If a family holiday has been sitting in the “we’ll book it later” basket, now might be the time to act.
Qantas and Virgin Australia have both launched major airfare sales, slashing the cost of domestic and international travel across some of the busiest holiday periods of the year. The promotions come as many Australian families begin planning Christmas breaks, summer getaways and school holiday adventures for the first half of 2027.
Qantas is offering more than 800,000 discounted domestic seats as part of its latest Aussie Summer Sale, with travel available between December 2026 and February 2027. The sale includes some of the country’s most popular holiday periods, including Christmas, Australia Day and summer school holidays. The airline’s discounted fares start from $99 one-way on selected routes, allowing families to secure travel months before the seasonal rush begins.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia has responded with one of its biggest sales of the year, releasing discounted fares across 34 domestic and international destinations. The airline’s “Book It Before You Overthink It” campaign features selected fares from $49 one-way and includes travel dates stretching well into 2027, depending on the route.
For families, the biggest advantage may not just simply be finding that bargain airfare. Booking now can also provide certainty around holiday plans at a time when accommodation and attraction prices often climb during peak travel periods. Securing flights early can help households spread the cost of a holiday over several months rather than facing a large expense closer to departure.
The sales include a wide mix of family-friendly destinations. Domestic travellers can take advantage of discounted flights to popular beach holiday locations including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Tasmania, while international travellers can find deals to destinations such as Bali, Fiji, Queenstown and Vanuatu.
The sale also extends beyond economy travel. Virgin has discounted selected Business Class fares from $219 one-way, providing another option for travellers looking to upgrade without paying full price.
With both airlines competing aggressively for travellers, the sales offer families a rare window to lock in flights covering Christmas, school holidays and future long weekends before seats disappear. As always, the cheapest fares are limited and may sell out before the advertised end dates, meaning flexibility and early booking could be the key to securing the best deal.
Best Sale Fares Available Right Now
Qantas
Travel: December 2026 – February 2027
- Adelaide → Melbourne from $99 one-way
- Sydney → Gold Coast from $99 one-way
- Melbourne → Hobart from $119 one-way
- Darwin → Perth from $299 one-way
- Perth → Sydney from $299 one-way
- Perth → Melbourne from $329 one-way
Virgin Australia
Travel on selected dates through mid-2027
Domestic
- Sydney → Gold Coast from $65 one-way
- Sydney → Sunshine Coast from $69 one-way
- Melbourne → Gold Coast from $89 one-way
- Melbourne → Adelaide from $105 one-way
International
- Melbourne/Gold Coast → Bali from $429 return
- Sydney → Bali from $469 return
- Brisbane → Bali from $519 return
- Melbourne → Queenstown from $445 return
- Sydney → Queenstown from $535 return
- Melbourne or Sydney → Fiji from $599 return
- Brisbane → Fiji from $609 return
- Brisbane → Vanuatu from $469 return
