In Reply to: Seeking airlines help posted by jd on Thursday, 8. April 1999 at 11:05 Bali Time:
Have you considered doing your trip the other way around? It may be cheaper to come to Australia first then fly to Bali on your way home.
A family member of mine was going to call into Bali on his way to Australia from Canada last week. It worked out cheaper to come to Australia and then fly out to Bali.
Unfortunately you may need a travel agent to assist you in a case like this. There is no problem finding your own accomodation in Bali - I have done this and shopped around like many other Forum participants.
In Australia you can book through the airline companies - they are the same travel agents. How I believe the system works is - airlines sell seats to Wholesalers who in turn release these seats to retail Travel Agents. The prices do not vary by much (if any thing) - between travel agent and airline. As an example we are going back to Bali in June and have negotiated a package 14 nights accommodation, breakfasts, air fare, Australian Departure Tax and transfers for AU$1050 per person. The airfare alone from Eastern States of Australia to Bali is between AU$900 - AU$1,000 per person (according to time of departure) .