Heightened sanitation
Daily cleaning, installation of cabin HEPA filters on flights from Cairns to Canberra
Low season |
May | Best time to beat the crowds (19% less expensive on average) |
|---|---|---|
High season |
August | Most popular time to fly (27% more expensive on average) |
Average price (return flight) |
$504 | (avg. price over the last 2 weeks) |
Good deal (return flight) |
$377 | or less |
Good deal one-way |
$231 | or less |
Qantas Airways has waived its change and cancellation fees on flights from Cairns to Canberra. Confirm policy on booking site.
The average direct flight takes 4h 40m, covering a distance of 2076 km.
There are 5 (direct) flights between Cairns and Canberra per week, averaging 0 per day.
In the past 3 days, the cheapest return tickets were found on Multiple Airlines ($512) and Virgin Australia ($562)
Qantas Airways flies 5 times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday).
From Cairns to Canberra, Friday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Monday is the most expensive. Flying from Canberra back to Cairns , the best deals are generally found on Sunday, with Saturday being the most expensive.
When flying out of Cairns you will be using Cairns, often referred to as Cairns Airport. You will be landing at Canberra, also known as Canberra Airport.
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 from Cairns to Canberra.
KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Canberra from Cairns is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers 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 return ticket. You could then fly to Canberra with an airline and back to Cairns 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 Canberra from Cairns 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: "Pretty much self serving at the back of the plane ( like it)"
Cons: "Those seats were not comfortable; each row was too narrow, felt like a Sardine fish packed in the can. After back home, swear not fly with Qantas again."
Pros: "On time. Very efficient staff. More of this please!"
Cons: "Not a lot!"
Cons: "Qantas always gives great service"
Pros: "quick flight. tasty snack"
Cons: "nil"
Pros: "Good entertainment, tasty food, easy boarding and disembarking"
Cons: "nil"
Pros: "CREW WAS HELPFUL AND OBLIGING."
Cons: "IT WAS AN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT FROM DARWIN TO MELOURNE. THE 'SNACK' OF 2 PORK BOA BUNS AND JUICE/TEA/COFFEE OR AN APPLE AND SOME CRISPS, WAS POOR AND COULD DO WITH SOME IMPROVEMENT. RATHER UNSATISFACTORY."
Cons: "The flight from Cairns to JFK that I originally purchased was supposed to be 7 hours of travel time less than what I actually ended up with. The airline changed my flights 4 times after originally booking."
Pros: "All as expected."
Cons: "Crew could have been more pleasant."
Pros: "Good food and entertainment"
Cons: "Timely"
Cons: "They didn’t leave my food. They took it away."
Pros: "Crew was great! food was good entertainment was good"
Cons: "Economy seats very small and uncomfortably. Unable to get any rest on 14 hour flight. I will pay extra next time but online description made it sound better than was"
Cons: "No screaming children"
Pros: "Great flight. Efficient and great service."
Cons: "Seats very uncomfortable.. glad it was only a few hours."
Pros: "The crew were so incredibly friendly and helpful! The food was delicious, and entertainment was great."
Cons: "Nothing. It was a great flight."
Pros: "all good"
Cons: "all good"
Pros: "It got me from b to c"
Cons: "Significantly delayed hoarding for non technical reasons. Food was decidedly average. Seat pitch is just tolerable."
Cons: "Boarding is very haphazard, not according to seat numbers, no pre boarding for small babies. Flight attendant spilled juice on me, very unprofessional."
Pros: "The seats were comfy."
Cons: "I booked through Budget Air and was initially online able to confirm seats and meals for my husband and I online with Qantas easily. Months out my flight was cancelled and I was rebooked onto a later flight that would have made us miss all of our transfers to our honeymoon on Fitzroy Island. Because I had booked through 'a 3rd party' Qantas refused to assist me. I managed to convince budget air to change our flights. We were moved to a jetstar flight from Melbourne to cairns. I had to confirm that this had occurred and go through multiple people online to reallocate seats and food options for my husband and myself again. Only my luggage allowance was carried across to jetstar and neither of our meal allowances were. When it came to online check-in with jetstar I could not check my husband in online only myself. I spoke to multiple people online who all confirmed they didn't know why or there was no problem and we should just present ID and check in in person. When we got to the airport Qantas had not transferred the e-ticket code across for my husband's booking and this is why we could not check him in online. The jetstar staff had to try to get his original booking code from Qantas. As it turned out I had to original booking code through budget Air in my hand and had to assert this information to staff. Flying back we were able to check in online fine with Qantas. Our boarding passes printed different sizes but did not present a problem when we dropped off our luggage. When we sent to check in the staff member couldn't get the smaller pass to read and my husband had to assert that he also had it on his phone. Despite all of my online conversations the aisle seat was allocated to me and not my husband who required it because of a medical condition and the flight was 30min delayed. We won't be traveling with Qantas or jetstar, or booking through budget Air again."
