SkyTeam member Xiamen Airlines currently offers discounted roundtrip tickets from Europe to Australia. With a change of planes (and a long layover) in Xiamen, you can reach Melbourne for as little as €769 from Paris. This fare even includes a 23 kg checked bag. It is available for departures in May and June 2026.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to booking.com with your selected flight dates.
Availability gets even broader if you don’t mind spending an entire day in Xiamen on your inbound flight. More on than in the Search & Book section.
All flights in question are operated by Xiamen Airlines’ Boeing 787 fleet. Their 3-3-3 seating in economy class comes with personal entertainment screens, USB charging ports and free Wi-Fi.
On the outbound, you will arrive in China in the early morning (around 6:00) and leave in the very late evening of the same day. You can leave the airport due to China’s visa-free transit program. The shortest connection back features a five-hour stop in the evening hours. If you wish to extend your stay: Xiamen is widely regarded as one of China’s most beautiful cities.
Most Europeans need a visa to enter Australia. You can apply for the visa online. It’s best to apply at least 1 month before travelling. The visa is free.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, these tickets are on sale without notable restrictions, as there is no sales period or minimum stay. You cannot stay in Australia longer than three months if you wish to score this price.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates. If you remove the duration filter, availability gets broader – but you might not be able to book the other connections. This is because your stay in Xiamen exceeds 24 hours and the second leg is split into two segments on most booking platforms – one flight from Australia to China, and one flight from China to Europe. You can circumvent this by using our multi-stop search:
As you can see, flight costs even get a little cheaper when doing this – though you have to figure in the costs of staying in a hotel for one night. You can find the cheapest tickets on booking.com or purchase them directly from the airline.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Editor’s Note: This is an excellent economy fare from a major European airport to Australia. The long layover in Xiamen doesn’t have to be a downside, as it is truly beautiful and well liked by both Chinese and foreign tourists. The airport is fairly close to the city center, as well.
Miles & Points
Xiamen Airlines issues these tickets in booking class U. Sadly, that renders you unable to earn any miles with these tickets.
Destination
Information & Tips for Sydney
Sydney is known for its iconic sights like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach. The currency used is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The city can be expensive, particularly for accommodation and dining in tourist areas, though there are more affordable options in less central locations. Sydney has a temperate climate, with mild winters and warm, humid summers, making it a year-round destination. The best time to visit is typically during the spring and autumn months for pleasant temperatures.
We’ve compared various esim providers, such as RedteaGO and Airalo. To see which plan is best for your travel needs and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Australia 
Compared
→ All Dealz for Sydney
Information & Tips for Melbourne
Melbourne, known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse culture, offers attractions like Federation Square, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the National Gallery of Victoria. The local currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), and credit cards are widely accepted. The city has a relatively high cost of living, with accommodation and dining often priced at a premium, though there are budget options available. Melbourne’s weather is unpredictable, with four seasons in one day being a common saying—summers are warm, winters are cool, and spring and autumn are mild, making it a good year-round destination.
We’ve compared various esim providers, such as RedteaGO and Airalo. To see which plan is best for your travel needs and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Australia Compared
→ All Dealz for Melbourne
Information & Tips for Xiamen
Located in the South East of China at the Taiwan Straight, Xiamen is one of the favorite domestic destinations of Chinese tourists. The city center is located on an island and known for its beautiful parks and lakes. Beautiful beaches are near, as well. Further, a short ferry ride will take you to Gulangyu Island – which offers lots of eye pleasing colonial architecture.
Best Time to Visit
Being located in a subtropical climate zone, Xiamen is very humid all year round. A monsoon period that stretches from April through August makes it less attractive to visit in those times. The best times to visit are September through November, when the daily average is around twenty degrees Celsius. Travelling during the Chinese national holidays (two weeks after October 1st) should be avoided.
From the airport to the city
Xiamen Airlines’ main hub Xiamen Gaoqi Airport is located on the edge of the island that hosts the city center. It isn’t connected by railway or metro, but a taxi downtown will take approx. twenty minutes and cost around 5€. In addition, several shuttle buses leave reguarly to points of interest like the railway station or the ferry terminal for 10RMB (1,20€). There you can connect to Xiamen’s public transport system.
→ All Dealz for Xiamen