Heightened sanitation
Daily cleaning, installation of cabin HEPA filters on flights to Port Douglas
Low season |
May | Best time to beat the crowds (5% less expensive on average) |
|---|---|---|
High season |
December | Most popular time to fly (18% more expensive on average) |
Average price (return flight) |
$383 | (avg. price over the last 2 weeks) |
Good deal (return flight) |
$144 | or less |
Good deal one-way |
$71 | or less |
Qantas Airways, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have waived their change and cancellation fees on flights to Port Douglas. Confirm policies on booking site.
LATAM Airlines, Delta and Etihad Airways do not allow booking a middle seat on flights to Port Douglas.
You cannot fly directly to Port Douglas. KAYAK recommends you fly to Cairns (CNS) (54.18 km from Port Douglas). From there you can hire a car or take a taxi.
The closest airport is Cairns (CNS) (54.18 km). KAYAK recommends you fly to Cairns.
Cairns Airport is 54 kilometres from the centre of Port Douglas. View on map.
KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Port Douglas.
KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Port Douglas is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.
Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Port Douglas with an airline and back with another airline.
Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Port Douglas up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.
Scores according to KAYAK customer reviews
Pros: "Getting off the flight"
Cons: "The Flight attendant allowed a passenger to change seats to sit right next to my seat without asking if I was happy with this. I have previously requested to changes seats and been told it is not allowable. No entertainment options available on the flight. The meal/refreshment was a chocolate cookie, which was dry and inedible. The cabin was not clean and uncomfortable."
Pros: "We got there."
Cons: "Plane (Boeing 747 - QF15) was dirty (grime like dust up the air vents) on the side above windows and the plane looked old. Felt like we were breathing it in. Been on a lot of international flights and the meals left a lot to be desired. (scrambled eggs looked and tasted like mashed potatoes) Perhaps it's the toll from the nature of the job but the crew looked haggered and miserable. Some male crew members didn't have shirts properly tucked in - staff morale seemed low. Flying Qantas for the first time, it was a huge disappointment."
Pros: "Safety, solid plane, reliable, on time, felt secure on a flight unlike Tiger which had really a lot of issues with depressurization, weird sounds, etc."
Cons: "Travelled Cairns - Brisbane, and then Brisbane-Melbourne. Both flights same durations. On a flight from Cairns, we get beautiful quiche, hot, gourmet, pleasure to eat, and a cake. On a flight to Melbourne, we get miniature salty crackers and few passionfruit cookies. I know it's domestic flight, but on flight from Cairns we even had entertainment system with LCD! Quantas, are you holding some sort of grudge towards us Melbournians? ;)"
Pros: "Great service, good food."
Pros: "Helpful staff at terminal changed our tickets so we could sit together which was just lovely. Departed and arrived on time. Entertainment was good."
Cons: "No sleep masks provided. We missed out on certain foods, they just never came through and offered them. Food was horrible. Very little leg room."
Cons: "A healthy alternative would be great - even if just fresh fruit"
Pros: "friendly staff"
Pros: "Entertainment, meal and food were incredible & made up for the fact that flight was delayed due to weather."
Cons: "Unfortunately I was sitting next to a mother & child, so I was never offered chocolate or other things because I guess the crew thought I was part of that family and just deposited all chocolates and other things through the mothe who had to keep giving things to me. I'm 26!"
Pros: "It's a well oiled machine that gets you seamlessly and effortlessly from one city to the next."
Cons: "Staff only do the minimum they don’t go out of their way to make your experience special, unfortunately if you don’t ask you don’t get"
Pros: "On time. Very efficient staff. More of this please!"
Cons: "Not a lot!"
Pros: "Great crew & nice meals."
Cons: "The touchscreen menu icons does not seem to be working as you have to keep tapping the function tabs so many times. This is wasting a lot of time."
Pros: "Love qantas airways! Such a great and safe airline."
Pros: "It was our first time flying on Qantas. everything was above expectations."
Pros: "Everything, I was upgraded to the upper cabin, crews are wonderfully friendly and warm."
Cons: "First aid kit, in case of sudden nose bleed caused by dry air. Other than that, perfect!"
Pros: "Everything was fine, a bit late taking off but the time was made up"
Cons: "We left about a half hour late, but made up some of the time in the air."
Pros: "The departure was on time and arrival before time. The comfortable headphone The menu with possibility choose a dish before hand."
