Discounts in Australia

Qantas has launched a Discover Australia fare on its domestic routes that offers a 40% discount over regular economy fares.

You can fly to Australia on any international carrier, not just Qantas, and on any fare. You can buy your tickets in the United States or Australia. If you choose to buy the tickets in Australia, you have to do it within 30 days of arrival.

Other domestic Australian carriers offer passes and special discounts as well. Check for restrictions before you buy.

Australian Airlines has a See Australia fare that offers a 20% to 25% discount off its regular economy fares. You can fly any carrier to Australia but you have to use a promotional fare. To qualify, you also have to fly at least 1,000 kilometers (about 625 miles) in Australia. This ticket can be bought in the United States or Australia.

Ansett also has a See Australia fare with a 25% discount off its normal fares. The same conditions apply.

Both Australian and Ansett have discontinued their air passes.

East-West Airlines has a pair of passes that have to be bought in the United States. However, you can fly to Australia on any airline and use any fare, not just promotional rates.

Both of East-West’s passes cost about $457 U.S. at current rates of exchange, with the rates in Australian dollars set until March 31.

The East Side Air Pass allows unlimited travel for two weeks in eastern Australia, excluding Cairns. However, Alice Springs in central Australia has been added to the pass. Unlike most passes, this one allows you to backtrack so you can visit destinations more than once. (Usually backtracking is forbidden except for connecting flights.)

The Coastal Air Pass is a directional pass and allows you to visit Cairns, Brisbane, Surfer’s Paradise, Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania. You can also fly this route in reverse order. This pass excludes backtracking.

East-West also has a Visit Australia fare that gives overseas travelers a 25% discount off regular economy fares. You can fly to Australia on any fare or carrier, and there are no mileage requirements. The tickets, though, have to be bought in the United States.

Contact travel agents or Australian toll-free at (800) 922-5122, Ansett at (800) 366-1300, East-West at (800) 354-7471 and Qantas at (800) 227-4500.

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American Marketing, which was mentioned in last week’s column as publisher of a series of “half-price” travel books containing discount coupons, has changed its phone number. To order, call (305) 923-3486 (available 24 hours). Address: 5260 N.W. 15th St., Margate, Fla. 33063.