Cheap flights from London to Cairns

May is the cheapest month for this route, so if your dates are open, start there and work outwards. The price calendar covers every month from September through August, which means you can compare the whole year before committing. Fares tend to rise around the Christmas period and during Australian school holidays, when families travel in both directions. Midweek departures usually cost less than weekend ones, and a Tuesday or Wednesday flight often beats a Friday. Book well ahead for the Australian summer, and leave more slack if you are travelling with a connection, since a missed leg on a long itinerary is awkward to fix.

Every carrier on this route is a full-service airline, so there is no low-cost option to fall back on: Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air India, Air Canada, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand all sell connecting itineraries. That usually means a checked bag and meals are part of the fare, though the lightest fare classes can still exclude seat selection or a second bag. Where they differ is the connection point and the number of stops, which change the total journey time as much as the price does. Compare the whole itinerary, not just the first leg.

Cairns has a single airport, so there is no guessing which one you land at, but you may finish the trip on a domestic leg if your international flight reaches Australia somewhere else first. The airport sits close to the city centre, a short transfer rather than a long drive, with taxis, rideshares, shuttle buses and hire cars at the terminal. Check whether you arrive at the international or the domestic side, since that decides where you clear immigration and collect your bags. If you land late at night, arrange your transfer before you fly, as options thin out after the last flights of the day.

Currency

AUD (A$)

Power sockets

Type I · 230 V

Language

English

Emergency number

000

Calling code

+61

Internet domain

.au

Population of Cairns

147 k (2014)

Time zone

UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Pick your London departure airport first: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City all appear in results, and fares differ between them.
• Check baggage on every leg, since a connecting itinerary can mix airlines with different allowances.
• Confirm your connection sits on one ticket; with separate tickets a missed onward flight is your problem.
• Sort your passport and Australian entry requirements before you pay for anything.
• If your dates are loose, start with May and compare the months on either side.