Cons: "Passport control in San Francisco took a very long time."
Pros: "It's a pleasant experience"
Pros: "Crew was great."
Cons: "Leg room was just ok."
Pros: "great food, entertainment & service"
Pros: "Normal standard for that kind of trip"
Pros: "Quality of interior"
Cons: "Food"
Pros: "warm food even on domestic flight"
Pros: "Could not fault"
Pros: "Overall feel of the flight. The focus in safety"
Cons: "The flight was delayed for 3.5 hours. Limited selection of movied"
Pros: "Personable staff"
Cons: "Delayed 2 hours with little info."
Pros: "Great flight on the 787 Dreamliner and the crew were fantastic. I wish I could say the same thing for Baggage services. I have a business meeting tomorrow morning and presently they can't even reconcile their own Baggage Receipt number! I expect more when travelling (and paying) for business class."
Cons: "Plane was approx 1 hour late"
Pros: "Crew member Trevor was funny and the perfect host. Good selection of movies."
Cons: "Seats are super uncomfortable and there is no privacy ... worst Business class facilities I’ve ever experienced. Seriously substandard might as well fly economy or better still use a different airline."
Pros: "Crew members were attentive and helpful."
Cons: "The seat was too narrow for keg space. Especially when I had someone who seated in front who's big n he has to bend his seat far behind"
Pros: "New business layout is more comfortable comfortable and private."
Pros: "Really nice hostesses. Professional, friendly, interested in travellers. Very welcome when you're travelling home after a long day."
Cons: "Planes are looking a bit tired."
Pros: "Excellent flight - great from start to finish. Free wifi was a bonus! delicious afternoon tea"
Pros: "Staff were friendly. Enjoyed getting a meal included in the ticket for everyone."
Cons: "Could be more of a range of movies to watch"
Pros: "Flight was straight forward, left and landed on time"
Cons: "QANTAS cancelled my original 10am flight with a text at 5.20am that morning, this stressed me quite a bit as we were flying to Sydney for a wedding that afternoon"
Cons: "Crew service was disgraceful"
Pros: "Staff and flight was perfect otherwise."
Cons: "Flight delayed out of Melbourne."
Pros: "Individual usb charge port and meal"
Pros: "Looking out the window."
Cons: "Flight changed from an A330 to a B737 perhaps as Resukt if the public holiday"
Cons: "Terrible procedures in Sidney and Los-Angeles with uncertainty, broken schedule , chaos and wasting passengers' time."
Pros: "Friendly crew."
Cons: "Nothing that is unique to Qantas or just flying in general."
Pros: "Everything."
Pros: "Dinner meal"
Cons: "Nil"
Pros: "A cut above all others"
Cons: "I was right by the toilets"
Cons: "Late leaving and still pretending it was going to leave sooner than it did. It boarded 15 mins after the published delayed departure time. Staff wouldn't even call to find out when it would really leave. Lounge closed before the flight was called,"
Cons: "All round excellent"
Pros: "Everything."
Cons: "can not think of any."
Pros: "Really unhappy with Virgin Australia will never book a flight with them again. Also bad communication"
Pros: "Not much to like"
Cons: "The flight was delayed by 2 hours"
Cons: "We flew Virgin Airlines from Perth to Brisbane and we were not charges extra for my son's surfboard because his total luggage was with in the 20kg. When we flew to Cairns from Brisbane they made us pay $70 for the surfboard and they would not listen to reason. Based on your inconsistencies in your rules, we will not fly Virgin airlines ever again even if it is the cheapest option (which it isnt). Alexandra Mills"
Pros: "nice to have a christmas treat!"
Pros: "The flight met my expectations with nothing to take it beyond that."
Pros: "One baggage included for each passenger."
Cons: "Only one toilette ."
Pros: "You guys never do me wrong!"
Pros: "Friendly helpful staff"
Pros: "Cabin crew were friendly & relaxed . Food was best of airline food i have had."
Cons: "I don't like cramped seating on such a long flight, 5 hours."
Pros: "Crew on board as always were great - attentive without being intrusive."
Cons: "I fail to understand why all Melbourne passengers now must transit at the very inconvenient Brisbane terminal rather than fly direct from Melbourne. It is enough to make people think twice about the MEL/LAX route with VA. The new business suites are long overdue and hopefully will be in place early next year. Check was APPALLING and eventually led us to miss our flight. If check in staff offer to help you with anything - don't let them."
