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Airlines

Air travel can be a bumpy ride, but we'll help you weather the turbulence.

Are budget airlines worth the potential hassle? And are well-established airlines worth the extra fare? Value for money and a convenient flight schedule are at the top of our priority list when it comes to choosing which airline to fly with, but we also consider reliability, customer service, ease of booking and, of course, snacks!

Meet the travel team

Articles

Australian domestic airlines compared Are Jetstar and Tigerair really all that much worse than Qantas and Virgin?

Where to find the cheapest flights Is it cheaper to buy airfares through a comparison site or directly from the airlines?

Overbooked flights and stand-by tickets Your rights if you're bumped from an oversold flight. Plus, whatever happened to stand-by tickets?

Frequent flyer points – are they worth it? We weigh up whether chasing frequent flyer points is worth the time and money.

Flight Centre penalised $12.5 million for price fixing The company denied passengers lower fares in a bid to maintain its profit margins.

Airline complaints highlight need for an ombudsman Follows scathing industry report from the ACCC.

Your rights if the Bali volcano grounds your flight What are your flight rights and will travel insurance cover you if you've been stranded by a natural disaster in Bali?

Lost airport treasures to be auctioned this week for charity Sydney Airport has partnered with Pickles Auctions once again to sell everything destined for the lost and found.

Virgin Group airlines receive the most complaints TigerAir has topped the list for the fifth year running.

Phone batteries a fire hazard on flights Fires caused by smartphones have led to plane seats being redesigned.

Dozens removed from overloaded Qantas flight Passengers were reportedly called out and asked to disembark.

Jetstar lands last place in international airline survey No Australian airline earns more than three stars.

Flight delays and cancellations Australia lags behind other countries when it comes to compensating consumers for flights delays and cancellations.

Court fines Jetstar, Virgin $750k for 'drip pricing' The sneaky addition of charges was found to be 'misleading'.

Airline website booking traps Tricks and surcharges are blowing out airfares.

Should you buy carbon offsets? Aviation has a hefty carbon footprint but are carbon offsets the answer? CHOICE investigates.

Can you take it on a plane? From dogs to surfboards – here's how to transport items that won't go in your suitcase when you travel by plane.

Cheap flights and variable pricing Why are airfares on airline websites so fleeting? CHOICE shows you how to avoid the airline flimflam.

Your rights in flight Are you entitled to compensation when a flight is cancelled or delayed, when baggage is lost or when seats are overbooked?

Your rights when airport workers strike 22 March 2016 | Planned airport strikes around Australia will affect many passengers this Easter.

Tigerair cancels flights to Bali 3 February 2017 | Australia to Bali route permanently cancelled with little notice to travellers.

Tigerair commits to refunds for Bali cancellations 13 January 2017 | Travel insurance may also come into play.

CHOICE lodges airline super complaint with the ACCC 6 December 2016 | Are we being fairly compensated for shoddy service?

Airlines drop preselected extras CHOICE's efforts to get airlines to 'ditch the ticks' pays off.

Airlines dodge credit card surcharge ban Foreign carriers still gouging customers on fees.

In-flight food fails Passengers share their experiences with airline meals.

One in five passengers experience flight delays - it's time to complain CHOICE calls for fixed compensation system for delayed passengers, and launches an airline complaints tool.

Airport parking monopoly pricing Carparks are big business for Australian airports.

Is it worth making a complaint about an airline? International air travel comes with certain rights, but flying domestically can be a different story.

Has the Bali ash cloud left you stranded? What to do about your flight, and will your travel insurance cover you if you're stuck in Bali?

Bali cloud of confusion 4 November 2015 | We look at your options if you have a trip to Bali coming up.

Domestic airline satisfaction survey Qantas customers are the most satisfied, but they're also paying the highest fares.

ACCC investigates whether airlines misled consumers on fuel surcharges 27 January 2015 | Are airlines playing fair on fuel costs?

AirAsia leaves consumers stranded 3 February 2015 | CHOICE is urging the ACCC to investigate AirAsia after the airline cancelled direct flights to Bali with as little as 24 hours' notice.

Court rules on drip pricing tactics by Jetstar and Virgin 17 November 2015 | Airlines failed to disclose booking and service fees on mobile sites.

Airline surcharging CHOICE looks at the latest surcharging rip-offs by the big airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Tiger Airways.

Flight food fails terms and conditions The terms and conditions for the flight food fails competition.

Show 33 more articles

The travel team

Our travel experts are a bunch of jetsetters who know what's most important to you when flying (it's snacks and in-flight entertainment, right?). They've racked up miles on all the major airlines and browsed for tickets on all the popular booking sites so they can give you trusted, independent advice on the cheapest fares, the best rewards and the most reliable services.

Zoya Sheftalovich Investigative journalist

Rebecca Ciaramidaro Content producer - Household

Kitchen, Laundry and cleaning, Beauty and personal care, Household, Children and safety, Baby furniture, Baby clothes and nappies, Bedroom, Outdoor entertaining, Camping, Dentists and dental care

Elisabeth Baulch Travel journalist

Travel, Accommodation, Destinations

Jodi Bird Travel project lead / content producer

Insurance, Travel, Money, Banking, Financial planning and investing

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