize your Superdeal opportunities.
Let’s start with the top 5 most recommended airports.
Sydney (SYD) — New South Wales
- Asia/Pacific destinations: 30+ nonstop
- Repositioning: A$120–A$180 via Jetstar, Rex, Virgin
- Sample Superdeals: Bali, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Fiji, Honolulu
Sydney dominates as the #1 continental hop hub for good reason. Multiple carriers create fierce competition—Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, JAL, Jetstar, Scoot, AirAsia, and others fight for market share. We see large numbers of Superdeals originating in SYD.
Repositioning is straightforward via budget carriers serving all terminals. Most travelers arrive 4–5 hours early when connecting separate tickets to absorb potential delays.
Melbourne (MEL) — Victoria
- Asia/Pacific destinations: 25+ nonstop
- Repositioning: A$120–A$180 via Jetstar, Rex, Virgin
- Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Tokyo
Melbourne operates as a powerhouse with strong LCC presence and major full-service carriers. Promo waves from Jetstar, Scoot, and AirAsia frequently originate here, producing excellent fares across Southeast and East Asia.
Repositioning costs are moderate, and the airport’s layout makes connections manageable on separate tickets with sensible buffers.
Melbourne works especially well for VIC/TAS travelers and those valuing a deep mix of full-service and LCC options.
Brisbane (BNE) — Queensland
- Asia/Pacific destinations: 15–20 nonstop
- Repositioning: A$100–A$160 via Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas
- Sample Superdeals: Tokyo, Osaka from A$220 one-way during sales, Bangkok, Vanuatu, Fiji
Brisbane emerged as a competitive Asia/Pacific gateway, with growing Northeast and Southeast Asia links plus strong Pacific island coverage. Promo pricing often appears on Japan and Southeast Asia routes.
Brisbane works brilliantly for QLD residents, especially when combined with Gold Coast and Cairns options for additional LCC coverage.
Perth (PER) — Western Australia
- Asia destinations: 10+ nonstop
- Repositioning: A$180–A$300 via Jetstar, Virgin (from east coast)
- Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong
Perth’s proximity to Southeast Asia yields shorter flight times and frequent promos from Scoot/AirAsia and full-service carriers. It shines for WA-origin travelers and occasionally undercuts east-coast pricing.
For east-coast residents, repositioning to PER is less common; instead, WA travelers should monitor PER plus east-coast hubs and Singapore.
Auckland (AKL) — New Zealand
- Asia/Pacific destinations: 15+ nonstop
- Repositioning: A$80–A$130 within NZ (Jetstar/Air NZ); A$250–A$400 from AU
- Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Tokyo, Honolulu, Fiji, Hong Kong
Auckland is NZ’s primary long-haul gateway. It offers frequent deals to major Asian hubs and Pacific islands, with onward low-cost connectivity.
AKL works best for NZ residents, and occasionally for Australians when a rare trans-Tasman plus long-haul combo outprices local AU options.
The northern advantage
Here’s a travel hack that could save you hundreds of dollars: start your journey from an Asia-facing hub.
Hubs closer to Asia (e.g., Darwin/Perth, or Asian gateways like Singapore/Kuala Lumpur) sit substantially nearer to your final destination. That translates to shorter flight time, reduced fuel consumption, and lower operational costs for airlines.
Table 2. Top Australian & NZ airports with low repositioning cost
| Hub | Avg. cost | LCC repositioning carriers | Key destinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney (SYD) New South Wales |
A$120–A$180 | Jetstar, Rex, Virgin | Bali, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Fiji |
| Melbourne (MEL) Victoria |
A$120–A$180 | Jetstar, Rex, Virgin | Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Tokyo |
| Brisbane (BNE) Queensland |
A$100–A$160 | Jetstar, Virgin, Qantas | Tokyo, Osaka (sale), Bangkok, Vanuatu, Fiji |
| Perth (PER) Western Australia |
A$180–A$300 | Jetstar, Virgin | Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok |
| Gold Coast (OOL) Queensland |
A$80–A$130 | Jetstar | Singapore (Scoot), Asia via SYD/BNE |
| Cairns (CNS) Queensland |
A$100–A$160 | Jetstar | Tokyo/Osaka (sale), Asia via BNE/SYD |
| Adelaide (ADL) South Australia |
A$100–A$180 | Jetstar, Qantas | Asia via SYD/MEL; Singapore (seasonal/sale) |
| Canberra (CBR) ACT |
A$100–A$160 | Qantas, Virgin, Rex | Asia via SYD/MEL/BNE |
| Hobart (HBA) Tasmania |
A$120–A$180 | Jetstar | Asia via MEL/SYD |
| Darwin (DRW) Northern Territory |
A$120–A$180 | Jetstar | Singapore, Bali; broader Asia via SIN/KUL |
| Auckland (AKL) New Zealand |
A$80–A$130 (NZ domestic) | Jetstar, Air NZ | Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Fiji |
| Wellington (WLG) New Zealand |
A$70–A$120 (to AKL) | Jetstar, Air NZ | Asia/Pacific via AKL |
| Christchurch (CHC) New Zealand |
A$80–A$120 (to AKL) | Jetstar, Air NZ | Asia/Pacific via AKL |
Expand beyond your home airport
The foundation of successful Continental Hop Trick strategy is expanding your deal awareness beyond your local airport. Most travelers only check Superdeals from their home city, which means they miss 80–90% of offers published by Air Traveler Club.
