How should I plan my Antipodean adventure?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

For complicated itineraries, ditch the web for a specialist travel agent

Q I’m booking multi-city tickets to Australia next February. When is the best time to buy tickets, and the best site?

Ann F

A In your position I would start looking towards the end of 2019, with an option to book earlier if there is a really tempting seat sale by airlines that might appeal, from Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong to the big Gulf carriers: Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. I do not believe that there is likely to be much benefit in booking more than a few months in advance, and any advantage is offset by the exposure to a risk that you may need to change or cancel for non-insurable reasons – such as professional or family obligations.

I am intrigued, though, that you ask for the best website. For a complicated multi-city itinerary I would always enlist the support of a travel agent.

A good, specialist agent with a company such as Trailfinders, DialAFlight or Travel Nation will be able to keep an eye on seat sales. They know which airline grouping will work best for your planned itinerary, which will involve either Qantas or Virgin Australia for the domestic flights. And they will be able to discuss with you the possible stopovers that you may wish to make.

The variables continue: given your plans, would an “open-jaw” itinerary – such as flying out to Sydney but back from Perth – be most appropriate? And what stopover options are the most tempting for you?

A travel professional will be able to outline all the possibilities and the cost implications, as well as offering dimensions you had not previously considered – for example flying out initially to Bangkok and onwards from Singapore, allowing you an overland adventure through South East Asia.

Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder