Cheap VA J fares MEL-SYD-MEL

[kyle]

So I've been looking at fares in Feb 2023 for a status run to maintain gold.

There are business class fares for just under $300 one way around the Rex departure times as Rex was selling at $300.

When I was looking originally, there was an ok $99 early morning departure in Y. Then when I was searching for the return flight around the 5pm mark, flights are like $149 to $179. Then I suddenly saw those cheap J fares . For an extra $100, I get a bigger seat, a small meal and maybe more love from the FAs. So ended up booking a cheap Y on the way to SYD and a cheap J on the way back, paid for with Flybuys points.

 

[AIRwin]

So ended up booking a cheap Y on the way to SYD

Middle seat?

 

[kyle]

Middle seat?

Lol no, I picked an aisle. Don't want to win footy tickets (don't like sports)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would wait till REX opens up info on their FF program before I would give them a try.

 

[oz_mark]

I would wait till REX opens up info on their FF program before I would give them a try.

Or fly VA on routes where they are price matching

 

[Mattg]

Those VA J fares have been very appealing lately. Have booked a few myself and as an added bonus, you earn more status credits and they're fully refundable.

Even better if you use a discount code

 

[Blinky]

I saw VA fares from MEL to SYD in January with lowest fares $220 one way, fully flexible $400 and J $290!

 

[Human]

Those VA J fares have been very appealing lately. Have booked a few myself and as an added bonus, you earn more status credits and they're fully refundable.

Even better if you use a discount code

... or if you book through AmEx Platinum Travel. A few months ago I saw a Brisbane-Melbourne flight in Business for $299... which I then booked through AmEx and paid $266.

(And I felt even more smug at the time because the cheapest Red E-deal for the equivalent Qantas flight was $270!)

 

[Must...Fly!]

They seem to be getting rarer. Either that or I am not looking far enough in advance.

 

[larrymull]

I have to do the usual bus trip up from mel-syd next week. It is cheaper to fly J on VA then QF Y. Staggers me.

 

[Mattg]

They seem to be getting rarer. Either that or I am not looking far enough in advance.

You do need to book at least 21 days in advance to get the best J fares.

 

[jrfsp]

I have to do the usual bus trip up from mel-syd next week. It is cheaper to fly J on VA then QF Y. Staggers me.

Not hard when QF is charging close to 1k for the peak flights a week in advance

 

[Saab34]

These are all just Rex match fares so whenever Rex has availability dry up or they increase prices these fares are gonsky.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

These are all just Rex match fares so whenever Rex has availability dry up or they increase prices these fares are gonsky.

Dunno… looking at SYD-MEL for the first half of Jan and Rex seems to have upped their fares to $449 lead-in. Nothing for $299. VA is still wide open at $299.

 

[kyle]

Dunno… looking at SYD-MEL for the first half of Jan and Rex seems to have upped their fares to $449 lead-in. Nothing for $299. VA is still wide open at $299.

Don't tell VA! Maybe they forgot to check

 

[Saab34]

Get in quick folks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Get in quick folks

Rex is back to $299 after mid january I think VA only sells one or two seats for $299 on each flight, it goes up to $599 after that, then $899.

 

[kyle]

Rex is back to $299 after mid january I think VA only sells one or two seats for $299 on each flight, it goes up to $599 after that, then $899.

Not sure about that. 4 seats were open when I booked 1. Now when I search for the remaining 3 seats, still at $299

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure about that. 4 seats were open when I booked 1. Now when I search for the remaining 3 seats, still at $299

Fair point. The flights I’ve been looking at are a peak ‘off peak’ times (for example Thursday evenings). The $299s seem limited.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

These are all just Rex match fares so whenever Rex has availability dry up or they increase prices these fares are gonsky.

You were right! Across-the-board increase on all $299 fares SYD-MEL and vv last night to $349 this morning!

Rex also $349.

Luckily I had booked all but two flights between now and Easter.

Slightly off topic but as a semi-frequent Rex’er I would suggest $349 is *not* good value for them. It’s pushing the price point just that bit too far. VA is a clear favourite now with its FF program (at that price point).