Airfares from $29! Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin drop week-long sales

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Three of the country’s major airlines have just announced jaw-dropping deals.

Knowing the best time to book flights is like playing the stock market: prices are constantly fluctuating and timing is everything. Add in dealing with unexpected flight cancellations and it can be a process fraught with stress. If only airlines could drop their deals at the same time…

In a rare twist of fate, it seems three of Australia’s biggest airlines have listened. This week, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin have all announced massive sales within days of each other, saving you hundreds of dollars on flights. We’re here to break down the best deals, so all you have to do is book.

Virgin: domestic flights from $49

Virgin plane taking off from airport
Virgin announced Aussie-wide flights for just $49. (Image: Ryan Fletcher)

Virgin Australia’s seven-day sale (from 24 February to 2 March) is encouraging Aussies to explore their own backyard, with one-way trips starting from just $49. You’ve got plenty of options too, as the deal spans flights departing between 30 April 2025 and 11 February 2026. That’s right, for less than $50, you can fly from Sydney to Byron Bay, one of the country’s most popular airline routes. Byron is best in summer, when you can take full advantage of its beautiful beaches. But even in the off-season, a year-round temperate climate means this coastal town always has unforgettable experiences on offer.

Byron Bay Lighthouse on the NSW North Coast
Book a flight from Sydney to Byron for less than $50. (Image: Lord Baileys)

Add an extra $10 and you can visit destinations like Brisbane, Proserpine, Launceston and Melbourne. Or fly into Sydney for just $65 and you’ll find plenty of ways to splash that cash you saved on flights. Not only is the NSW capital home to the best coffee shop in the world, but a diverse dining scene and a fabulous annual events calendar make it the perfect urban escape.

Fancy something different? Luckily for you, there are almost too many routes to choose from. If you’re willing to spend just a little more, you can fly from Melbourne to Canberra for $89, Adelaide to Launceston for $99, Cairns to Sydney for $105 or even Brisbane to Uluṟu for only $129.

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Jetstar: over 100 national and international routes at half-price

Jetstar plane taking off from airport
Over 100 Jetstar routes are selling for more than half price. (Image: Ryan Fletcher)

Jumping onto the bargain bandwagon, Jetstar has slashed its prices for both national and international flights for one week only (ending 3 March). Over 450,000 fares are on sale now, connecting travellers to more than 100 routes around Australia and the world.

Domestic flights start at just $29 – yes, you read that right – and touch down in some of the country’s most sought-after holiday destinations. Think Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Launceston, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and more. With prices this low, you might as well throw a dart at a map and book a flight wherever it lands.

Devils Corner winery in Tasmania
Tassie is known for its award-winning cellar doors. (Image: Andrey Chernev)

Why not pop down to Tassie for the weekend? Fly from Sydney to Hobart for $29 per person to explore the city’s historic neighbourhoods, meet laid-back locals and sample the island state’s best wineries nearby.

But Jetstar’s flight frenzy is not limited to our land girt by sea – a variety of one-way international flights are on sale too. Fly from Perth to Singapore from $145, Melbourne to Bali for $199, Sunshine Coast to Auckland for $175 or Sydney to Vanuatu for $185. And there’s more where that came from, too.

Qantas: fly business class for less than $400

Qantas plane taking off from airport
Qantas has launched a week-long sale. (Image: SCM Jeans)

Ever wanted to fly business class on a budget? For seven days only (24 February – 2 March), Qantas is giving away one million business-class seats from just $369 one way. Frequent flyers with the airline can also exchange just 23,500 points for a business-class seat (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges).

The extraordinary deals cater to all kinds of travellers, with 60 destinations across the country to choose from. Keen to explore Tropical North Queensland? Fly from Brisbane to Proserpine, known as the gateway to the magical Whitsundays, for just $369 one way.

The Whitsundays in Tropical North Queensland
Fly into Proserpine to explore The Whitsundays. (Image: Jesse Shaw Photography)

Or jet to Victoria’s cultural capital of Melbourne from Canberra for just $399. Other routes include Hobart to Sydney, Adelaide to Perth and Alice Springs to Darwin – just to name a few.

The only catch isn’t really a catch at all; flights just need to be booked between 29 April – 26 June, 22 July – 18 September and 14 October – 10 December. Economy class seats are also up for grabs from just $109 one way during the same sale period.

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Note: all prices are accurate and deals are available at the time of writing, until sold out.
Qantas and Virgin planes on an airport runway
Book a flight with Qantas, Virgin or Jetstar before it’s too late! (Image: SCM Jeans)
Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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Mornington Peninsula’s storied past: war, shipwrecks and a runaway convict 

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
    The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

    The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

    This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

    a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park
    Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

    Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

    Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

    a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay
    A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

    And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento
    Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

    Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento.

    Playing there

    an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse
    Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

    Eating there

    Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.