Thursday, March 11, 2021

How to get your share of 800,000 half-price flights

More than 800,000 discounted airline tickets to 13 destinations are being issued as part of a $1.2 billion federal government tourism stimulus package. Here’s how to make the most of it.


Where are the discounted flights going to?

The lion’s share of the flights are out of the capital cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. They fly into 13 regional destinations, including Uluru, Alice Springs and Broome.

Queensland enjoys by far the greatest lifeline, with flights into five airports: the Gold Coast, Cairns, Proserpine, Hamilton Island and Maroochydore.

NSW, Victoria and South Australia get virtually no love in terms of inbound, and the ACT only features on the list with one route: ex Canberra to the Gold Coast.

The federal government has flagged that these destinations could change pending demand, and more might be added.

When can I buy a ticket?

Tickets will be available to buy online and via travel agents from April 1 through to July 31, for travel between May 1-September 30, 2021.

The discount will be applied at point of sale (so no reimbursement is required), and will apply to the full return fare. You can buy as many tickets as you like, it’s a case of first in best dressed until routes sell out.

Qantas is the dominant player with 57 routes, along with Jetstar. Virgin Australia will also offered discounted tickets and regional player Rex will have a couple of routes.

Qantas has already added more capacity, with 40 per cent more flights from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and 20 per cent more Sydney-Gold Coast. There’s also increased capacity out of both those cities into Cairns.

The fares for all sale routes will be 50 per cent off the usual median price, where Qantas has done a deal with the federal government on pricing points.

For example, with 50 per cent off current fares applied, a Jetstar flight Sydney-Gold Coast would be $44, while Sydney-Cairns on Qantas would be $118.

The Whitsundays in Queensland are included in the great airfare sale.  

What about accommodation at the other end?

Hotels and tour operators will be hoping to cash in on the coat-tails of the airlines. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said “for every dollar spent on an airline ticket, that equates to ten dollars spent at the destination.”

And many Australians will already know quite a few of these destinations have high price points due to the remoteness of the location and the cashed-up international tourist market paying in euros and greenbacks.

The Whitsundays, for example, has plenty of rooms priced north of $3000 a night; of course there are many cheaper options.

The largest hotel operator in Australia, Accor, says they will continue with a “dynamic pricing model” based on demand. Hotels have been hard hit by the pandemic, particularly in cities, led by Sydney and Melbourne.

Deals abound, including IHG hotels ‘Stay Here, Explore There’ campaign, but get in quick. The IHG deal includes hotels located in regions which feature in the federal government’s subsidised airfare campaign, such as the Gold Coast and Whitsundays.

The offer is for 15 per cent off for non-members and 25 per cent off for IHG Rewards members. It’s for stays until December 30, 2021, as long as they are booked by April 30.

Top tip

Look out for the niche routes with spectacular views that won’t be too busy, such as Darwin to Broome; flights into Uluru are also a visual feast, with the rock visible shortly before landing at Ayres Rock Airport.

Melbourne to Merimbula is also a good bet; this slice of coastal heaven in southern NSW is famous for its seafood.

The Adelaide to Kangaroo Island flight is also the perfect chance for interstate visitors to jazz up a getaway to Adelaide or the Barossa Valley with a side trip to the island.

Cape Willoughby Lighthouse on Kangaroo Island, which is crying out for tourists having suffered badly in the January 2020 bushfires.  

Full list of the discounted flight routes

Queensland: Into the Gold Coast
Adelaide – Gold Coast
Melbourne – Gold Coast
Sydney – Gold Coast
Canberra – Gold Coast
Avalon – Gold Coast

Tropical North Queensland
Melbourne – Cairns
Sydney – Cairns
Darwin – Cairns

Whitsundays and Mackay region
Sydney – Hamilton Island

Sunshine Coast
Sydney – Maroochydore
Melbourne – Maroochydore
Adelaide – Maroochydore

Northern Territory: Into Lasseter and Alice Springs
Adelaide – Alice Springs
Sydney – Uluru
Brisbane – Alice Springs
Melbourne – Alice Springs
Perth – Alice Springs
Sydney – Alice Springs
Brisbane – Uluru
Melbourne – Uluru

Tasmania: Into Launceston, Devonport and Burnie
Melbourne – Launceston
Sydney – Launceston
Brisbane – Launceston
Melbourne – Devonport
Melbourne – Burnie

Western Australia: Into Broome
Darwin – Broome
Sydney – Broome
Melbourne – Broome

Victoria: Into Avalon
Gold Coast – Avalon
Sydney – Avalon

NSW: Into Merimbula on the south coast
Melbourne – Merimbula

South Australia: Into Kangaroo Island
Adelaide – Kingscote



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