Cons: "Flight attendant kept forgetting to turn the entertainment back on after an announcement. Flight attendant sounded unprofessional over PA Would like more snacks - savoury and sweet, instead of just savoury. Snack was not sufficient for a 3 hour flight landing at 9pm. Had to wait on plane while airbridge was brought to the plane so everyone could disembark - “they weren’t expecting the flight!!” Whole flight still waiting for luggage after 55 minutes of standing at carousel and only after 55 minutes an announcement to say handlers are tending to a departure and we have to wait another 10 minutes - a whole hour for luggage - take carry on only next time!!!! 4 flights collecting luggage from the one carousel!!"
Cons: "Why have priority baggage when it doesn’t seem to work, except in inverse proportions"
Pros: "everything was lovely"
Cons: "the outdated on flight entertainment system"
Cons: "In flight wifi and entertainment didnt work"
Pros: "Qantas staff unfailingly helpful and courteous."
Cons: "A more suitable lunch that could be eaten more easily , the quiche in a fidley box and nothing to w eat it on was trying."
Pros: "Helpful staff, well informed"
Cons: "Boarding is a gong show. Not very clear signage for premium line so there’s always a ton of people jamming up the queue"
Pros: "Snacks provided were very nice. Flight was shorter than expected."
Cons: "Nothing we didn't like, all was good!"
Pros: "Easy boarding"
Cons: "All ok really"
Pros: "Everything was great - arrived early. Excellent service."
Pros: "Once we boarded the experience was positive."
Cons: "The flight was late causing me to be late for a meeting"
Cons: "Delay"
Pros: "Smooth flight, good breakfast options, easy check-in, flight was on time."
Cons: "I"
Pros: "The crew is always nice and approachable. The entertainment is usually high but this time around there weren't many good choices."
Cons: "The food is AWFUL, and has been getting worse as the years go on. Absolutely terrible taste, stomach-churning smells and gross consistency. During boarding I was profiled by one of your gate agents and "selected for further screening" ... not fun. No explanations, just surly, inattentive agents performing further checks on items that had already been twice-checked at security. Awful service."
Pros: "Short flight . It's ok"
Cons: "Seat"
Pros: "Smooth flight"
Cons: "Hostess did not allow 2 ounce drink every other time traveled by qantas 10 times in last 5 yrs had no issue This time qantas made us take our baggage to terminal 2 west jet check in counter which head office should know is a far distance should have arranged to do so like other times in the past"
Pros: "Chargers in all the seats, great movies, great food."
Cons: "9 hour delay and zero assistance rearranging car rentals, hotels, EXPENSIVE transfer between airport terminals"
Pros: "Awesome service!"
Pros: "On time efficient service"
Cons: "Food."
Pros: "Amazing crew and staff."
Cons: "No vegetetarian food option, seat 16f was soiled, fold down tray had sticky residue from previous flight(s)."
Pros: "They gave us loaner strollers to get the kids through the airport. So family friendly. Food was great too."
Cons: "No complaints."
Pros: "We were late arriving due to roadworks at the entrance to the airport leading us miles out of our way due to poor signage Baggage had closed and the Qantas staff were excellent in ensuring that we caught the flight .Well done !"
Cons: "Flight was delayed and then didn't board on time"
Pros: "So easy to get from international to domestic. Which was such a releif when trying to get home to a family emergency"
Pros: "On Time performance"
Cons: "Catering/Food"
Pros: "Nothing to be honest.."
Cons: "food was pathetic, served late, i have always found the Qantas crew to be rude. No change to that. Somethings dont change. this is one of them. I first flew w Qantas in 2005 in business class, and since then i have downgraded. But the attitude hasn't changed. It's as if we are doing service by choosing Qantas...."
Cons: "Lost a bag Charged for bags Made us check in our overhead bags-No quality carrier does that."
Cons: "Hot food disgusting."
Pros: "Good meals, friendly service. Very comfortable"
Cons: "2 hour delay"
Pros: "New'ish plane interior"
Cons: "4 hours delayed (with no advance warning). No continental breakfast option (only hot)."
Pros: "Seat material (leather) and cushion was comfortable."
Cons: "No leg room, my knees were pressed into the back of the seat in front, which became very painful. No wriggle room without disturbing person alongside. A ridiculous "snack". What happened to biscuits and cheese? Not trendy any longer i presume. Even Qantas serve that! No wine. Again, ridiculous. Condescending stewards, if that's what you are supposed to call them these "woke" days."
Pros: "Safe trip"
Cons: "Better food and choice of drinks"
Pros: "Crew were great - some in cabin entertainment would have been great. Or since it was available for phone this should have been explained."
Cons: "Allow power outlets for the mobile phones if movies were accessible"
Cons: "It would have been a normal trip but we were delayed about an hour in Cairns because the passenger count didn’t add up to what the computer said. This made it very tight to catch our next flight. Barely had time to use the bathroom."