Pros: "Movies good Boarding and luggage retrieval good"
Cons: "Arrived an hour late Was another passengers fault tho but annoying"
Cons: "Flight was late and Sydney departures chaotic AND CROWDED"
Cons: "Announce the app download well before boarding so that I can get it. I never had a chance"
Pros: "Departed on time and arrived on time."
Cons: "Fine as is."
Pros: "Good crew, clean."
Cons: "Food both free and purchased. Seat most uncomfortable after and hour and a half."
Cons: "On time."
Pros: "fast boarding"
Cons: "Better Movies"
Pros: "Snack was good"
Cons: "Seats very uncomfortable and msny headrests would not stay in position making back of neck very uncomfortable. Also. Making passengers board via rear plane door and stairs where ramp to front plane door was used makes it much more difficult for seniors with carry on bag. Should use of front entra"
Cons: "The air pressure in the plane not good causing significant pain I’m my ears"
Pros: "First time trying the new inflight Wifi - great!"
Pros: "On time"
Cons: "Nothing"
Cons: "Not very comforting seats"
Pros: "Movie selection was good. Complimentary wine was excellent and plentiful."
Cons: "Seat room was cramped."
Cons: "Delays from Sydney to Cairns were disappointing and VA did nothing to make up for it. (The flight was pretty empty so that was a plus!"
Cons: "No organization in check in process. Staff unfriendly and unhelpful. No control over situation."
Pros: "Very friendly"
Pros: "NA"
Cons: "Despite multiple confirmation emails from Kayak (including this survey). But I found out last minute from the airline that the flight never actually got booked, so I needed to book a different flight last minute."
Pros: "friendly and polite staff all was good"
Cons: "passengers with large carry on bags fill up overhead lockers by the time you get to your seat they are already full with peoples bags that are nowhere near their seat allocation."
Pros: "On time"
Cons: "Nothing"
Pros: "On time"
Cons: "Nothing"
Cons: "There was an extremely long line at check-in with only a couple of Virgin Australia attendants working. Despite the line (of several hundred people), the staff appeared to have no urgency about moving customers through the check-in process, and at one point two of the the three workers quit working, packed up and left. Replacements arrived five minutes later and took another five to ten minutes to set-up before helping customers - leaving one agent for the overflowing line. Total wait time for check-in alone was over 1 hour."
Cons: "Boarding made half passengers drag their carryon luggage down stairs, then drag them up the plane. Not acceptable! Almost pulled my back out."
Cons: "See above"
Pros: "Nice crew."
Cons: "This flight was full with many families with small children. The parents exercised almost no control over their rambunctious children. A gentlemen in my row turned around to request that the children seated behind him not bang and bump the back of his seat. After 3 such requests a fight almost broke out between adults. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this on a flight. I myself got no rest on the 3 hr flight to Cairns."
Pros: "Good Service"
Pros: "Not much"
Cons: "Check in was terrible. The kiosks were not working and there was NO staff available to instruction or to ask questions. The check-in and bag drop off lines elevate terrible. I believe a big problem is they only allow one bag including carry-on and there were no signs indicating this!"
Pros: "Can watch movies by phone"
Cons: "The food, the service are very normal"
Pros: "Boarding in Sydney was easier than anticipated. Crew were good"
Cons: "Stop off in Darwin? Really? Star Alliance is a bit of a joke-poor coordination between VA and Air NZ. No lounge access given we’re Air NZ elite members"
Pros: "Comfortable seat"
Cons: "Lack of communication - flights to and from Brisbane to Sydney 2/3 hours late in departure."
Pros: "I missed the connection in Sydney to get to Cairns… So, still waiting to board the last leg of the flight. The airport in Sydney was really busy and it just took a while to go through customs, and baggage claims etc.."
Cons: "Nice people but the seats are close so very tight fit for anyone over 5"5'"
Pros: "Mostly everything"
Cons: "The seats were a bit cramped."
Pros: "No significant problem"
Pros: "First class was dirt"
Pros: "Enormous leg room"
Cons: "Fly Virgin Australia every time if possible"
Pros: "Free wine"
Cons: "The plane was delayed. Why. Not quite sure."
Pros: "2 free checked bags when flying domestically is a big plus!"
Pros: "everything was great"
Pros: "Staff polite and helpful at boarding desk"
Cons: "Poor food selection"
Pros: "Crew was friendly and helpful."
