Flighthacker

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!

Fly to where the good weather is - Whitsundays on sale. Photo Credit: Dinaiz

In a fare war most unlikely, Jetstar and Virgin Blue have gone head-to-head for the supreme title of… The cheapest carrier to service the Whitsundays. Or, the head-honcho high-flyer of Hamilton Island. Being one of the many Australians who has circumnavigated South-East Asia but hardly seen anything north of Brisbane, I cannot quite work out why Jetstar has decided to pick this fight (Virgin came out with the fares first), however if you’re planning a North Queensland break either side of Christmas, here are some great fares for you:

• Sydney to Whitsunday Coast (Bowen Airport, Virgin Blue): $268
• Melbourne to Whitsunday Coast (Bowen Airport, Virgin Blue): $308
• Sydney to Hamilton Island (Virgin Blue): $148
• Melbourne to Hamilton Island (Jetstar): $200

For some reason, I haven’t been able to find the advertised sale fares from Brisbane (but apparently they exist). All prices quoted above are for return travel, including all taxes. Sale is on now until 11 September for both airlines. Jetstar travel dates are: 1 Feburary – 10 March 2010, except Melbourne – Hamilton Island where travel is for 2 November – 9 December 2009 and 1 Feb – 10 March 2010. Virgin Blue travel dates are: 2 November – 9th December 2009 and 1Feb – 10th March 2010.

Check out Adioso.com for prices and availability, plus Jetstar and Virgin Blue‘s sale pages for details. Follow the sun to the Whitsundays!

Bali, $124 nearer. Photo Credit: Michael Dawes

Folks, it’s hit us. Completely by accident, we have discovered $124 return fares between Sydney and Denpasar, Bali, between 4 November and 12 December, 2009. These fares are inclusive of fees and taxes (base fare is a heart-stopping $20). Usual ‘sale’ price for such fares is over $350 one way, so don’t hesitate. Run. Bring your mum and your best friend. You will not see this again.

View an example $124 return booking

We have encountered site issues, so something big is going on. Visit virginblue.com.au to book now.

Update (25/08/09): This offer has expired, congrats to all that got the cheap fares!

Sydney flights on sale! Photo Credit: Christopher Chan

Virgin Blue have also announced a massive nationwide sale on their domestic and trans-Tasman routes. Their table of sale fares is so gargantuan that I’m having trouble identifying highlights to list here. In essence:

• Gold Coast – Sydney: $45
• Sydney – Townsville: $89
• Sydney – Christchurch: $169
• Canberra – Anywhere: Priceless (Joke!)

All fares are one-way and inclusive of taxes. Sale is on now until 31st August, or sold out, for domestic travel during 20 October to 10 December, 12 January to 25 March and 20 April to 24 June, 2010. Similar travel periods exist for the sale fares to New Zealand. Visit Virgin Blue’s sale page for the full spread and details.

Yes, I have a lot of love for Canberra folks, sorry guys!

Got as many points as there are sheep? Fly to New Zealand! Photo Credit: vtveen

Got some spare Velocity Points lying around? Virgin Blue has posted its list of redemption specials, valid until 16th August, for travel between 1 September to 17 September 2009 and from 20 October to 10 December 2009. Some of the highlights include:

Sydney to:

• Gold Coast – 2,500 points + $20 (4,900 all inclusive)
• Adelaide – 2,200 points + $25 (4,900 all inclusive)
• Christchurch – 8,700 points + $60 (13,900 all inclusive)
• Wellington – 10,000 points + $80 (16,900 all inclusive)

Check out Virgin Blue’s Velocity Points sale page for specials across Australia and New Zealand.

Frequent flyer points rock my world. Getting (almost) free flights is like realising that you’ve got enough stamps on your coffee card for a bonus coffee. But the former involves flying, whee!

Don’t forget to claim Velocity Points on Malaysia Airlines flights, too – check out Virgin Blue’s airline partners.

Photo Credit: P J Partridge

To celebrate the launch of CherryPow.com yesterday, I’ve decided to write on a topic that has many ski-bunnies quaking in their boots, being how to carry your prized ski equipment on a low-cost flight in Australia and New Zealand. [...]

Yes, this Sydney chill is sure getting at me. I’m just coming out of a bout of ‘kinda-swine-flu‘, the Winter doona has come out of the closet and I’m taking a new interest in video games. So, I’m starting to envy my Pacific Islander friends. The only swine they know is buried with coals and cooked. Flight delays are more likely the result of island time than fog. Most aptly, their airfares are going cheap, then cheaper!

VirginBlue/Pacific Blue are offering seriously cut-price fares from Sydney to the Pacific Islands, including:

• Sydney to Port Vila, Vanuatu for $390 return
• Sydney to Nadi, Fiji for $424 return
• Sydney to Nuku Alofa, Tonga for $506 return

All fares are for direct flights and include tax. Travel periods are 04 Aug – 15 Sep, 20 Oct – 09 Dec and 27 Jan – 30 Mar, 2010. Sale is on now until 26 Jul or sold out.

Yep, I can smell that roast pork already. For more details and to book, view VirginBlue’s sale page!

VirginBlue have just announced a rather compact sale, where instead of discounting oodles of routes, they’re offering sale fares on… Three. These are:

• Brisbane to Newcastle for $49*
• Newcastle to Gold Coast for $59*
• Adelaide to Perth for $89*

Check out VirginBlue’s sale details for more and to book. Don’t forget Jetstar Friday Fare Frenzy is coming up at 4pm, so if these fares don’t float your boat, come back this afternoon for more!