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Find cheap flights from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California from $632

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Melbourne to California departing on 1/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
Thu 23/5
Thu 30/5

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Best California Flight Deals

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Los Angeles
Los Angeles2 stops$1,146
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$1,260
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$2,348
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$2,236

Good to know

Low season

January

High season

October

Cheapest flight

$632
Best time to beat the crowds (4% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 18% lower on average.
Flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles

FAQs - booking California flights

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California?

    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 Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to California from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California?

    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 California with an airline and back to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) to California?

    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 California from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Morning departure is around 9% more expensive than an evening flight, on average*.
*Average of the lowest prices shown in KAYAK’s search results for departures within the next 30 days

Top 5 airlines serving from Melbourne to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Melbourne to California? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.1
EmiratesOverall score based on 4072 reviews
8.1comfort
8.2boarding
7.9food
8.3crew
8.3entertainment
Airline reviews

I am going to be just factual, not bad mouthing nor complaining, but this was my experience. With 3 pieces of luggage, I was told the flight from Mumbai to Dubai was cancelled due to flood. This was told not by the airport board which still showed the regular time of departure, but general stuff at the airport. No Emirates stuff around to direct the transfer passengers of the cancelled flights. By the departure counters with crowds of people, one by one, angry, frustrated, urgent conversations were going on. No announcement were made, no postings being seen, just private conversations. I still have 5+ hours of layover, so I let more urgent people settled first. However, the fact that no communication of when, what and where I should go was very unsettling. Basically no time limit waiting means, no meal, no sleep, no step away, no planning, no change plan, no telling of the family what to do. Nobody was able to tell you anything but asked you to wait, no chair, no space, no facility to freshen up. That went on for 10+ (from 5) hour without warnings and accurate communications. Email received from Emirates asked me not to go to Dubai at all, or boarding at the time that was passed. In other words, communication were very untimely, after the fact. That created more confusion instead. After changing several of boarding time, we were given the gate # and a boarding pass. However, the boarding pass still have the original time of boarding, so again, not knowing walking 30 min in the airport to the gate would make you late or not, therefore, still dare not to eat a meal. The flight arriving to Dubai was uneventful and I gave a 4/5 rating. I just thought the layover at Dubai would just cut short from 8+ hours to 2+ hours. At Dubai airport, I saw people sleeping on cardboard, knowing, these people got stranded but they dared to sleep because they know when to board and I didn't. Or these kind of delay are just so normal that people know what to do to pass time. Then the worst service and crazy thing happened. The boarding time on board for LA and at gate A9 was clearly 8:50AM. At 8:40, surprised by not having any boarding activities, then one single staff showed up and said to a few passengers that the boarding would be delayed without a time frame. Since only a few people know, I asked another Emirates staff at another counter, who simply said basically non of his business. I was shocked with that indifferent attitude. Yet every boards I saw show the same boarding time. What kind of system failure was that to prepare delay situation! How confusing and unnecessary chaos and anger that provoke. That poor staff had to repeat himself so many times, answered questions that he had no power nor information to provide nor solved. One an only one stuff to show up for 10 min, leaving the counter non-staff with board showing 8:50AM boarding. This was purely irresponsible from top to bottom of the entire airline operation staff. What kind of leader in a service industry would allow this to happen to their customers. Without explanation, after changing 3 times the boarding times, again, means you should not go to eat a full meal, because, when you found a mob at the gate. People who were stranded for 2 days were afraid of not getting a seat with a full plane. That would not be happening if the airline provide adequate guidance to each person, instead of just having 4 staff yelling at the gate at the same time to "control" the crowd, threatening no boarding and delay boarding. Finally, I was on board, hungry and tired, not sleep for 36 hours. I was denied with a snack of fruit. By the time meal was served, it was an hour later. Half way of the trip, I felt sleep in fetus position and did not want to move, happy I finally could have some shut eyes time. However, when I got up to the bathroom, I felt very light headed. Having sleep deprived, constipated for 3 days, dehydrated, I knew it could happen since my blood pressure usually was low closed to 90/60. Any lower then that, I could have syncope. Sure enough, I was on the floor just 10 feet from my seat and 5 feet to the bathroom. However, nobody called for help. I asked for warm water and juice to hydrate, came only with cold and icy drinks which I wouldn't take. I asked for blankets, one was given. Yet my shivering, needs to cover my head and multiple requests did not hasten to take the two blankets that are at my seat 10 feet away. I waited 10 min for that. While 2-3 staff surrounded me, nobody did the vitals until after 15 min, just the spirometer only of which did not work due to my cold fingers. The first reading was 86 and oxygen was suggested. But another supervising personnel came, fussed over another reading, ignoring my comfort and needs. Seemingly the reading of spirometer was the priority. By then, no oxygen needed. I had this fainting experience before, and I knew how to help myself. However, I was not being listened to but to be told this and that. Finally, I got better and returned to seat. One kind flight attendant said she would check back with me in 15 min. She did not come back. I felt asleep in that fetus position again and this time I woke up with a bad cramp at my left leg. Yet I needed to go to bathroom, the cramp was too bad to walk. So I stepped back to seat. When I tried again the second time, the other front leg got cramp. This time I dare not move but massaged myself. For all these 5-10 min, I called for attention. Attendants passed me by because they were carried with heavy load of blankets and stuff. Nobody answered the light. Then came landing and off board. I was asked by two attendants how I felt. I smiled and said "fine".

