Some of you may have heard of the Aussie Airpass offered by Qantas Airlines. For those of you who haven't, I want to let you in on a little secret about how to save some money on airfare when visiting multiple cities in Australia.

Qantas Airlines, the national air carrier of Australia, offers a great airfare rate for US Citizens visiting Australia who want to be able to visit up to 3 cities at one low price. Called the "Aussie Airpass," this special fare is based on departures through Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Honolulu to Australia. Add-on air from other US Cities is available, but all outgoing flights will depart from one of those three cities.

What is truly great about it is that it allows you to visit up to three cities within Australia at one low price. Now, the rate is based on the furthest city you are visiting, and the regions of Australia are divided into "zones" that determine the base rate. Even so, this can save you hundreds of dollars in airfare costs - and for a family of four, that adds up to a lot of money!

But it also means that you're internal domestic flights within Australia will also be on Qantas, rather than on a budget carrier - you'll have full service, including meals, snacks, drinks, and movies, every step of the way. I've flown both Qantas and Virgin Blue domestically within Australia, and while I certainly liked the service on Virgin Blue, it was very reminiscent of Southwest Airlines here in the US. And I admit Qantas spoiled me - so I really missed the meals and movies on my three hour flight on Virgin Blue!

There are three zones for the Airpass. Travelers visiting New South Wales and Sydney, Brisbane and Southern Queensland, Victoria and Melbourne, South Australia and Adelaide, and/or Tasmania and Hobart can enjoy one low price for up to 3 cities within those states. It's usually around $200 additional to include stops in a city within northern Queensland (such as Cairns), or within the Northern Territory (such as Darwin or Alice Springs), and another $200 on top of that for Western Australia.

Qantas generally offers this special Airpass every year, but it is only available to be booked within a certain timeframe. Base Rates vary depending on the time of year you are traveling, with December & January the most expensive, and May, August, and November the least. Check with your travel agent or Aussie Specialist for availability, and be sure to take advantage of its savings to bop around Down Under a bit. For those who will only get out to Australia once, the AirPass allows you to see more of this amazing country without breaking the bank account.