The AFL grand final is seven weeks away - but airlines are already being accused of RIPPING OFF fans of one famous club
Specifically, Adelaide Crows fans, hoping their side might reach their first Grand Final at the MCG since 2017, could be forced to pay hefty air fares if they're looking to travel to Melbourne on the eve of the showpiece event.
Matthew Nicks' side are flying high as we head into the final three regular-season matches, with the Crows having won six matches on the bounce, which culminated this weekend in their massive 101-87 victory against Hawthorn.
While they sit joint top of the league, tied on 60 points with the Crows, the club's fans are preparing for the possible eventuality that they could be in for a trip to Melbourne for Grand Final day.
While there is a long way to go for the Crows, who haven't won a premiership since 1998, and also haven't qualified for finals in eight years, some fans have been left aggrieved at the shocking prices some airlines are charging to get from the City of Churches to Melbourne around Grand Final weekend.
On Friday, September 26, the day before the big match, Virgin Australia is offering economy tickets to fly from Adelaide to Melbourne Tullamarine, with the lowest-priced seats coming in at $250.
Economy fares on two flights at 8:40am and 11:50am are both on sale for $791 - the top priced figures.
Qantas has also upped its fees on Grand Final eve, with economy tickets for flights leaving Adelaide at 10:05am and 12:15pm set to cost Crows fans $785.
The airline is also offering fares on Thursday, September 25. The top-priced economy fare for that day is set to also set fans back $437.
Jetstar has priced its top fares on Grand Final eve at $350.
One Crows fan told Seven News: 'It just ruins what should be one of the best days of the season.'
'Make the people happy, let them get over there. It's about going over for the Grand Final or a final and having a ball,' another fan said.
Crows fan and mum of two, Kim Skypyrek, said the fees were 'insane'.
'Fair enough if it's one person and they've saved some money but it's really hard for people to be able to afford that,' she told Northern Territory News.
Qantas has also upped its fees on Grand Final eve, with economy tickets for flights leaving Adelaide at 10:05am and 12:15pm set to cost Crows fans $785
'If it came down to it we'd just send my husband (Michael) and our son (Ambrose) so that they could go and enjoy it.'
But there are other ways fans can get to the footy and dodge the high air fares.
Fans can take the train, but that entails an 11-hour journey and is likely to cost around $150.
Meanwhile, other fans are arranging their own transport and will embark on an eight-hour trip via bus to Melbourne, should the Crows reach the final.
'A group of twelve of us can drive over, hire a bus and rent out a house cheaper than [the cost of] flights for four,' Skypyrek added.
'Regardless of who's in it, whether we get to go into the grand final or not, we just want to be in Melbourne for the weekend and experience it.'
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