Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from Australasia to Philippines

Direct flight routes to Philippines

Non-stop flights from Australasia to Philippines are limited but available from major cities.

• Sydney to Manila – Qantas, Philippine Airlines – 8h 15m


• Melbourne to Manila – Philippine Airlines – 8h 30m


• Brisbane to Manila – Philippine Airlines – 7h 55m


• Darwin to Manila – Jetstar – 5h 45m

Layover/stopover options

Singapore Changi (SIN) – Singapore Airlines hub offering frequent connections with typical layover times of 2-4 hours. Features free city tours for longer layovers and world-class terminal facilities.

Hong Kong (HKG) – Cathay Pacific’s main hub with consistent 3-hour minimum connections. Efficient transfers between terminals and excellent lounges for premium passengers.

Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines hub offering budget-friendly connections. Average connection times of 3-5 hours with affordable airport hotels for longer layovers.

Time vs money

Direct flights typically command a premium of 20-30% over connecting flights. Routes with multiple carriers and stopover options generally offer more competitive pricing.

Tips and recommendations

• Book morning departures from Australia for better connection options in Asian hubs


• Consider overnight layovers in Singapore or Hong Kong to break up long journeys without losing a full day


• Multi-carrier bookings (separate tickets) can offer savings of up to 30% but require longer connection times


• Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically offer the lowest fares for both direct and connecting flights


• During peak season (December-January), direct flights often sell out 3-4 months in advance

• Philippine Airlines’ direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne offer the best value-comfort balance, with their reconfigured A330-300s featuring superior 32-inch pitch in economy. Their midnight departures from Manila for return flights allow convenient same-day connections to other Australian cities.
• Consider Cebu Pacific’s Darwin-Manila route, launched in 2024, offering fares up to 40% lower than competitors, though seat pitch is tighter at 29 inches. The route operates three times weekly with convenient morning arrivals in Manila.
• Using Singapore as a hub via Singapore Airlines or Scoot can be cost-effective, especially when booking separate tickets to Manila or Cebu. SIA frequently offers promotional fares from Perth and Adelaide, with excellent connection times under 3 hours in Changi.
• For travelers from New Zealand, routing through Seoul with Korean Air provides superior comfort with 33-inch pitch and often comes at similar prices to direct options. Their Auckland-Seoul-Manila service allows free stopover in Korea on certain fare types.
• Consider Malaysia Airlines through Kuala Lumpur, particularly from Brisbane or Perth, offering consistently lower fares than direct options and full-service experience. Their frequent promotions combine well with AirAsia connections to secondary Philippine cities like Davao or Iloilo.

1. Defaulting to Manila as the only gateway Travelers often overlook alternative airports like Cebu or Clark that might offer better connections or cheaper fares for their final Philippine destination.
2. Booking during peak season without planning ahead Christmas and Easter periods see astronomical fare increases for Australia-Philippines routes, yet many travelers wait until 1-2 months before to book these high-demand dates.
3. Choosing tight connections at Ninoy Aquino International Manila’s notorious traffic means that the recommended three hours for international-to-domestic connections is actually necessary, despite looking excessive on paper.
4. Not accounting for the overnight layover trap Budget flights from Sydney or Melbourne often involve an overnight layover in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, catching many travelers off guard with unexpected accommodation costs.
5. Overlooking low-cost carrier baggage rules Airlines like Cebu Pacific and Scoot offer attractive fares from Australia but have strict carry-on weight limits of 7kg, leading to expensive last-minute excess baggage fees.

Philippine Airlines

Best for: Most direct routes from Australasia to Philippines with non-stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Operating from 5 departure cities in Australasia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, and Perth) to Manila. Their Economy Class offers generous 32-inch seat pitch and full-service meals featuring both Filipino and Western cuisine. Passengers particularly praise their attentive cabin crew and reliable on-time performance. The airline maintains a solid 4/5 rating for their Australia-Philippines routes.

Qantas

Best for: Superior inflight entertainment system and premium Australian wines even in Economy Class.

Serves 3 major routes (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) to Manila via Singapore. While requiring a layover, their modern A330 and 787 aircraft offer highly rated Economy seats with acclaimed ergonomic design. Their meal service receives consistently positive reviews, and their frequent flyer program offers excellent value. Connection times in Singapore are efficiently scheduled, typically under 3 hours.

Singapore Airlines

Best for: Most comfortable Economy Class experience with industry-leading service standards.

Operates from 7 Australasian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Auckland) to Manila via Singapore. Their Economy Class features well-padded seats with 32-inch pitch and high-quality entertainment systems. The airline consistently receives top ratings for their premium meals and professional service. While layovers are required in Singapore, their terminal facilities are exceptional.

Malaysia Airlines

Best for: Most affordable full-service carrier option with generous baggage allowance.

Connects 5 Australasian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland) to Manila via Kuala Lumpur. Economy Class offers comfortable 30-31 inch seat pitch and good Malaysian/International cuisine. Their competitive pricing often makes them the best value full-service carrier option. Layovers in Kuala Lumpur are generally well-organized, though slightly longer than Singapore options.

Save money flying to Philippines via regional carriers

Savvy travelers from Australia and New Zealand can significantly reduce costs to the Philippines by leveraging regional Asian carriers instead of booking direct flights. This strategy often requires breaking up the journey into segments.

1. Book separate legs – Consider flying to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur first using budget carriers like Scoot or AirAsia, then continuing to Manila or Cebu on regional airlines
2. Use hub airports strategically – Singapore’s Changi and KL International often offer competitive fares to Philippine destinations through carriers like Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia
3. Mix and match airlines – Combine full-service carriers for long-haul segments with budget airlines for shorter routes within Asia

Key budget airlines to consider include Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia, and Scoot. These carriers frequently offer promotional fares that can reduce total journey costs by up to 40% compared to full-service airlines.

While this approach requires more planning and may involve longer travel times, the savings can be substantial. Remember to factor in baggage fees and airport transfer times when comparing total costs.