Pros: "Crew great. Very grateful for the cuppa"
Cons: "Headrest low for a tall person. Shoulders sort of rested on it. Notconfy"
Cons: "The flight was fine but it was 4 hours behind schedule."
Cons: "Virgin app did not authorise my boarding credentials"
Pros: "Free WiFi and a snack of crackers and a dip."
Cons: "All good!"
Pros: "Felt Cheap"
Cons: "Felt Cheap. Not even an entertainment center and no one on flight could make the app download or work."
Pros: "Director flight at a good time"
Cons: "nothing"
Pros: "Flight was on time, no charge for checked baggage, a sandwich and juice were served, and it was all for the price of a budget carrier."
Cons: "In flight entertainment system was not working. Then again, who expected an in-flight entertainment system at this price point?!"
Cons: "In flight entertainment die not work for me..."
Pros: "The flight was 45 minutes because they put on the burner"
Cons: "The fact that 8.30 flight is delayed 2.5 hours and they had no other aircraft available to schedule ."
Pros: "I didn’t die"
Cons: "Where’s the coffee? What about a proper snack? Why are the stewardesses so grumpy?"
Pros: "Great service and a free hot meal! Couldn't ask for more."
Cons: "I didn't get a ticket through the reservation and had to pay extra at the airport for another seat."
Pros: "I loved the food and friendly airline staff. They were very accommodating."
Cons: "I have no complaints."
Pros: "Complimentary snack and drink."
Pros: "Good service, friendly staff. Amazing how fast they board a plane!"
Pros: "-Professional, clean. Staff seemed happy to be there. -Use of both front and rear boarding allows for faster departure."
Cons: "-Need clearer instructions or a crew member to direct passengers to front or back of plane. -In flight entertainment depends on predownload of an app."
Pros: "Quick and efficient once we boarded"
Cons: "Seats small. One crew member had massive attitude Was getting very upset at Asians who kept trying to switch seats. She was, in my opinion, unprofessional with her comments and was taking it very personal."
Pros: "flight crew, food service"
Cons: "no leg room, limited complimentary beverages"
Pros: "It was a full flight but take off and landing were on time and staff and service was good and friendly."
Pros: "Check in was easy and the flight was on time. Good service"
Pros: "Free luggage check and a meal for a 2.5 hour flight."
Pros: "The crew,the food"
Cons: "It was delayed near one hour"
Pros: "Courteous, friendly staff."
Pros: "Na"
Cons: "Na"
Pros: "Rebooked on earlier flight and it was early!"
Pros: "flight was delayed."
Cons: "service"
Cons: "No ability to use entertainment unless app downloaded prior to flight."
Pros: "That's the main thing :)"
Pros: "Boarding procedures were good, check in went smoothly."
Cons: "Horrible attitude of crew, didn't appear to care for their passengers or concerns. No entertainment available and assistance for such not provided even when requested. Food ?"
Pros: "Easy bording process. Left early and smooth flight."
Pros: "Flight on time and flight attendants were very attentive."
Cons: "All good!"
Pros: "There was a medical emergency on board and the crew handled it calmly and quietly. Very professional."
Pros: "Easy flight and transfer to domestic."
Pros: "Flight attendants recognized my discomfort, asked about pain. Gave me ice, pain medication and water for my toothache. Great job."
Cons: "The toothache."
Pros: "Great crew and good service."
Cons: "Two things - I dont like is the size of the seats. They are far too small. Most people are relatively big these days and when you sit next to a large person or between two large people the whole flight is so uncomfortable. The other thing is the air vents - no where near enough air coming through those - please fix :("
Cons: "Flight was very bumpy, and the air inside the plane was stuffy. I felt nauseated all the way through from take off to landing"
Pros: "Accommodating crew, helpful when feeling ill"
Cons: "Horrible food, no leg room, little room to move"
Pros: "Professional service"
Cons: "Food was not very appetising"
Cons: "I wish that there were places for me to plug in my chargers"
Pros: "Everything was a pleasure, the staff, the flight were all great,I will definately be recommending virgin to all my friends. Thanks for making the experience most enjoyable!!"
Pros: ""
Pros: "Did not give us a hard time about bags that were a little over weight."
Pros: "Nothing"
Cons: "Nothing, the flight cancelled and their rescheduling efforts were not any consolation."
Cons: "The flight was cancelled the last minute and I called the carrier airlines and they say that nothing can be done and I asked to speak to someone from Kayak and I called a mobile number and had no answer , I will never book again"
Pros: "Nothing"
Pros: "Everything from check in to in-plane service was first class."
Airlines flying from Cairns to Canberra 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 from Cairns to Canberra
Mandatory masks
Masks required on board, masks provided on flights from Cairns to Canberra
Social distancing seating
Middle seats unavailable to book on flights from Cairns to Canberra
Pre-flight testing
Testing for antibodies, testing for symptoms for flights from Cairns to Canberra
Flexible cancellations
Waiving of change fees. Search flexible flights from Cairns to Canberra