Grand final airline prices soar to more than $1000 from Perth to Melbourne for grand final as Dockers dominate

The AFL’s official airline partner has hiked up the cost of flying from Perth to Melbourne for the grand final during Fremantle’s stunning run of form as confident fans race to secure tickets.

The Dockers are second on the ladder and are shooting for an eighth straight victory in a heavyweight clash with third-placed Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on Thursday night.

The prices for some flights in the days before the September 26 decider have more-than doubled, despite there being no guarantee the Dockers will be playing.

Five of Virgin Australia’s one-way flights from Perth to Melbourne on the Thursday before the grand final are now costing $1067 – and they don’t include the option of taking luggage.

Those same flights which include luggage cost $1124, while a flexible ticket that can be cancelled is being advertised for $1274. That is more than some Virgin flights from Sydney to Los Angeles in the first week of September.

Flight costs have soared during Fremantle’s seven game winning streak. The 6am flight on Thursday September 24 cost $491 on April 3 but is now among the options for $1067.

Flying to Victoria on the previous Thursday at 6am will cost $292 while one week after the grand final it is $337. The same flight this Wednesday is costing only $305.

There are still flights later on the Thursday before the grand final which are cheaper. The 4.45pm flight which lands at 10.20pm and was advertised for $457 one month ago is now $714.

But the hikes mean fans have to run the risk of either booking in advance while knowing the Dockers may not maintain their form or wait until September and have prices rise even further.

AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko urged the league to step in.

“Price gouging of airline tickets before a special game – whether it be Gather Round, finals or a grand final, is unfair on fans. Can the AFL do something about it? Given Virgin Airlines is a partner of the AFL, I would have thought the AFL could have a word to Virgin and say ‘can we do something to help fans rather than gouge fans?” Issko told The West Australian

“The AFL say they are for fans and that they are always looking out for the interests of fans. Here is a great way to show it. It’s all about the fan experience. We want the fan experience to be the best it can. A Fremantle fan coming to Melbourne to pay $1000 or more is not what I consider to be a good fan experience – especially when at normal times it would be less than half that price. So AFL, here’s your opportunity.”

Travelling fans usually aim to get to Victoria on the Thursday before the grand final so they can also attend the parade on Friday. Qantas prices are similarly expensive on that Thursday. Their flights range from $786 to $1089. The 8.10am flight on Thursday which costs $1089 is only $579 two days earlier.

Virgin hiked prices early in 2014 after Fremantle played in the grand final the previous year. Just days after the Dockers beat Collingwood in Victoria in their first game of the season, the cheapest price for a direct flight in the days before the grand final was set at $425 compared to $179 the previous week.

A one way ticket to Melbourne during grand final week in 2013 was more than four times the regular price.

The West Australian spoke to fans who were in Victoria when the Dockers beat the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

One family said they had already decided to drive from Perth to Melbourne if the Dockers reach the grand final because it will already be cheaper than the cost of them flying.

Another bought flights before the season in anticipation of costs soaring.