Get a better price on Qantas & Virgin domestic Business fares by booking in advance

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-virgin-increase-fares-closer-departure/

This doesn't seem to be well known, but both Qantas & Virgin Australia have advance purchase requirements on their lowest domestic Business Class fares. If you book more than 28 days in advance with Virgin, for example, you'll almost always pay less. With Qantas, the advance purchase requirements depend on the route:

Qantas & Virgin Systematically Increase Business Fares Closer to Departure

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia systematically increase their cheapest Business Class airfares at midnight, on a specific number of days before departure. Our guide explains when to book for the lowest price.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Beano]

I think you have your "greater than" and "less than" the wrong way around,
So what's new? it's called "dynamic pricing " and has been around for years!

 

[bpc]

the article mentions in passing that for funerals or urgent medical issues “some airlines offer compassionate fares in these circumstances” - which airlines do this?

 

[ThePointyEnd]

Time of year is also massively important. For Sydney-Melbourne return at Xmas I snapped up flights on Virgin on October 10 for a mere $3,388 for two. I kikd you not.

 

[Beano]

Time of year is also massively important. For Sydney-Melbourne return at Xmas I snapped up flights on Virgin on October 10 for a mere $3,388 for two. I kikd you not.

I avoid flying at that time of year. i once had a client who insisted I fly to the Philippines at that time of year and I could only get J class so he said "yes"! Good for me!

 

[ThePointyEnd]

I avoid flying at that time of year. i once had a client who insisted I fly to the Philippines at that time of year and I could only get J class so he said "yes"! Good for me!

Don't you love it when that happens!

 

[AFF Editor]

I think you have your "greater than" and "less than" the wrong way around,

Oops, yes I did in two places. Have fixed this, thanks for flagging.

So what's new? it's called "dynamic pricing " and has been around for years!

As the last section of the article says, "Airline price discrimination and advance purchase requirements are nothing new." Agreed. But I think some people might be interested to know that Virgin increases its D class Business fares systematically at midnight exactly 28 days before departure. Or what time Qantas does similar things.

the article mentions in passing that for funerals or urgent medical issues “some airlines offer compassionate fares in these circumstances” - which airlines do this?

Most airlines offer some form of compassionate airfares, but few publish their policy publicly. You would generally need to contact the airline at the time to see what they're willing to offer, and they may ask to see a death certificate in the case of last-minute travel to a funeral.

We're hoping to publish a more detailed article about compassionate airfares in the not-too-distant future.