If you’re a single parent, you may want to look at your options before booking a trip.
Key points: You may be able to book direct flights to and from home with a parent’s travel card.
If you can’t afford to travel with your child’s travel cards, you can book with a partner’s.
How to choose travel options from home The best options are typically available in cities with a small population of families.
But some of these are more affordable than others, including those with relatively high costs such as Sydney and Brisbane.
In the past, many parents would travel with their children’s travelcards, but the new rules are putting more pressure on parents to consider how best to balance work and family.
“You don’t want to make the choice to travel alone, and that’s not good for your child, especially as you get older,” Ms Coss says.
“It’s not a question of whether you can travel with one child but it’s a question about how well you’re able to support that.”
What to look out for If you have a travel card, look for the option that’s cheaper and offers the best flexibility.
If not, you might be able in some cases to book flights from home.
If that’s the case, there are some things you can look out on before making the decision.
First, consider the type of flight you’re considering.
There are many types of flights that parents can choose from, but they can’t book with their child’s card, so you should check with the airline to find out what’s available.
If the travel is to a city with high rates of air travel, you should consider a return flight, such as from Brisbane to Sydney.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling on a family holiday or a family member is travelling, you could consider connecting with another family member.
Check the cost of the trip before booking, and also look for any extra charges you’re likely to pay.
“We do have rules that we have to be mindful of, especially if we’re doing the whole family, so if we’ve got a travel partner who’s travelling, we can look at that too,” Ms Stokes says.