Start by identifying your top three to five target hubs using the table in the previous section. This expands your Superdeal opportunities by three to five times compared to monitoring only your home airport. When a Superdeal appears from any of your target hubs, you’ll know immediately and can assess repositioning feasibility.
Your optimal hub depends on your origin city and Asian/Pacific destination. Here’s how to narrow down your choices:
Based in NSW/ACT
If you live in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra
Target Sydney first, then Melbourne only for exceptional sales, plus Singapore for budget onward connections.
Sydney’s 39 direct international routes and fierce airline competition mean positioning rarely makes financial sense—you need to save at least A$250-300 after domestic flight costs to justify the hassle. Melbourne positioning (A$133-185 one-way, 3 hours total) works only when MEL-specific sales dramatically undercut Sydney pricing by A$300+, or for premium cabin award availability scenarios. Canberra residents (55-minute flight, A$150-250) should default to Sydney positioning since limited CBR international service makes the domestic hop worthwhile for accessing Sydney’s superior competition and pricing.
Strategy tip: You’re already in Australia’s best-connected region. Monitor both SYD and MEL Superdeals simultaneously, but fly direct from Sydney unless another hub saves A$300+ per ticket after positioning costs. For Canberra residents, calculate whether driving to Sydney (3 hours) beats flying when fuel plus parking totals under A$100 return.
Based in VIC/TAS
If you live in Melbourne, Geelong, Hobart, Launceston
Melbourne residents should fly direct; Tasmanian residents must position to Melbourne as their primary Asia gateway, then Sydney.
Melbourne’s 36 direct international routes and competitive pricing on major Asian corridors mean Victorian residents gain nothing from repositioning—Sydney positioning costs A$180-250 plus 3 hours for minimal or zero fare advantage. Tasmania faces completely different reality: zero direct international flights to Asia means mainland positioning is unavoidable. Hobart/Launceston to Melbourne costs A$150-250 one-way (3-3.5 hours), so Tasmanian travelers should book domestic legs with overnight stays in Melbourne, then leverage Melbourne’s full international network the next day. Watch Scoot/Jetstar/AirAsia sales from MEL, and consider Virgin’s 3x weekly Hobart-Adelaide service for niche South Australian international connections.
Strategy tip: Tasmanians should embrace positioning as a two-city trip—spend a night in Melbourne enjoying the city, eliminating tight connection stress entirely. Melbourne residents only reposition to Sydney for specific alliance requirements or premium cabin deals worth A$400+ savings. Use 4-6 hour buffers minimum for same-day self-transfer connections on separate tickets.
Based in QLD/NT
If you live in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Darwin
Prioritize Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns as a trio; Darwin’s 4.5-hour proximity to Singapore beats east coast alternatives.
Brisbane’s 33 direct international routes and geographic position (30-60 minutes closer to Asia than Sydney/Melbourne) make it Queensland’s primary hub—defaulting to BNE direct saves time and money versus positioning south. Gold Coast and Cairns frequently host LCC bargains from Scoot/Jetstar that undercut Brisbane pricing, with OOL-Bali from A$199 and CNS offering direct Singapore/Tokyo/Osaka service ideal for Far North Queensland residents. Darwin delivers Australia’s ultimate proximity advantage—just 4.5 hours to Singapore versus 8+ hours from the east coast—with Indonesia AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas serving Darwin-Singapore and Darwin-Bali resuming March 2025.
Strategy tip: Queensland residents should never position to Sydney/Melbourne given Brisbane’s excellent connectivity and proximity edge. Use OOL/CNS when their specific sales appear (often A$50-100 cheaper than BNE). Darwin residents should leverage their geographic trump card religiously—4x daily AirAsia Darwin-Singapore plus Singapore’s hub connectivity opens all of Asia at faster flight times than eastern alternatives.