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Apr 2024DXB - LAX
Read more about Emirates reviews

I am going to be just factual, not bad mouthing nor complaining, but this was my experience. With 3 pieces of luggage, I was told the flight from Mumbai to Dubai was cancelled due to flood. This was told not by the airport board which still showed the regular time of departure, but general stuff at the airport. No Emirates stuff around to direct the transfer passengers of the cancelled flights. By the departure counters with crowds of people, one by one, angry, frustrated, urgent conversations were going on. No announcement were made, no postings being seen, just private conversations. I still have 5+ hours of layover, so I let more urgent people settled first. However, the fact that no communication of when, what and where I should go was very unsettling. Basically no time limit waiting means, no meal, no sleep, no step away, no planning, no change plan, no telling of the family what to do. Nobody was able to tell you anything but asked you to wait, no chair, no space, no facility to freshen up. That went on for 10+ (from 5) hour without warnings and accurate communications. Email received from Emirates asked me not to go to Dubai at all, or boarding at the time that was passed. In other words, communication were very untimely, after the fact. That created more confusion instead. After changing several of boarding time, we were given the gate # and a boarding pass. However, the boarding pass still have the original time of boarding, so again, not knowing walking 30 min in the airport to the gate would make you late or not, therefore, still dare not to eat a meal. The flight arriving to Dubai was uneventful and I gave a 4/5 rating. I just thought the layover at Dubai would just cut short from 8+ hours to 2+ hours. At Dubai airport, I saw people sleeping on cardboard, knowing, these people got stranded but they dared to sleep because they know when to board and I didn't. Or these kind of delay are just so normal that people know what to do to pass time. Then the worst service and crazy thing happened. The boarding time on board for LA and at gate A9 was clearly 8:50AM. At 8:40, surprised by not having any boarding activities, then one single staff showed up and said to a few passengers that the boarding would be delayed without a time frame. Since only a few people know, I asked another Emirates staff at another counter, who simply said basically non of his business. I was shocked with that indifferent attitude. Yet every boards I saw show the same boarding time. What kind of system failure was that to prepare delay situation! How confusing and unnecessary chaos and anger that provoke. That poor staff had to repeat himself so many times, answered questions that he had no power nor information to provide nor solved. One an only one stuff to show up for 10 min, leaving the counter non-staff with board showing 8:50AM boarding. This was purely irresponsible from top to bottom of the entire airline operation staff. What kind of leader in a service industry would allow this to happen to their customers. Without explanation, after changing 3 times the boarding times, again, means you should not go to eat a full meal, because, when you found a mob at the gate. People who were stranded for 2 days were afraid of not getting a seat with a full plane. That would not be happening if the airline provide adequate guidance to each person, instead of just having 4 staff yelling at the gate at the same time to "control" the crowd, threatening no boarding and delay boarding. Finally, I was on board, hungry and tired, not sleep for 36 hours. I was denied with a snack of fruit. By the time meal was served, it was an hour later. Half way of the trip, I felt sleep in fetus position and did not want to move, happy I finally could have some shut eyes time. However, when I got up to the bathroom, I felt very light headed. Having sleep deprived, constipated for 3 days, dehydrated, I knew it could happen since my blood pressure usually was low closed to 90/60. Any lower then that, I could have syncope. Sure enough, I was on the floor just 10 feet from my seat and 5 feet to the bathroom. However, nobody called for help. I asked for warm water and juice to hydrate, came only with cold and icy drinks which I wouldn't take. I asked for blankets, one was given. Yet my shivering, needs to cover my head and multiple requests did not hasten to take the two blankets that are at my seat 10 feet away. I waited 10 min for that. While 2-3 staff surrounded me, nobody did the vitals until after 15 min, just the spirometer only of which did not work due to my cold fingers. The first reading was 86 and oxygen was suggested. But another supervising personnel came, fussed over another reading, ignoring my comfort and needs. Seemingly the reading of spirometer was the priority. By then, no oxygen needed. I had this fainting experience before, and I knew how to help myself. However, I was not being listened to but to be told this and that. Finally, I got better and returned to seat. One kind flight attendant said she would check back with me in 15 min. She did not come back. I felt asleep in that fetus position again and this time I woke up with a bad cramp at my left leg. Yet I needed to go to bathroom, the cramp was too bad to walk. So I stepped back to seat. When I tried again the second time, the other front leg got cramp. This time I dare not move but massaged myself. For all these 5-10 min, I called for attention. Attendants passed me by because they were carried with heavy load of blankets and stuff. Nobody answered the light. Then came landing and off board. I was asked by two attendants how I felt. I smiled and said "fine".

