Virgin Australia has significantly reduced its Business Class fares on many domestic routes, with seats now regularly available from as little as $199 one-way – or even as low as $182 with a promo code!
But there’s a catch: Customers can no longer book the cheapest Business Saver fares on most routes within four weeks of departure.
Virgin Australia has added an advance purchase requirement of 28 days to its “Business Saver” fare category. So, if booking within 28 days of departure – as most people would at the moment – you would need to pay for a more expensive fare in the “Business” fare category.
That said, even Virgin Australia’s “Business” fares are now very reasonably priced, with noticeable reductions on many domestic routes. Most are now around $50 more expensive than a “Business Saver” ticket – and much cheaper than Qantas Business Class.
This also isn’t so bad for Velocity Frequent Flyer members, who earn status credits at a higher rate when booking a “Business” ticket. These tickets also come with greater flexibility.
The exception to this new rule is routes like Melbourne-Gold Coast, where Virgin is directly competing with Rex (when Rex is operating its 737 flights, anyway). On these routes, Virgin Australia’s cheapest Business Saver (“I” class) fares are still available for purchase until the day before the flight’s departure.
Which Virgin Australia routes have the cheapest Business class fares?
If you’re booking at least 28 days in advance, the cheapest Business Saver fares are available for $199 one-way on the Brisbane-Rockhampton and Melbourne-Launceston routes – both earning 50 status credits. With a working Virgin Australia discount code, such as CRV59, the price drops even further to $181.11.
Other great “Business Saver” fares available more than four weeks out include:
- Brisbane-Mackay: $209 (earns 50 status credits)
- Hobart-Melbourne: $229 (earns 50 status credits)
- Brisbane-Newcastle: $249 (earns 50 status credits)
- Sydney-Sunshine Coast: $249 (earns 50 status credits)
- Perth-Kalgoorlie: $270 (earns 50 status credits)
And if you’re looking for a routing that maximises status credits, Adelaide-Canberra via Melbourne is available from just $287 one-way in Business Saver, earning 100 status credits. That’s $2.87 per status credit.
On routes where Virgin competes with Rex, Business Saver fares are available starting at the following prices until the day before departure:
- Canberra-Melbourne: $249 (earns 50 status credits)
- Sydney-Melbourne: $299 (earns 50 status credits)
- Sydney-Gold Coast: $299 (earns 50 status credits)
- Melbourne-Gold Coast: $299 (earns 60 status credits)
- Melbourne-Adelaide: $299 (earns 50 status credits)
If you’re booking less than 28 days in advance, or choose to book a “Business” fare to earn a higher amount of status credits, some of the best deals include:
- Melbourne-Launceston: $249 (earns 55 status credits)
- Brisbane-Rockhampton: $249 (earns 55 status credits)
- Brisbane-Mackay: $259 (earns 55 status credits)
- Hobart-Melbourne: $279 (earns 55 status credits)
- Brisbane-Proserpine: $299 (earns 55 status credits)
- Brisbane-Newcastle: $299 (earns 55 status credits)
- Sydney-Sunshine Coast: $299 (earns 55 status credits)
- Canberra-Adelaide: $319 (earns 55 status credits)
- Canberra-Melbourne-Adelaide: $337 (earns 110 status credits)
- Perth-Cairns: $449 (earns 105 status credits)
All of these prices are before any promo codes are applied.
Are there any implications for Future Flight credits?
This should not affect the ability to redeem Future Flight credits. Although the Virgin Australia website says that “I” class availability is required in order to redeem a Future Flight credit for a Business Class ticket, a Virgin Australia spokesman told us that Future Flight Credits can also be used to book “D” class Business fares which are available within 28 days.
Even so, it does appear that Virgin is still making “I” class inventory available on most routes within 28 days of departure – even if that fare class can’t be booked directly.
“Future Flight Credits can be used to book I and D class Business fares. If this option is not available online, customers can call or email the Guest Contact Centre or book via their travel agent,” the Virgin Australia spokesman said.
“We are making improvements to our site to make it easier to complete these bookings online.”
Virgin Australia relaunched its Business Class product, with complimentary hot meals, glassware and spirits making a comeback, in March 2021.
All well and good but still risky, chances of flights being pulled or isolation still high. Not easy flying around Australia at the moment is it?