AirAsia X announces huge sale as Virgin Australia slashes airfares to Bali, Samoa, New Zealand

A low-cost international carrier is offering huge discounts as Virgin Australia slashes the price of airfares. Here’s where you could fly.

AirAsia X has slashed fares on some of its most popular routes in a bid to help Aussie travellers who are feeling the pinch.

Passengers travelling from Sydney can grab a one-way flight to Auckland for $139, while Melburnians looking to holiday in Malaysia can get a ticket to Kuala Lumpur for $329.

For those departing from the Gold Coast, the fare to Kuala Lumpur will set them back just $319.

Air Asia X offers flatbeds for a fraction of the usual cost.

Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said the airline was aware that Aussie passengers were doing it tough due to the cost of living, but still wanted a break that would fit their budgets.

“From Australia and NZ, AirAsia X connects to over 130 destinations in Asia including leisure favourites like Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines to name just a few,” he said.

AirAsia X Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail. Picture: Alison Wynd

“We aim to offer the best low cost high quality experience in the sky with a range of options to suit everyone’s budget — from economy to a lie flat Premium Flatbed for a fraction of the cost of a business class seat on a full service airline,” he said.

“In our other exclusive Quiet Zone, we offer consistently the best deals in market to ensure our guests down under can still afford that much needed getaway tailored to their needs.”

It came as Virgin Australia launched a massive five-day flight bonanza that will save passengers hundreds of dollars off flights to some of the word’s most in-demand holiday spots.

Travellers can book return flights to destinations including holiday islands Bali and Fiji from as little as $399.

Virgin Australia, which recently announced a new baggage-tracking tool, has launched a massive sale. Picture: Supplied

The More to Explore sale, which starts on Monday and ends at midnight on September 15, is for travel on dates between October 11 and June 20, 2024.

The cut-price flights to coveted international destinations depart from Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

A return flight to tourist hotspot Queenstown in New Zealand from Melbourne will cost $425 or $465 from Sydney.

Travellers can grab a cut-price return ticket to Bali. Picture: Getty Images

Return flights to Fiji have been heavily discounted. Picture: Getty Images

Travellers can nab a return flight from Brisbane to Samoa for $559 or Vanuatu for $569.

Virgin Australia’s heavily discounted flights to Bali will cost passengers between $399 and $599, depending on which city the flight departs from.

Return flights from Sydney or Melbourne to Denpasar start at $599, while flights to Bali from Brisbane will cost $569.

Those in Adelaide can nab a return flight to the holiday island starting at just $399.

All fares include Velocity frequent flyer points and status credits.

It comes as Virgin Australia nudges ahead of Qantas in the race to allow passengers to track their baggage, with the launch of an Australian-first tracking tool on August 28.

The technology, which has been two years in the making, was trialled in a successful pilot program in May.

It will be rolled out across almost 70 per cent of the domestic network, meaning passengers can check the status of their checked luggage via the airline’s app.

Virgin Australia’s mishandled baggage rate is lower than average, at just 1.5 pieces per 1000 guests, and it anticipates the new tool will encourage more people to check bags.

Originally published as AirAsia X announces huge sale as Virgin Australia slashes airfares to Bali, Samoa, New Zealand