The customer service was very poor. I didn’t get any accommodations for my cancelled flight. I was without any sleep for 36 hours.

The customers before boarding the plane from Dubai was HORRENDOUS. The entire Emirates staff had a stick up their bum. The guy at the check in booth was rude. I don’t understand.

Food is really bad, not to the Emirates standards. Coming out of Houston airport is very confusing,

Service needs to improve. Air hostess do not register flyers request and we need to keep on repeating our request to them on multiple occasions

The flight was great. We had to purchase extra long seats for the long flight. But overall it was great.

The experience was not as pleasant returning as leaving. Went through clearance twice, crew was not as customer focused.

WORST AIRLINE EVER—FOOD WAS MEDIOCRE AND WIDEBODY 777 BOEING WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE! IT WAS NOT WORTH THE MONEY THAT I PAID.

Amazing service and food. However I didn’t get chance to choose my own seat which bothered me a little.

More space all around is practically essential on long international fights, and Emirates definitely delivers. But food selection and taste was only average. Otherwise, the flight was smooth and the cabin crew service was fine.

Cathay Pacific seems to be an airline in trouble and on its way out. Lots of broken or poorly functioning things like entertainment screens, seats, and enough well trained staff to handle a full flight. Sad...

The boarding experience was as expected and went well. The plane's economy seating plan is not designed for a positive customer experience but rather for company profit. When the passenger in front of me reclined, the distance from the screen to my face was the span of my hand (thumb tip to pinky fingertip). There is no such thing as personal space in this setting. This results in the domino effect, for when I recline the person in back of me reclines and so it goes. This is not to say that reclining is the answer as the experience is not increased, but simply managed.

we were upgraded which was a blessing and tender mercy for us. I fell the day before and was in extreme pain from knee to shoulder. Sitting in a more comfortable seat during the flight was an unexpected blessing and experience.

The coffee in Premium economy and economy is terrible. That's it. Everything else is great

One of the worst flight in business class by qatar airways and I’m no stranger with qatar airways businesses class, I travelled with the extensively in the past 12 years

I felt thirsty and asked the flight attendent for water, but no one came for more than half an hour.

The crew were fine. I didn’t enjoy the food at all. I found it unappetising and really had trouble eating it. The comfort level was fine and our return flight is with Cathay Pacific but honestly I probably wouldn’t fly Cathay Pacific again.

Everything went smooth. All flights were on time No changing gates, . No changing flights . It was like a completely different airlines tha n the last time I used Cathay Pacific . The last flight, 2 months ago, I had before this one was from Philippines also . I got changed in Manila and was told it only added 2 hours onto my flight . My 20 hour return trip ended up being 30 hours return with a 10.0 hour layover in New York with no seats anywhere . Everyone was sleeping or sitting on the floor . Unlike the hotel I was given in Manila to wait for this flight home . I never thought I would use Cathay Pacific again . But I did and this time you were great! I should have complained about the flight and layover from Hell a couple months ago. Consider that I am complaining about that august/23 flight now . Thank you got the great flying experience on my way home from philippines .

Everything was good food could be better but ok for economy on my 2nd flight the head ph jack are bad you have to hold pushed in to hear anything but other then that very nice service

Flight was delayed. Drink was only offered during meal. Would have been nicer if crew walk around to offer drink after take off or in between meals.

