Australia Flight Itineraries

Australia Flight Information

Booking your Flights

You have the option to find your own flights or to book with Student Universe. Students are not required to book with Student Universe. If you do decide to book independently, please check, then re-check your booking to make sure it falls within TEAN’s parameters. There are many different legs and itineraries so please take your time as it can be confusing. 

Important: Do not book your flights until you have received the flight booking instruction email from your Program Manager.  

TEAN strongly recommends that you purchase refundable, flexible or insured airfare. If you purchase non-refundable tickets for the current arrival date and your travel plans change for any reason including entry requirements, visa processing issues, travel disruptions or any other reason, you will be responsible for the cost to change your flights. 

Arrival in Australia

Your first stop in Australia will be in Cairns for the 5-Day TEAN Orientation. The TEAN Orientation is mandatory. The cost of the orientation is included in your program fees (with the exception of some meals and optional free time activities), and there is no discount for opting out. Please visit this page to learn more.
Your flight must arrive in Cairns, Australia between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM on the start date of your orientation in order to be eligible for an airport transfer.  
- If you arrive earlier than 9:00 AM, you can wait at the airport for TEAN staff to arrive and then transfer with the group to the accommodation.
- If you opt to arrive later than 2:00 PM on your arrival date, you will be responsible for making your own way to the orientation accommodation and may risk missing out on the TEAN Information Session and Welcome Dinner.

flying from cairns to your host city

You will need to depart Cairns between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM (unless you will be studying in Perth or Newcastle) on the orientation departure date so that you arrive in your host city in time to check into your housing. If you opt to book a flight outside of this window of time, you will be responsible for making your own way to the Cairns airport. Perth students may book earlier departures from Cairns; please check your program tab below.
Please do NOT book a flight with a connection (unless you are studying in Perth or Newcastle) as that will delay your arrival into your host city and you will risk missing our airport transportation.
You cannot move into your housing early, so if you arrive early into your host city you may have significant wait times before moving in. You may also have additional shuttle service costs as you are outside the suggested arrival window.  
You are responsible for booking your flight from Cairns to your host city at the end of your TEAN Orientation.

Return Dates

The housing move-out date and corresponding return flight is one day after the last possible exam for each university. Please reference the Program Calendar if you have any questions about your particular move-out day.  
Some students change their return tickets based on their personal exam schedule. Students will not receive their exam schedule until they arrive overseas. If a student decides to change their return date at that time, please keep the following in mind.  
Be aware of any change fees, fees associated with increases in fare rates and taxes or fuel surcharges as this will vary from airline to airline.  
If your exams finish early and you want to change your flight to leave earlier, you need to work with the airline, booking site or Student Universe directly to adjust the booking  
Students who finish exams early are more than welcome to stay until the last day of the program.

Important tip: If you need to change your return date home do NOT wait until the last minute. There are many students trying to return home during this busy period, which may limit availability and discounted fare classes.  

If you do decide to book a return flight prior to your program end date, it’s important to note that there is a possibility you will have to change your flight to stay for any necessary final exams. Australian universities do not allow students to take final exams early or remotely. Students who do not attend final exams will not receive credit for their course.  

Baggage Allowance

Each airline has different baggage allowances, so it is imperative that you check with your airline for your luggage allowance.  
Including your domestic connections to your international ticket helps ensure that you will have your international luggage allowance for all of your flights.  
Adding extra bags to your flights can be very expensive. We will be providing a suggested packing list and tips for packing light prior to your departure.  
Be aware of budget airlines within Australia to ensure your baggage allowance will be enough as their fees can be quite high if you are over the limit.

