Flight Search That Can Properly Exclude Airports?

frostee on 27/03/2026 - 13:35
Last edited 27/03/2026 - 14:52 by 1 other user

I have to travel for work fairly soon to a non-major international destination.

Every flight option from Google Flights sends us through the warzone in the Middle East which is a no-go. If I tick to exclude the typical changeover airports Dubai and Doha I get zero or very limited results, but I know that simply isn't true - just that the layover options are going to be much less palatable. I'd be happy with a full day or two in an interesting stopover destination - this trip is kind of essential.

What site are OzBargainers using to plan travel that isn't via the Middle East?

Travel Airfare

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  • holdenmg on 27/03/2026 - 15:07
    +4

    Hi,
    https://www.flightconnections.com would be one of my weapons of choice and the other is: https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search

    Starting with FlightConnections you need to max out the Stopovers (assuming you start in SYD)

    So, instead of SYD to CPT via DXB or DOH you are offered:
    SYD to CPT via MRU

    Let's say you want to go to Nigeria to pick-up bags of money…
    SYD - SIN - ADD - LOS becomes an option.

    MatrixITA is the back engine of Google Flights,
    So, you are probably looking at Multi-City so select that and also "+" add city to get additional cities. Then you can expand the Geographical Distance in Miles from your end Destination and look at Stop Over options.

    Example: SYD - CPT with nearby Airports:
    https://ibb.co/mFDj1kDT

    You need to Flip the Currency on MatrixITA to AUD$ and https://bookwithmatrix.com is of help.

  • Dumax on 27/03/2026 - 13:42
    +1

    You can try Momondo, I usually find it's a bit more creative than Google flights in these situations.

    But if you're willing to stop over for a day or two in another country then why not just book a multi-leg journey or an open jaw and just purchase your connecting flight seperately?

    • frostee on 27/03/2026 - 13:56
      +1

      I expect I will be booking separately it's just difficult searching for multiple legs and trying to tee up the best options when looking at them all separately. I tried Momondo but unfortunately also got no result.

  • 6079 Smith on 28/03/2026 - 01:42
    +1

    Use Google and unselect Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Gulf and Oman Air from the airline list?

    • MELso on 30/03/2026 - 13:29

      Still picks up Virgin and Qantas codeshares. Better to filter by airports. Google and Kayak allow you to filter by stopover airports. Remove BAH, DOH, DXB, JED, MCT and RUH to avoid the main ME transit hubs.

  • BOGOF on 27/03/2026 - 14:06

    Where is this 'non-major international destination'…….just so we can advice advise

    • frostee on 27/03/2026 - 14:13

      It's a large-ish regional airport of a major country in Africa, but not their main airport.

      • Trance N Dance on 27/03/2026 - 18:16

        The issue will be routing rules and published fares. Depending on the destination you're flying to the only carriers that have fares to Africa other than QF and South African Airways are the Middle Eastern Carriers, possibly Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Ethiopian (combined with Singapore on the one fare). Anything else will most likely be end on end fares (two separate fares put together).

  • jv on 27/03/2026 - 15:22

    Flight Search That Can Properly Exclude Airports?

    You will not be able to board without an airport…

  • Benoffie on 27/03/2026 - 16:18

    Where are you going? Telling us would probably be quicker

  • Davo1111 on 27/03/2026 - 16:19

    https://imgur.com/a/koVfbBP

    works for me

  • Onemoredeal on 27/03/2026 - 19:03

    I’d only want to exclude western Sydney airport

  • EFC94 on 28/03/2026 - 10:45

    Look at the airport you're flying into and which airlines fly from there, then work backwards to find suitable airlines that would connect with flights to Australia. Search directly on their website. You'll have it all sorted in 20 minutes tops.

    • frostee on 30/03/2026 - 16:23

      This was a genius suggestion - thank you. I just checked the arrivals at my destination airport and am sorting it from there. I think I can make it work.

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