Air fares at a four-year low as airlines tempt us back to the skies

This week sees the fight for your flights reach boiling point, with April 1 the date for half price fares to go on sale. A recent survey by comparison site Finder found air prices are at a four-year low.

Flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are LOWER than they were a year ago before the pandemic hit.

But that’s not the only way in which airlines are tempting you back in their seats. Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and now Rex are all pulling no punches to appeal to Australians as they take to the skies – aided by state and federal tourism dollars.

The fight for your air dollars is hotting up with everything from frequent flyer points to in-flight food on the tray table.

Just this week, after realising high spending during lockdown has left many with heaps of frequent flyer points, Qantas made every seat on a plane available to Qantas Frequent Flyer members at Classic Flight Reward rates for redeeming points.

And with an Australia/New Zealand bubble about to burst onto the travel scene – an announcement will be made on April 6 – Qantas has announced that all seats on NZ flights will be opened for booking as a Classic Flight Reward on both Jetstar and Qantas for the first three days.

Virgin has upped the ante on inflight business class, announcing out go the food boxes and in come proper plated meals in business – along with suggestions of price cuts to come.

But bad news for economy: Virgin Australia’s new “hybrid model” means free snacks are out for economy passengers but complimentary tea and coffee are still OK.

Customers will still be able to buy meals from an onboard menu, which will initially include cheese and crackers and Australian wine.

Regional airline operator Rex is also on the move, and will begin flights between Canberra and Sydney from next month, ending Qantas’s current monopoly on the route and accusing the company of fare gouging.

Rex announced it would undercut the national carrier by offering one-way fares below $100 and would also open a lounge at Canberra Airport.

In the run up to April 1 and as vaccines become more prevalent, most observers are expecting more to come as airlines jockey for the return to flying.