Sydney to Melbourne Flights 2026: Booking & Jetstar Tips

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How to Book Your Flight from Sydney to Melbourne

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If you're planning an amazing Australian adventure that links Sydney and Melbourne,

something just as crucial as booking your accommodation is...

✅ Booking your Sydney ↔ Melbourne flight!

For my trip, I flew into Melbourne and out of Sydney,

so I booked a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Sydney.

But don't worry, the flight booking process and baggage selection are

exactly the same whether you're flying Sydney → Melbourne or Melbourne → Sydney.

So I'll guide you through it based on my experience!

1️⃣ How to Book Your Flight Ticket from Sydney to Melbourne

2️⃣ And Even How to Check In with Jetstar at Melbourne Airport

3️⃣ My Jetstar Experience Review

I'll be sharing all these insights with you!

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Getting Around: Sydney to Melbourne Travel Options

Sydney and Melbourne are quite a distance apart, roughly 900 km (about 560 miles).

The train takes about 11 hours,

and the bus takes about 11 to 12 hours.

That's why most travelers opt for a flight, which gets you there in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

If you book in advance, prices can start from around ~$75 per person,

meaning you can save both time and money – a win-win!

Flight	1 hour 30 min Recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Train	11 hours
Bus	11-12 hours

Where Should You Book Your Flight?

When it comes to international flights, I often find myself turning to Trip.com.

▪️ They often have the lowest fares

▪️ Flight search is super easy and intuitive

I chose Trip.com because their international flight search is so user-friendly and

they consistently offer great low fares!

In fact, I use it all the time for booking flights to Japan!

(haha)

How to Book Your Sydney to Melbourne Flight

1. Search Your Departure and Arrival Cities

▪️ Sydney Airport SYD

▪️ Melbourne Airport MEL

Melbourne has two domestic airports, Tullamarine (MEL) and Avalon. You might be wondering, 'Which one should I search for?'

Simply search for Tullamarine Airport (MEL)!

Avalon Airport is smaller and located further out from the city center compared to Tullamarine.

I searched for a one-way ticket, but

if you're planning to return to Sydney, make sure to search for a round-trip option.

2. Choose Your Airline

For domestic flights between Sydney and Melbourne, you'll generally find three main airlines:

1. Jetstar

2. Virgin Australia

3. Qantas

Virgin Australia and Qantas are great options because they

👉 typically include checked baggage starting from 23kg.

So, if you're traveling with more luggage, I highly recommend looking into these two airlines.

Just keep in mind, their fares might be a little higher than Jetstar's.

✔️ For the best value and lowest fares: Jetstar

✔️ If you have lots of heavy luggage: Virgin Australia, Qantas

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3. Select Your Ticket

Now, here's an important 🚨 heads-up! 🚨

Make sure to include your checked baggage when booking!

For Jetstar flights, tickets priced around ~$75 often *don't* include checked baggage.

You'll need to book a fare that *does* include either 15kg or 20kg of checked baggage.

✔️ A pro tip for Australian domestic flights: it's always more expensive to add baggage at the airport! Save yourself some money and select it during the booking process.

What Happens if You Choose a Ticket Without Checked Baggage?

Even if you choose a ticket for ~$75 without checked baggage,

you can still add baggage separately!

Just click [Add] and select your desired weight in kg! ✨

Left: Ticket without checked baggage + add baggage

Right: Flight ticket including 20kg checked baggage

While prices vary depending on the ticket, it's generally cheaper to buy a ticket that already includes baggage rather than adding it separately!

If the baggage weight you want isn't an option,

1️⃣ Choose a ticket that doesn't include checked baggage

2️⃣ Select your desired baggage weight in kg

and you're good to go! 😄

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2. How to get from Melbourne to Sydney

From Melbourne city center to the airport,

SkyBus is the most popular way to go.

I boarded at Southern Cross Station, and you can refer to the post below for how to book SkyBus! 😊

Melbourne Airport to City SkyBus: How to Book and Ride

We booked with Jetstar!

▪️2 people: ~$200

▪️Departure Terminal: MEL T4

▪️Melbourne → Sydney: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes

Melbourne Airport T4 is exclusively for Jetstar, which was great!

It meant there was no confusion, which I really appreciated.

Since Jetstar has self-service checked baggage drop-off,

you can do auto-check-in the day before,

and then at Melbourne Airport, verify your identity and drop off your checked bags.

3. Jetstar Review

There wasn't much to do at the airport, so the waiting time

for our Melbourne-Sydney Jetstar flight was a little boring.

There's no direct jet bridge connection to the plane;

instead, you go outside and walk up the stairs!

You can board from both the front and the back,

and the crew will guide you to the correct boarding point for your seat,

so just follow their directions! 😊

The flight from Melbourne to Sydney is a quick 1 hour and 20 minutes,

so even if the seats are a bit cramped, it's totally manageable! 😉

✔️ No in-flight meals provided (it's a domestic flight)

✔️ Water costs extra

Here's a top tip: When flying from Melbourne to Sydney,

🌟 make sure to sit on the left window seat because, as you approach,

you'll get a stunning view of the Opera House right outside your window! What an arrival! 🤩

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Traveling between Melbourne and Sydney,

or from Sydney to Melbourne,

is super easy if you book your flights right! ✨

✔️ Use SkyBus for airport transfers in Melbourne

✔️ Double-check if checked baggage is included

✔️ Make sure to choose Melbourne (Tullamarine MEL), not Avalon Airport

✔️ Arrive at the airport 2 hours beforehand

Keep these tips in mind as you plan your trip! Happy travels! 😄

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