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While everyone loves bagging a flight bargain, extras like checked baggage and that wine you’ll drink after take off can quickly make that cheap ticket double – or even triple – in price.
To save you time and cash, we’ve come up with a handy guide to show you how much you should expect to pay for extra luxuries aboard domestic flights with the five main Australian carriers: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Tigerair and Rex.
| Airline | Carry-on | Carry-on luggage upgrade | 1st checked bag | 2nd checked bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Free (up to 7kg) | N/A | Free (up to 23kg) | $35 in advance, $70 at airport (up to 23kg) |
| Virgin Australia | Free (up to 7kg) | N/A | Free (up to 23kg) | $35 in advance, $70 at airport (up to 23kg) |
| Jetstar | Free (up to 7kg) | $14 (up to 14kg) | $15-$79 (varies from 15kg-40kg and by length of flight) | N/A |
| Tigerair | Free (up to 7kg) | $15 (up to 12kg) | $15.50-$52.50 (varies from 15kg-40kg and by length of flight) | N/A |
| Rex | Free (up to 7kg) | N/A | Free (up to 15kg) | N/A |
| Airline | Economy seat | Emergency exit or extra leg room |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Free | $60 |
| Virgin Australia | Free | $10-$175 |
| Jetstar | $5-$15 | $19-$35 |
| Tigerair | $4-$9 | $15-$20 |
| Rex | Free | $4.80 |
| Airline | Meals and snacks | Drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Free | Free coffee, tea, water and soft drinks at all times; free wine and beer on weekday evening CityFlyer flights; beer and wine $6 on other flights |
| Virgin Australia | Free | Free coffee, tea and water at all times. Free beer, wine, cider and soft drinks 5pm-7pm (Monday to Friday) |
| Jetstar | $4 and up (snacks and meals) | $4 and up (hot, cold and alcoholic available) |
| Tigerair | $3.50 and up (snacks and meals) | $3 & up (hot, cold and alcoholic) |
| Rex | N/A | N/A |
| Airline | Cost | In-seat or on a device? |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Free | In-seat |
| Virgin Australia | Free | On a device with an app |
| Jetstar | $10 | On a Jetstar device |
| Tigerair | N/A | N/A |
| Rex | N/A | N/A |
Virgin Australia
Australia-wide flights from $89 each way
Available for travel between February - May 2020. Sample fare is Gold Coast-Sydney. Destinations include Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Hamilton Island and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
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Aunt Betty
San Francisco flights from $827 return
Available on select travel dates from February - June 2020. Sample fare is Gold Coast-San Francisco with Air New Zealand. Other flights with Virgin Australias. T&Cs apply.
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Aunt Betty
Los Angeles flights from $795 return
Available on select travel dates from January - June 2020. Sample fare from Gold Coast with Air New Zealand. Other flights with Virgin Australia, Delta Airlines, Qantas, American Airlines, and more. T&Cs apply.
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STA Travel
Japan flights from $589 return with Virgin Australia
Choose the $689 fare and enter the code upon checkout. Available on travel from 29 March - 30 November 2020. Sample fare is Brisbane-Haneda. T&Cs apply.
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Virgin Australia
Up to 10% off worldwide flights with code
Valid for travel until 29 June 2020. Discount applies to Getaway, Elevate, Premium Economy, Business Saver and Business fares. Minimum of 20-day advance purchase. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Virgin Australia
Up to 10% off international fares with code
Valid for travel on select dates. Must book 20 days in advance. Destinations include across Australia to New Zealand, Hong Kong, Bali, Port Moresby and Pacific Islands. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Kayak
Up to 35% off flights worldwide
Subscribe to Kayak newsletter and receive personalised private deals of up to 35% off. Destinations include Europe, Asia, America, Australia and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Tigerair sale: Domestic flights from $40
Available for travel between February - June 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne-Hobart.
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Aunt Betty
Fiji flights from $585 return
Available on select travel dates until May 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Nadi with Fiji Airways. Other flights with Virgin Australia. T&Cs apply.
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Virgin Australia
Tokyo flights from $699 return
Available for travel between April - September 2020. Sample fare is Adelaide-Tokyo.
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Virgin Australia
Domestic flights from $89
Available for travel between May - September 2020. Sample fare is Gold Coast-Sydney.
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I Want That Flight
Domestic flights with Jetstar from $35 each way
Available on select travel dates from January - June 2020. Sample fare Sydney-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
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Budget Air
Extra $10 off Australia-wide flights with code
Available for travel on select dates with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Skyscanner
Australia-wide flights from $35 each way
Available for flights January - June 2020 with Jetstar. Destinations include Newcastle, Brisbane, Hobart, Cairns and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne.
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Flight Centre - Domestic
Qantas sale: Australia-wide flights from $99 each way
Available for flights between 25 Jul 2020 and 15 Sep 2020. Sample fare is Sydney–Gold Coast. Destinations include Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Perth, Ayers Rock and more. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Qantas sale: Domestic flights from $109
Available for travel between January - April 2020. Sample fare is Adelaide-Kangaroo Island.
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Virgin Australia
Up to 10% off global flights with code
Valid for travel on select dates until 29 June 2020 on Getaway, Elevate, Business Saver and Business fares in all destinations. Minimum of 20-day advance purchase. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Skiddoo
Domestic flights from $184 return
Valid for travel until January 2020. Sample fare is Melbourne–Hobart. Destinations include Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth and more.
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Deal ends
Budget Air
Extra $5 off your next booking
Subscribe to BudgetAir enewsletter and receive extra $5 discount of your next booking. Destinations include Europe, Asia, Australia and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Dec 2019 | Japan flights from $589 return with Virgin Australia | TOK**** |
| 5 Nov 2019 | Up to 10% off worldwide flights with code | FGZ**** |
| 5 Nov 2019 | Up to 10% off international fares with code | DFR**** |
| 4 Dec 2019 | Extra $10 off Australia-wide flights with code | AUD**** |
| 22 Nov 2019 | Up to 12% off flights with code | PAY**** |
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Last year we Flew Tigerair to Cairns we booked online with them, and were charged a booking fee of $17 each and an express fare fee of $28 each, why are these charges not shown in your write up? and are there any other airlines charging these type of fees?
Hello John,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Booking and Service fee for credit card or debit card bookings is per person per booking and is non-refundable. The Booking and Service Fee covers a range of costs, activities, fees and charges in relation to the booking, including (among other things) the reasonable costs of accepting card payments. While the Express Fare option packages the ability to choose your seat and priority boarding (which Tigerair calls “queue jump”) in a single bundle. Both fees were detailed at the point of booking transaction.
Currently, we don’t have a summary of these fees per airline. Therefore, we recommend that you read the fine print on your booking transaction and check airline reviews on how to minimize them.
Hope this clarifies.
Cheers,
Jonathan