Following a marathon flight riddled by delays and changes from Santiago, Chile, my flight to Melbourne from Sydney was on schedule but I was transferred to the next flight. The reason by ticketing and the floor manager was I missed the entry to flight by one minute! That's right, the emphasised that if I was 1 minute earlier I would be on the flight. I asked what was the point them emphasising 1minute overdue and how that helped me or the situation. They didn't care at all. Replying that if it was one minute earlier they would've done something and smirking delivering the information. Australian's do call Australia home, Qantas calls Australian's suckers.

1) crackly headphone jack 2) one of the emergency seats recline. Usually second row does. But in this case neither did 3) food was scrambled eggs or fruit. 4) fruit should not be the option to eggs 5)miserable unpleasant crew not a smile. Thought that was a virgin thing

Business lounge in Melbourne mediocre. Look at Emirates or Qatar, Qantas! Great friendly crew. Food was good but Emirates is a level above. Business seat good. But can’t compare to Qatar. Main reason for booking Qantas is loyalty and terrific connection via Perth to LHR.

I was pleasantly surprised with my flight to LA with Qantas. Although seats were not the roomies, service was excellent.

Wonderful crew, good food. Absolutely loved the wine spritz and wish I could buy it!

Don’t like last minute airline change. Not able to choose seat earlier.

Enjoyed the new possibilities of in flight entertainment. Been awhile since I've flown, and that was a nice surprise. Being able to pick from such a variety was personalized and welcomed.

The flight met my expectations. It left and landed on time

I was in premium economy. My seat didn’t recline much - it was broken. My phone charger didn’t work.

Flights delayed multiple times, travellers requests for updates ignored. Qantas continues to desatisfy travelling basics.

Note that food has to be purchased in flight. No free food. And no entertainment in flight. So I’ve treated these two items as okay which, in this case, means neutral/not applicable.

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

No food taken so can't rate also no entertainment so can't rate.

Would be better if can provide small free snacks on a long flight

Boarding was easy and unstressful, though the early "final call" was a bit off-putting. The crew were pleasant, and the seats were comfortable. The prices for food and drink were reasonable, apart from tea and coffee, where simple percolated coffee was charged at espresso prices. Deboarding was OK, though some Jetstar passengers appear to have a bad habit of pushing forward from their assigned rows, making it more difficult to get out for passengers that have paid a premium to sit up-front. Jetstar might want to look to address this to stop it from spreading.

I was allocated an exit row seat and was told to move so it could be given away to someone who had purchased two extra legroom seats and one regular seat but wanted the three to sit together. I was also charged for entertainment after booking but before checking in, and the ground crew couldn't do anything about refunding it. When the whole plane was given access to the entertainment as an apology for the flight being four hours late, I was told they couldn't do anything about that either, so I was charged for something I didn't want even though it would have been free anyway

I got to the airport earlier than I expected, and they let me change to an earlier flight with no trouble.

It was a super crowded time to travel out of Melbourne, but the flight was OK

Worst flying experience of my life. FIVE HOURS delayed! Rude and unhelpful staff and poor communication from the grounds team. Never flying Jetstar again

Worst experience ever flying Melbourne to Phuket. 5 hours delayed! Didn’t land till 1am in the morning. Staff were rude and unhelpful

6hrs fly they dont give you a glass of water from seoul to singapore need to buy drink and food plus they charge for bag on international fly is always Free 1 bag from seoul to singapore is Not a local fly you are traveling true asia same story from singapore to Bali no water drink after payment for bag drink cost more the regular airline Well never use this company again we use regular company like Delta korea japan China and even scoot parent company Singapore Air

We had 2 attempts to land at Singapore Changing during a thunderstorm. Everything was delayed by 1 hour plus.

Boarding was not accordingly after front seat, bmf then back seat. This delayed for at least 40mins or more. The staff at Jakarta can do better. Is chaos at the entry to board the plane. This tarnished Scoot reputation when everyone was talking about it.

The crew was not customer oriented at all, even confrontational . The aircraft needs more attention to detail as far as comfort, and the 1 hour sitting at the gate with no air is inexcusable

We flew on the 787 Dreamliner direct to main gate at KLIA2, quick entry via eGate and on the train 41mins after touchdown. Go well SCOOT

Was on scoot plus. The only good thing about the flight was the spacious seats. Tables and armrests were extremely dirty Food: bad Entertainment: non existent Wifi: unable to connect, then was painfully slow that we couldn’t even send messages Good thing we had a night flight, so we just slept throughout.

Not clear why boarding passes could only be issued at the counter and not through the kiosk. I had already check-in on the web, so waiting to obtain a boarding pass 1.5 hours before the actual flight defeats the purpose of early web check-in.

no charging point. food offering is limited and very much on the budget line. Overall is not satisfying for such a price and duration of flight.