Important Booking Notes

Accommodation will be provided for students arriving on the specified arrival date, but it will not be available prior to that.  
The airfare will vary depending on when you book your flight and which airline you choose. Typically, the earlier you book, the better the rates.  
Airfare costs can vary greatly from one departure city to another. If you live close to multiple departure cities, we encourage you to research flight options through each departure location. You may find that by driving to a slightly farther departure city/airport, you can save a significant amount in airfare costs. 
Always read the terms and conditions for the airline and the ticket you are booking. You’ll want to research things like fees for date changes, cancellation policies and baggage allowance. If using Student Universe, you can always ask them for this information.  
Please strongly consider purchasing trip insurance on all your flights, as you will be protecting your large purchase from possible interruptions to your trip. It is not a requirement, but it’s nice to have the peace of mind.  
If your itinerary has an international layover on your way to Australia, it is your responsibility to confirm any protocols, processes and/or restrictions for the country you are transiting through.
Keep in mind, we strongly suggest that you research all of your options for flights/fares. Oftentimes sites like Google Flights, Expedia, Kayak and Cheap-O Air have very competitive prices compared to booking with airlines directly or using a booking agent. Be aware that these itineraries can sometimes lead to customer service issues down the road. That said, if the fare is significantly less expensive and you feel comfortable with what you are booking, the final decision is at your discretion. Please be sure you read the terms and conditions and other fine print before booking through a discount airfare site.

Before You Make Your Booking

Have you been accepted to study abroad with TEAN in Australia for Fall 2024?  
If you are ready to book your flight, please read below for instructions on how to book your flight.  
If you still feel unsure, please reach out to your Program Manager before you proceed!

How to Book your Flight

When you’ve reviewed the itinerary below for your program, please start searching for a Multi-City flight. If you would like a bit more support in booking your flight, you can work with a Student Universe agent. Please complete this form so they can reach out to you directly.

We strongly recommend including your domestic Australia flight with your international ticket to ensure international luggage allowance from start to finish.

submitting your ITINERARIES TO TEAN

Once you have booked ALL segments of your itinerary, please complete the Australia Flight Itinerary Form found in your TEAN Application portal. You will also need to upload a copy of your itinerary that includes ALL flight segments to your TEAN Application portal.

For your flight itinerary document, please be sure to either merge all the documents together if you have separate bookings (you can use https://tinywow.com/pdf/merge or https://pdfjoiner.com) OR take screenshots of each segment and add them into a word document so all segments of your itinerary are in one document. 

Bond University

BOND UNIVERSITY

August 28: Depart USA
August 30: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
September 3: Cairns > Brisbane (BNE)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and Brisbane. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. TEAN will provide transportation from Brisbane to Gold Coast.

Recommended return date – December 15: Gold Coast or Brisbane > USA  

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT SYDNEY

August 24: Depart USA  
August 26: Arrive Sydney (SYD)
November 30: Depart Sydney > USA  

Griffith University

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Brisbane (BNE)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and Brisbane. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. TEAN will provide transportation from Brisbane to Gold Coast.

Recommended return date – October 27: Gold Coast or Brisbane > USA

James Cook University (JCU)

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Townsville (TSV)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 16: Townsville > USA   

Macquarie University

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Sydney (SYD)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 23: Sydney > USA 

Monash University

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Melbourne (MEL)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 16: Melbourne > USA  

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY

Murdoch University

July 13: Depart USA
July 15: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 19: Cairns > Perth (PER)*

*Since flights are limited between Cairns to Perth, please be mindful to NOT book the late redeye flight(s) from Cairns to Perth immediately following the TEAN orientation. If you choose to do so, you will likely be responsible for booking yourself a hotel room upon landing in Perth that night, as you cannot move into your housing that late. Please book the early morning flight(s) out of Cairns. The recommended flight itinerary leaves Cairns around 6:00am and gets you to Perth around 1:00pm. Please do not land in Perth any later than 7:30pm.

Recommended return date – November 24: Perth > USA

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Brisbane (BNE)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 17: Brisbane > USA  

RMIT UNIVERSITY

RMIT University

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Melbourne (MEL)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 16: Melbourne > USA

University of Melbourne

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Melbourne (MEL)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 16: Melbourne > USA  

University of Newcastle

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive in Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Newcastle (NTL)* on flight VA 776 with a connection in Brisbane, VA 1104 from Brisbane to Newcastle arriving in Newcastle at 3:30 PM.

