Despite reports of very limited domestic airfare availability and non-existent discount fares in the wake of Ansett's demise, there are seats to be found.

InfoChoice has researched seat availability and fare levels on Qantas and Virgin Blue, Melbourne-Sydney and Sydney-Gold Coast, commencing Saturday October 6 through to Sunday October 15, a peak travel period encompassing school holidays in the eastern states. (NB. TABLES FOR PUBLICATION AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)

As at Wednesday September 26, just ten days before the start of the period, Qantas has 99 flights from Melbourne to Sydney still offering discounted one-way fares of $102.74, $223.74, 267.74 and $310.64. There are 263 flights with availability at the full economy price of $333.74.

It has been difficult (for us and Qantas) to put a figure on the total number of SYD-MEL flights scheduled over the period.

Virgin has a total of 43 flights MEL-SYD over this period (5 flights per day ave.); 19 of these flights have discounted fares available at $147.74, 157.74 and $167.84 while all 43 flights have availability at the full economy fare of $187.74.

Ansett of course will now have services on this route again, initially offering sixteen hourly flights per day.

On the Sydney-Gold Coast route, Qantas has a schedule of 10 flights per day, 23 flights overall still offer discounted fares - at $198, $264 and $336.60 one way. There are 33 flights with seats available at the full economy fare of $363.

Virgin has one Sydney-Gold Coast flight daily at 9.15am. There are no discounts available over this period and only five flights with any availability. All seats are at the fully flexible fare of $170 one way.

Qantas availability is likely to increase beyond the above figures given the airline's announcement that it will bring back ten more planes from international routes next week.