Flighthacker

Although details are sketchy at this moment, Jetstar have announced that in conjunction with Macquarie Bank, they will be releasing a Jetstar MasterCard in two flavours today – being regular and platinum. For the regular card, every dollar spent equates to 1c in Jetstar money, which can eventually be redeemed for flight vouchers and promotional offers. For platinum, this doubles to 2c.

Word has it that there may be a Qantas/Jetstar points tie-in announced next year.

Make sure you check details first, but the skinny is that interest will be pegged at 10.99% and the card itself will come with a $49 annual fee. So, if you think all those cents accrued will exceed the annual price tag, then it doesn’t seem too rough to me. Hopefully it won’t come with a minimum spend in order to collect points, like that pesky Everyday Rewards/Qantas Frequent Flyer card.

Watch this page for the card’s launch later today.

Fly low to Tokyo! Photo Credit: Ali Nishan (Flickr)

Planning an international break next year? Or a ski trip to Japan’s legendary powder in February? Jetstar have released some amazing fares across their entire network, including international destinations! My favourites are as follows:

• Sydney – Tokyo for $590 return
• Gold Coast – Tokyo for $472 return
• Sydney – Bangkok (via Melbourne) for $575 return
• Well, any of the Japan fares ex. Australia… They’re all fabulous!

All fares listed  above are for Jetstar Light fares and are inclusive of tax. Travel periods are 10 November – 14 December 2009, 28 January – 23 March, 2010 and 20 April – 20 June, 2010. That said, check from February onwards for the cheapest and most plentiful fares and our friends at Adioso.com to find that bargain!

Oodles of routes are on sale, for both domestic and international travel, so check Jetstar’s sale page for the latest. Banzai!

A couple of shorts from the last few weeks:

• Tiger Airways is now flying between Sydney and the Gold Coast, commencing 15 December. Introductory fares start from $39, with daily frequency.
• Virgin Blue and Pacific Blue flights will no longer accept cash for food and entertainment services on their flights – only credit card. Just as well – carrying loose change on international flights is a bit of a drag.
• Singapore Airlines and others are encouraging punters to buck the discount trend and purchase earlybird fares. So far, these fares are largely hot air, being neither particularly cheap (Sydney to London for $2000 with Singapore Airlines) and in the face of a strengthening dollar, not necessarily in short supply.
• Tiger Airways has more than enough material for another season of Airways, with a flight cancellation delaying passengers in Hobart for up to 3 days. Tiger denies that the police were called – that said, if I was stranded in Hobart for 3 days…!

It’s great to be back on the couch. Game on!

Get Kevin out of Canberra on the cheap. Photo Credit: stage88 (Flickr)

Passed Lake George one too many times in the car? Your playlist no longer cutting the drive across flat and boring, either side of Goulburn McDonalds? You will be glad to know that Virgin Blue are offering $48 one-way fares between Sydney and Canberra, including tax! There are also a number of other hot tickets to Australian destinations (including Melbourne) as part of Virgin Blue’s 48-hour promotion. Sale is on now until midnight, Thursday, 8 October, for travel between 3 November – 17 December, 2009.

Check out Virgin Blue’s sale page for details and Adioso for availability. Get into it before the pollies do!

Kuala Lumpur at a nice price with AirAsia. Photo Credit: onggon (Flickr)

AirAsia X has released a rather unusual batch of sale fares for travel in 2010, with fares departing Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia starting from a laughable $52 a pop one way, prior to tax. Post fees and taxes, the return fare comes to $238 departing Gold Coast and Perth and $298 from Melbourne.

This may not be AirAsia’s cheapest sale, but we live in what is truly a buyer’s market – getting to Malaysia for less than $300 is not a price to shirk from. Strangely enough, this fare has not been announced by AirAsia (who currently have a sale advertised, but not at these low prices).

Travel period for these solid fares is from 20 January to late July, 2010.

Check Adioso for the cheapest fares from Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth to Kuala Lumpur – http://adioso.com/au/australia-to-international.html

Happy Mooncake Festival, everyone!

Melbourne to Singapore for $400 return inclusive. This is madness.

Hi folks, it isn’t often that a fare has a habitual tightwad like me falling out of the flight deck, but Emirates’ $400 Melbourne – Singapore release just can’t be missed. Pair it with cheap flights from Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane and you have a real situation on the east coast.

Our friends at Best Flights have the skinny:

You will fly with Emirates from Melbourne to Singapore.

There is a minimum stay away of 3 days and a maximum stay away of 30 days.

Travel period is 1 October – 23 November. All travel must conclude by the 30th November 2009.

Please note no inbound travel is permitted from Singapore to Melbourne between 01st October-20th October 2009. Full payment is required at time of booking. Sale ends 19th October 2009.

That said, you can book directly with Emirates via their site – http://fly.emirates.com

$400 return to Singapore isn’t going to be a regular feature on the block, so if you’re considering a trip to Singapore, run. For sale chatter, check out OzBargain. Singapore wants YOU!

Update (07/10/10): OzBargain link updated to new thread, including accommodation.

Discover Indonesia's wonders with Jetstar. Photo Credit: Fadil Basymeleh

Fancy a last-minute escape to Asia, prior to Christmas? Jetstar have launched their International Sale, offering some exceptionally tasty flights to Asia from a number of Australian cities. Highlights include:

• Melbourne – Bangkok: $309
• Perth – Jakarta: $130
• Sydney – Bali (Denpasar): $330

Plus numerous other international routes. All fares listed are one way and inclusive of taxes. Sale is on now until Tuesday, 6 October, for travel during varying periods between  8 October – 10 December, 2009. Jetstar have also posted their domestic sale fares for this afternoon’s Fare Frenzy, so make sure you take a look and prepare to snap up a cheap flight. Check out Jetstar’s sale page for details. Have a fabulous Labour Day long weekend, Australia!

Important Note: In light of the recent tragedies that have occurred across Asia-Pacific (Typhoon Ketsana, Sumatran earthquake, Samoan tsunami), I would like you to consider donating to the Red Cross or Red Crescent. The spare change that you may throw at a fun trip this Friday will certainly bring respite to the victims of these tragedies, so please consider making a difference - http://donate.ifrc.org/

AirAsia brings Bali closer with $267 return fares. Photo Credit: Michael Dawes

AirAsia has been on a spree of generosity lately, dropping fares across its network by 20%. One of the happy results of this has been that flights to Denpasar, Bali are now well within reach for the west coast, with flights departing Perth now starting from $267 return inclusive of fees and taxes for travel commencing in late January to 27 March, 2010.

If you miss the $267 return fare, the next fare bracket is only $28 more, so there are still numerous opportunities for you to pick up one of these great flights. Check Adioso for availability and find yourself in island paradise!

Hey Reader! I know I’ve been neglecting some of Australia’s great cities in my airfare updates – if you’re after cheap flights for a specific city or route, don’t hesitate to comment in this blog. Your feedback will help make this blog more relevant and hopefully, less Sydney-centric. Secondly, I love hearing from you – many thanks for all your support!