Student Discount Flights in Australia: How They Work

The short version

• Most student flight deals take a percentage off the base fare, often up to around 10%. They rarely apply to every fare.
• Extra checked baggage and a free date change are often worth more than the discount itself.
• You nearly always have to verify that you are a student before you book.
• Most are for international flights. Student fares on domestic flights are rare.
• Always compare with a normal sale fare. A student price is not always the cheapest.

The four types of student flight discount

1. Airline student programs

Some international airlines run their own student offer. You verify your student status, then book direct with the airline. Typical benefits are a percentage off selected fares, extra checked baggage and one free change to your travel date.

Airlines with a student offer listed on The Student include Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines.

Check the small print. The discount usually leaves out sale and promotional fares, applies only to certain fare types, and some programs need a membership first (Singapore Airlines, for example, asks you to join its KrisFlyer program).

2. Verification through a student platform

Some airlines leave verification to a student-discount platform. You prove you are a student there, then use the code or link on the airline's booking page. Virgin Australia works this way, through Student Beans, and its student discount applies to selected fares only. The saving is small, and the terms include blackout dates and fare rules, so read them before booking.

3. Travel agents and student travel sites

Some travel agents offer student pricing across several airlines. Flight Centre verifies your student status online, then you book by phone or in store. To qualify you need to be 18 to 30 and a current full-time student with a valid ID. Once you are verified, the discount is valid for 6 months and can be used once per booking.

Student travel sites that partner with many airlines work in a similar way. Their prices are not always lower than the standard fare, so compare before you buy.

4. University-specific deals

Occasionally an airline offers a deal to students of particular universities, reached through the university's student portal or a special access code. These tend to be short-lived and tied to certain routes. Check your university's student life or international student pages.

Who can get a student flight discount?

It varies by program, but these rules are common:

• You are currently enrolled, usually full-time, at an eligible education provider.
• You are within an age range. 18 to 30 is common, but it differs between programs.
• You can show a valid student ID, an enrolment letter or a student email address.

International students studying in Australia can often use these programs too. Each airline sets its own rules, so check the conditions on its page.

How to claim a student flight discount

1. Pick the program that suits your route.
2. Verify your student status on the airline's or agent's page.
3. Search for flights using the student option or code.
4. Check what the discount leaves out, such as taxes, fees, fare types and blackout dates, before you pay.
5. Keep your student ID handy. Some airlines ask to see it at check-in.

Tips to save more

• Compare against sale fares. A good sale price can beat a student discount, and the two often cannot be combined.
• Do the maths on baggage. If you are moving overseas to study, extra checked baggage can be worth more than a percentage off.
• Read the change and refund rules. The cheapest fares are often non-refundable.
• Check each time you book. Terms change, and verification can expire (6 months at Flight Centre, for example).
• Look beyond the flight. Student discounts also exist for travel insurance, hostels, buses and ferries.