Cons: "Literally had to cut in front of people exiting the landed flight in LA and run to the next flight, which was going from LA to Sydney. Same thing happened after landing in Sydney. Had to collect my bags, go through customs, recheck bags, take a shuttle to a domestic flight terminal, go through security, then I hear over the speaker it was the final boarding call for my flight, had to run again. I am a 56 y/o woman, was not fun. When I arrived in Cairns at about noon, I found that my bag missed the flight. I was told my bag would be delivered to my hotel in Palm Cove that evening, I received my bag the next morning. The flights into and out of LA were run by Delta, the flight from Sydney to Cairns was VIrgin Australia."
Pros: "Got me there safe"
Cons: "The seats are horrible."
Pros: "Nothing"
Pros: "Lower rate"
Cons: "Cost of our bags exceeded $400"
Pros: "nothing"
Cons: "i had to pay for my bags, and while traveling im on a short budget almost couldnt een pay for it"
Pros: "Check in was a snap at the Kiosk. Legroom on the plane was good."
Cons: "I wasn't allowed on board with my just purchased coffee."
Pros: "Nothing"
Cons: "Two cancelled flights in two days. Two hours on the phone trying to confirm rescheduled flight. No one knew what was going on. Four half full flights departed while i was at the gate and I couldn't get on one. Almost missed the rescheduled flight three hours later because they failed to check me in properly. Ridiculous. Thank god the staff at the gate were reasonable. Terrible. Terrible. Terrible."
Pros: "Very smooth flight"
Pros: "All support costs a fee...not even tea was free"
Cons: "I booked my flight online and instantly realised that I had gotten the return date incorrect. I then spent the next few days prior to my departure and a significant part of my time away trying to call Jetstar to change my return flight. All in all I spent in excess of 21 hours on the phone on hold to them, never actually speaking to a person, many times my phone going flat whilst waiting. I ended up just booking a new flight online for the correct day and then asking at the airport if they could refund my other flight. They told me that I would have to contact customer service by phone. So so far I have spent another 3 hours on hold with no results. I don't really know what other direction to take if they refuse to take phone calls. What sort of an airline does this?"
Pros: "The fight was on time and the prices were good as well"
Cons: "The coffee and food that we bought on plain weren't nice enough compare to the prices that we were paid."
Cons: "May be offered water to everyone."
Pros: "We were given delay updates regularly, even when the delay time remained consistent."
Cons: "We had to empty our water bottles prior to getting on board which felt like a waste of resources. If it is necessary to do so, maybe it would be beneficial for the staff to let us know why we have to dump clean water down the drain."
Pros: "It was wider than I expected."
Cons: "Old."
Cons: "Service was fast and efficient"
Pros: "For that price it was a great flight"
Pros: "Adequate"
Cons: "In this day and age, i expect to have free entertainment even with a short hall"
Pros: "Nothing actually"
Cons: "Late departure, uncomfortable seats, rude staff"
Pros: "Crew wasn’t that polite."
Cons: "Anything extra"
Pros: "That l got sms messages regarding my flight details and where to collect my luggage!! Awesome"
Cons: "Got charged $120 at the gate as my bags were 7.5kg not 7kg. Blatant money grab."
Pros: "They got me were I was going, just as it says on the tin."
Cons: "Don't know what hours they work, but the crew were clearly fatigued and couldn't be bothered. They were still polite but really just could not be a***d! Flight delayed by 20 mins and no explanation until airborne."
Pros: "Arrived ahead of time"
Cons: "Nothing really"
Cons: "My father passed away this morning, and I couldn’t call anyone to change my flight. The number didn’t work. So I had to purchase 2 new tkts for the 11.30 flight home."
Pros: "I hadn’t seen the option to book my luggage so when I arrived in the airport I had to pay extra for my luggage (I assume this is more feedback for kayak then for Jetstar). The crew helped me really well to add my luggage but the extra fee was kind of a bummer.. Had a great flight, beautiful airplane and wonderful crew."
Cons: "Didn’t get food or entertainment so not applicable"
Pros: "Newer plane, arrived on time."
Cons: "You have to pay extra for everything. Even though it’s an eight hour flight there is no food, drink or entertainment included. They do have screens at the back of each seat but it’s $10 to watch a limited selection. The food and drink are expensive. It gets cold in the plane but you guessed it if you ask for a blanket you have to buy a $20 “comfort pack”. So be prepared!"
