Virgin launches massive sale after Qantas in new flight deal war

Virgin has unveiled a massive flight sale after Qantas with some tickets priced less than $50. See the list.

Australia’s airline war is heating up with Virgin and Qantas slashing prices of more than 1.25 million flights combined.

Virgin Australia has released more than 500,000 sale fares to a suite national and international destinations, including Tokyo, Bali, Fiji and Queenstown.

It comes day after Qantas discounted more than 750,000 fares.

Virgin have slashed thousands of fares with some going for as little as $49. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

For as little as $49, Sydneysiders can score a one-way Virgin flight to Byron Bay or Melburnians can skip across the ditch to Launceston from $59.

Savvy overseas jetsetters can pick up return Virgin flights from the Melbourne to Bali from $629, Cairns to Tokyo from $679 or Sydney to New Zealand’s Queenstown from $435.

Virgin customs can also earn cashback bonuses by booking flights until midnight AEDT on November 26.

The cashback bonus is 4 per cent on domestic flights, 1.5 per cent on short-haul international legs. These bonuses are available on Virgin’s Black Friday flight deals.

QANTAS SLASH PRICES

Earlier, Qantas announced it has discounted more than 750,000 fares across a slew of Australian routes.

There are more than 30 routes on sale for less than $150.

The cheapest deal offered is a one-way flight from Launceston to Melbourne for $109, down from $199, depending on travel dates.
The Cairns to Sydney leg has flights for as little as $179, while a one-way Perth to Sydney flight is on sale for $319, down from $395, again depending on travel dates.

In a coup for customers still holding a Qantas Covid credit, they can use their credit on these sale fares and get double the Qantas points if they register online and book an eligible flight.

The sale comes as its budget partner Jetstar was found to have outperformed Qantas in the latest domestic reliability ratings with one in three Flying Kangaroo flights landing behind schedule, and more than ten services cancelled a day.

The latest performance ratings comes after a period of high drama for the national carrier, with the High Court recently ruling the company illegally sacked 1700 workers and ex-CEO Alan Joyce’s early exit following a finding the airline sold 8000 tickets on already cancelled flights.

The 72-hour airfare sale started today, November 22 at 00.01am (AEDT) and will end at 11.59pm (AEDT) on Friday, November 24, unless sold-out prior or extended.

– With Jordan McCarthy, of NCA Newswire