We were delayed, but there was never any update given. Everyone was standing at the gate as boarding was supposed to commence at 13:10 for a 13:55 flight. We didn't actually start getting on the shuttles to the plane, until after 14:00. No updates, no information given at all.

Scoot refused to change my flight even though I had booked a flexible ticket. MyTrip wanted to charge me an extra $271 for a ticket that was only listed as $217. I complained about this to scoot and they didn't give a shite. So never again will you be getting money from me Scoot. You can Scoot off.

Book cheap flights from Melbourne to California

Recent return flight deals

8/5Wed
2 stops
25h 05mMEL-LAX
4/2Tue
1 stop
38h 25mLAX-MEL
$1,146
8/5Wed
1 stopFiji Airways
17h 00mMEL-LAX
6/2Thu
1 stopFiji Airways
19h 00mLAX-MEL
$1,152
13/10Sun
1 stopSingapore Airlines
27h 05mMEL-SFO
21/10Mon
1 stopSingapore Airlines
29h 30mSFO-MEL
$1,552
5/6Wed
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
12/6Wed
directQantas Airways
15h 55mLAX-MEL
$1,557
9/10Wed
1 stopSingapore Airlines
27h 05mMEL-SFO
21/10Mon
1 stopSingapore Airlines
26h 55mSFO-MEL
$1,557
5/6Wed
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
12/6Wed
directQantas Airways
15h 55mLAX-MEL
$1,560
7/5Tue
1 stopChina Airlines
38h 25mMEL-SFO
23/5Thu
1 stopChina Airlines
40h 40mSFO-MEL
$1,639
4/10Fri
1 stopChina Airlines
37h 30mMEL-ONT
12/10Sat
1 stopChina Airlines
41h 35mONT-MEL
$1,645
6/8Tue
3 stopsEmirates
59h 54mMEL-SAN
28/8Wed
3 stopsEmirates
38h 30mSAN-MEL
$4,351
30/7Tue
3 stopsEmirates
56h 55mMEL-SAN
21/8Wed
2 stopsEmirates
40h 45mSAN-MEL
$4,822

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Recent one-way flight deals

1/5Wed
2 stops
23h 50mMEL-LAX
$632
23/5Thu
3 stops
33h 50mMEL-LAX
$646
15/10Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
28h 40mMEL-SFO
$1,242
27/5Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
24h 55mMEL-SFO
$1,280
20/6Thu
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
$1,600
24/6Mon
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
$1,656
18/10Fri
2 stopsSingapore Airlines
31h 03mMEL-SFO
$1,721
14/10Mon
3 stopsSingapore Airlines
41h 24mMEL-SFO
$1,741
10/6Mon
2 stopsEmirates
52h 50mMEL-LAX
$2,257
10/6Mon
2 stopsEmirates
52h 35mMEL-SFO
$2,257

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Last minute flights from Melbourne to California

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

25/4Thu
multi-stopFiji Airways
16h 10mMEL-LAX
13/5Mon
multi-stopFiji Airways
29h 40mLAX-MEL
$1,291
28/4Sun
multi-stopFiji Airways
17h 00mMEL-LAX
5/5Sun
multi-stopFiji Airways
19h 00mLAX-MEL
$1,370
27/4Sat
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
5/5Sun
multi-stopQantas Airways
19h 15mLAX-MEL
$2,120
26/4Fri
multi-stopCathay Pacific
32h 10mMEL-LAX
4/5Sat
multi-stopCathay Pacific
28h 45mLAX-MEL
$2,124
25/4Thu
multi-stopCathay Pacific
24h 50mMEL-LAX
4/5Sat
multi-stopCathay Pacific
41h 45mLAX-MEL
$2,177
28/4Sun
directQantas Airways
14h 15mMEL-LAX
5/5Sun
directQantas Airways
15h 55mLAX-MEL
$2,223
24/4Wed
multi-stopEmirates
52h 50mMEL-LAX
2/5Thu
multi-stopEmirates
43h 50mLAX-MEL
$3,409
24/4Wed
multi-stopEmirates
52h 50mMEL-LAX
2/5Thu
multi-stopEmirates
33h 55mLAX-MEL
$3,418
25/4Thu
multi-stopSingapore Airlines
37h 00mMEL-LAX
30/4Tue
multi-stopSingapore Airlines
48h 05mLAX-MEL
$12,101
25/4Thu
multi-stopSingapore Airlines
38h 10mMEL-LAX
30/4Tue
multi-stopSingapore Airlines
48h 05mLAX-MEL
$12,120

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