Cons: "Child behind sitting on floor banging seat and loud devices being used with no ear phones so couldn’t rest"
Pros: "Smooth flight"
Cons: "Extra fees were unexpected."
Cons: "Rude service"
Pros: "never fly with Jetstar again ripped off with return baggage cost girl at reception seemed to get pleasure at taking 60 dollars from me for another hidden cost"
Pros: "Very smooth flight and the best landing ever! did not feel or know we had touched down."
Cons: "Don't fall for the scam where Kayak doesn't redirect you to the airline site, but rather has you book the flight within the Kayak site. They charge you a $10US surcharge on top of the flight cost. You can just as easily type in the airline site and book (for the same cost) without paying Kayak $10. It's not well disclosed and you can google all the complaints about Travelfuson (Kayak owner) online."
Cons: "The entire experience"
Pros: "Great crew that were all very friendly, Water was provided for free"
Cons: "Meals are not provided and drinks other than water will cost you Australian airports and immigration is a pain, even for an Australian!"
Pros: "Good seat and small load so could move around"
Cons: "No entertainment and charges for everything."
Pros: "Smooth ride"
Cons: "I'm a thin man and am 5'9" (pretty average height) and I couldn't fit comfortably in my seat. The space between rows was so tight my knees were squished into the seat in front of me."
Cons: "This was the least legroom I've ever had in a plane. The seats were so close together that they hardly reclined at all. This was very disappointing since we were on a red-eye that left at midnight. Most uncomfortable I've ever been on a plane. I was also surprised to see trash in most of the seat pockets around where I was seated."
Pros: "Nothing, because I didn't have had any food."
Cons: "Nothing, Because I didn't have had any food."
Pros: "We got everything we paid for"
Cons: "Some of the cabin crew including the manager need to lighten up and smile occasionally"
Cons: "Walk from gate 49 to closest exit doors 1.9km, no travellators. Are you kidding me? Never again."
Pros: "Did not order any food, so there were no surprise charges."
Cons: "Beware, they charge $15 per kilogram for over weight luggage."
Pros: "Take off and landing was very smooth. Great staff"
Cons: "There were 2 employees I spoke with when checking in about my carry on baggage and they didn't say anything. Then Jetstar sends someone to the gate with a scale to catch everyone they have already let through with bags to see if they can hit us with the most expensive bag fee since it is gste side at that point. It was a shady move since we would have paid much less at the check in desk. Not cool!"
Pros: "I wish all airlines were as professional and prompt."
Pros: "Nice staff and very clean planes."
Cons: "Just stay away from this airline. One of the worst in the world. Don't care about their customers at all."
Pros: "The plane was relatively new."
Cons: "Boarding was late. Food selection was poor Entertainment choices were slim And obviously charging for luggage and food sucks."
Pros: "Nothing"
Cons: "Late to board then sat on runway for 2 hours. In 3 weeks I've taken 4 flights with them. All of which were late or horrible service. No respect for their customers."
Pros: "nothing good to say. Would have rather taken a different airline with a longer connecting route rather than direct with jet star."
Cons: "Payed $90 online to choose my seat, but was denied it at boarding, no refund. the cabin is freezing cold and they make you pay $10 for the little blanket, but actually they deny it to you on board if you didn't pay online (I laughed out loud because that is total nonsense). they charge $4 for the coffee... No big deal. But besides those little details, it's an overall unpleasant experience and even a bit sinister they way they cut corners. They seem to be cutting corners on safety with their taxiway and parking procedures much like Ryanair. I was swiftly reprimanded for taking some perfectly innocent photos of the plane (like every holiday goer does), because the pilot didn't want any 'trouble'. Whatever the reason for that immediately defensive reaction, it's not a good sign. jetstar has a bad record of safety as we all know."
Pros: "Nothing"
Cons: "Crew , baggage price , food"
Airlines flying to Port Douglas have enacted additional safety measures and adjusted policies to better accommodate travellers. Policies vary by airline.
Heightened sanitation
Daily cleaning, installation of cabin HEPA filters on flights to Port Douglas
Mandatory masks
Masks required on board, masks provided on flights to Port Douglas
Social distancing seating
Middle seats unavailable to book on flights to Port Douglas
Pre-flight testing
Testing for antibodies, testing for symptoms for flights to Port Douglas
Flexible cancellations
Waiving of change fees. Search flexible flights to Port Douglas