*In order to be eligible for airport transfers in both Cairns and Newcastle, you will need to book the flights outlined above for July 11. You will fly from Cairns to Newcastle and will have a connection in Brisbane. You are welcome to book a different flight into Newcastle as long as it arrives in Newcastle before 3:30 PM. If you arrive before 3:30 PM, you will need to wait at the airport for the rest of the group to arrive. Students should not book a flight into Sydney on July 11 as they will need to make their own way to Newcastle (approx. 2 hours).

Recommended return date – November 17: Newcastle > USA

University of New South Wales

August 24: Depart USA
August 26: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
August 30: Cairns > Sydney (SYD)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – December 6: Sydney > USA 

University of Queensland

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Brisbane (BNE)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 17: Brisbane > USA  

University of Sydney

July 13: Depart USA
July 15: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 19: Cairns > Sydney (SYD)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – November 24: Sydney > USA  

University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

July 13: Depart USA
July 15: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 19: Cairns > Sydney (SYD)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and your host city. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. 

Recommended return date – December 1: Sydney > USA  

University of Western Australia

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Perth (PER)*  

*Since flights are limited between Cairns to Perth, please be mindful to NOT book the late redeye flight(s) from Cairns to Perth immediately following the TEAN orientation. If you choose to do so, you will likely be responsible for booking yourself a hotel room upon landing in Perth that night, as you cannot move into your housing that late. Please book the early morning flight(s) out of Cairns. The recommended flight itinerary leaves Cairns around 6:00am and gets you to Perth around 1:00pm. Please do not land in Perth any later than 7:30pm.  

Recommended return date – November 10: Perth > USA

University of Wollongong

July 5: Depart USA
July 7: Arrive Cairns (CNS) between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM for Airport Transfer
July 11: Cairns > Sydney (SYD)*

*You must depart Cairns on the last day of orientation between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM to be eligible for airport transfers both in Cairns and Sydney. Please do not book a flight to your host city that has a layover. TEAN will provide transportation from Sydney to Wollongong.

Recommended return date – November 15: Sydney > USA  

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Team up with TEAN to reduce your carbon footprint by offsetting your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from air travel!

What is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is the action or process of compensating for carbon dioxide emissions produced from industrial or other human activity by participating in activities or programs designed to reduce the equivalent amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

How do I calculate my carbon emissions?
Visit the free Carbon Footprint calculator page to access a user-friendly calculator that will guide you through the quick process of calculating your carbon. We encourage you to utilize the emissions calculator to estimate how much carbon is entering the atmosphere from your flight overseas. Through TEAN activities or utilizing companies that Carbon Footprint Ltd is associated with, you will have plenty of ample opportunities to offset your carbon throughout your semester abroad and better understand the many ways in which you can make a positive environmental impact. The Choose Earth Team at TEAN is always happy to assist you with your calculations, so please don’t hesitate to ask us for help!

What can I do to offset my carbon emissions?
TEAN will suggest plenty of opportunities to Choose Earth while you are abroad that will help offset your carbon emissions from your international flight. Following their helpful tips and offsetting your flight is the best way to start reducing your overall carbon footprint while abroad.

If you would like to do more – and we hope that you do! We encourage you to donate the monetary amount estimated by the calculator through Carbon Footprint Ltd.’s partnerships with multiple certified eco-friendly companies. That way, you can directly contribute to programs that help offset the carbon emitted from your flights, helping to make a global impact. Contributions from climate conscious consumers assist in developing projects that promote clean technology. The beauty of this particular program is that you can choose from a variety of charitable causes that are personal to you, as opposed to a single monetary donation to an airline where you may not beg sure if your money is going exactly where you intend it to. Through Carbon Footprint Ltd, you have the power to choose when and how your carbon emissions are offset.