Qantas has rejected a request from the Parramatta Eels to delay the last flight out of Melbourne on Saturday night in a bid to return home straight after their semi-final against the Storm at AAMI Park.

Eels officials are mindful of the disadvantage they face travelling interstate for the game, keen to avoid losing a day of preparation in travel if they lose to Melbourne this weekend.

In a bid to aid recovery, Parramatta – who are expected to be without fullback Bevan French again through injury – requested to have the 8pm Qantas flight departing from Melbourne pushed back 30 minutes in the hope of a quick getaway from AAMI Park to the airport.

However the Eels, who won't consider organising a chartered flight, were on Monday informed that Qantas wouldn't be able to play ball and the players would have to make it to the airport on time for the 8pm flight if they intended on going home that night.