An aircraft must maintain an altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas.
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airplanes generally fly from the U.S. across the Pacific to Australia because it usually saves time and fuel, and is considered safe, especially with modern aircraft.
The only regulatory restriction is that student pilots are not allowed to fly above a cloud layer without ground reference. VFR over-the-top can be a very useful tool to get above a cloud layer instead of flying in haze or restricted visibility below the clouds.
Well, as most of you under the FARs are aware—not to say used to—in the United States it is perfectly legal to fly VFR without any visual contact with the ground. As long as you maintain the minimum VFR requirements regarding visibility and cloud clearances, you are good to go—all you need is a natural horizon.
You can only conduct special VFR operations in controlled airspace below 10,000 MSL at an airport that has airspace extending down to the surface. Many Class C and B airports (listed in FAR 91) don't accommodate Special VFR clearances for IFR traffic separation reasons.
In some countries, VFR flight is permitted at night, and is known as night VFR. This is generally permitted only under more restrictive conditions, such as maintaining minimum safe altitudes, and may require additional training as a pilot at night may not be able to see and avoid obstacles.
VFR is aviation-speak for Visual Flight Rules — flight in visual conditions — as opposed to IFR or Instrument Flight Rules — flight in weather conditions potentially less than visual. If we're talking ”airliner” then yes, it could fly VFR.
In accordance with SERA. 5005 (c)(5), VFR flights in the United Kingdom at night may be flown below a level which is at least 300 M (1000 FT) above the highest obstacle located within 8 KM of the estimated position of the aircraft subject to the conditions at paragraph (e).