Airlines accused of gouging as Fremantle fans make way to the MCG for AFL grand final

Some are taking the long way, with flights via other capitals, Bali or Singapore.

Whatever the way and whatever the price, Fremantle fans are beating a path to the MCG, with the club booking a historic second AFL grand final appearance next Saturday.

The Dockers won their way to the 2026 decider after a comeback defeat of Sydney on Friday night .

Among 65 bookable flights from Perth to Melbourne across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the minimum fare for 55 of those flights topped $1000.

The cheapest was a Virgin fare of $825 before add-ons, arriving at 11pm on grand final eve.

Heading home, prices are also sky-high, with the cheapest direct fare across 34 bookable flights on Sunday costing $1092, and just four flights of 43 across next Monday and Tuesday priced at less than $1000.

AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said the prices were “a disgrace”.

“For the ordinary fans who go every week and then finally reach a grand final and want to be there, to have airlines gouge to that extent is un-Australian,” he told AAP.

Richardson, who lives 10 minutes from Fremantle, spent up big attending in 2013 - the Dockers’ only prior grand final outing - booking at three-quarter time of their preliminary final to beat the rush.

This time around, he’s cutting short a family fishing trip and flying direct to Melbourne and then home via Brisbane on Sunday for $1600, booked months ago with creditable fares.

“People will pay whatever they have to pay because you just don’t know when the next grand final will be,” he said.

A Qantas spokesperson said the lowest fares available for the newly added flights were $766 but by 9am Saturday, they were nowhere to be seen.

The cost and stress of organising last-minute flights have led some to organise charter flights, which were conditional on Fremantle making the sell-out event featuring homegrown superstar Kylie Minogue as the half-time act.

Amid the euphoria, Fremantle fan groups on social media were awash with supporters asking about transport plans and chartered seats.