Based in WA
If you live in Perth or Western Australia
Never reposition eastward—Perth’s 5-hour proximity to Singapore versus 8+ hours from the east coast is Australia’s single strongest geographic advantage. Kuala Lumpur as alternative.
Perth-Singapore runs just A$308 return on Jetstar versus A$500-700 from the east coast, with Perth-Kuala Lumpur seeing multiple daily AirAsia flights and Perth-Bali operating 4x daily at A$158-227 return. Transcontinental positioning to Melbourne/Sydney costs A$280-626 one-way plus 4+ hours flight time, immediately consuming any potential international savings. Flight times favor Perth across all Asian destinations: Bali 3.5 hours, Bangkok 6-7 hours, Hong Kong 7 hours—all dramatically shorter than eastern alternatives, saving fuel surcharges and positioning Perth as Australia’s premier Asia gateway.
Strategy tip: Leverage your geographic advantage religiously—use Singapore or Kuala Lumpur as hubs for onward Asian connections, book direct Perth-Asia on budget carriers (Jetstar/Scoot/AirAsia). Compare “PER→SIN→final destination” versus “PER→MEL→final destination” total costs; Singapore routing wins 95% of the time with faster connections and better hub facilities.
Based in SA
If you live in Adelaide or South Australia
Melbourne positioning is essential—Adelaide’s 9 direct international routes lack Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and most major Asian destinations.
Adelaide-Melbourne costs A$54-126 one-way on Jetstar (A$108-271 return), unlocking Melbourne’s 36 international routes for destinations unreachable direct from Adelaide. No direct flights serve Bangkok, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, or Japan from Adelaide, making positioning mandatory rather than optional for most Asian destinations. When Adelaide’s direct services exist, use them strategically: Singapore Airlines’ daily Adelaide-Singapore ($400-600 return) offers Changi hub access to 70+ onward Scoot/Jetstar/Singapore Airlines destinations.
Strategy tip: Keep flexible Jetstar/Virgin positioning options ready to strike during 48-72 hour flash sales. Book morning Adelaide-Melbourne flights (6-8am) to catch afternoon MEL-Asia departures, or better yet, spend a night in Melbourne to eliminate connection stress on separate tickets.
Based in New Zealand
If you live in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
Auckland is New Zealand’s Asia gateway—trans-Tasman positioning to Australia rarely justifies the 3-hour flight. Singapore as a alternative.
Air New Zealand’s 86% domestic market dominance drives premium pricing (NZ$79 regular, NZ$49-69 sales for Auckland-Wellington), while trans-Tasman positioning costs NZ$250-400 (A$230-370) plus 3 hours travel time, typically exceeding any international fare savings. Auckland offers direct service to Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai via Air New Zealand, plus budget carrier Scoot to Singapore with 70+ onward Asian connections—making Australian positioning worthwhile only for budget-conscious travelers targeting Southeast Asian secondary cities (Phuket, Chiang Mai, Penang) with limited New Zealand service. Wellington/Christchurch residents face NZ$70-130 domestic positioning to Auckland but should stay in New Zealand unless Australian departures save NZ$400+ (A$370+) after accounting for trans-Tasman costs.
Strategy tip: Kiwis should leverage Auckland’s direct Asian service first, then use Scoot’s Singapore hub for budget onward connections throughout Asia rather than positioning to Australia. The exception: When Jetstar Australia or AirAsia sales from Sydney/Melbourne to Southeast Asia deliver NZ$400-600 (A$370-550) total savings including trans-Tasman positioning.
Book in optimal sequence
Booking order matters when you’re juggling separate tickets. Lock in the wrong segment first and you risk losing the Superdeal while holding a non-refundable repositioning flight. Follow this sequence to minimize risk and maximize flexibility.
- Book the long-haul Superdeal first. Confirm dates, price quality versus history, and feasibility of repositioning before committing to feeders.
- Immediately book repositioning flights. Aim for target buffers and consider flexible or refundable fares when possible for change protection.
- Book regional extensions last. Asian LCC availability is typically ample 1–2 months out, with frequent promos.
Build adequate buffers for separate tickets. Aim for 6–8 hour buffers between flights on separate bookings. This absorbs delays, baggage re-check, and security—tight connections that work on through-tickets fail catastrophically when you own all the risk.
Pay with the right credit card. Use a card with trip delay, baggage delay, and travel accident coverage. Review your benefits guide before booking—these protections can reimburse hotels, essentials, or major disruptions that would otherwise cost hundreds out of pocket.
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