Score $49 flights and more in this week’s Virgin Happy Hour sale

Served up once a week on Thursdays, the Virgin Australia Happy Hour sale can be a cheeky way to lock in flight on the cheap. But with so many other sales out there, is it worth it?

We’ll answer all your questions about the regular Virgin Happy Hour sale, from when you can book it to what’s included in your fares.

Latest Virgin Happy Hour Sale Details

FAQs about Virgin Happy Hour sales

What’s included in the Virgin Happy Hour sale for 5 September, 2024?

This week you can grab $49 flights each way within Australia, or head abroad from $449 return. For those prices, you’ll be able to fly between Sydney and Ballina Byron ($49) or head to Bali from the Gold Coast ($449)

On the domestic side of things, Virgin Australia has discounted fares all over the country, including flights to Launceston (from $68), Gold Coast (from $69) and the Whitsunday Coast (from $79). International flights to Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa are also on sale.

You can travel for these prices from November 2024 to March 2025. Unfortunately, the Christmas/New Year’s period and school holidays aren’t included.

Here’s a full list of all the destinations and prices in the 22 August sale

When can you travel?

These prices are available for travel on Virgin Australia flights for departures between August and September 2024.

How good is this week’s Happy Hour sale?

The domestic fares are okay, but nothing mind-blowing. Most weeks we see fares in the $59-$79 range and these are smack in the middle. We tend to get excited about Virgin fares once they dip below the $50 mark.

Everything you need to know about Virgin Happy Hour sales

When is the Virgin Australia Happy Hour sale?

It’s on Thursdays from 4-11pm. It does get extended on occasion and runs for 12 hours from 11am. Even more rarely, it gets extended into a multi-day sale.

Is Virgin’s Happy Hour sale on every Thursday?

Well, not always. If there’s another major sale running, usually Virgin takes a break from its happy hour sale. But, between us, it’s usually because the other sale is a much better deal.

How far in advance are flights in the Virgin Happy Hour sales?

It varies a lot. Sometimes the sales are for flights departing in just a few weeks, or they can be months away. Often, flight sales focus on dates that aren’t selling as well or tends to be during quieter travel periods.

So don’t expect to see flights available during school holidays, long weekends or over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday period included in a happy hour sale.

What’s included in Virgin’s Happy Hour sale fares?

Just about all of Virgin’s sale tickets are for Lite fares. That means you’ll only get the guarantee of a seat on the plane and a carry-on bag are included. You’ll also be able to access Virgin Australia’s in-flight entertainment system during your flight. (You will need your own device though.)

If you’re looking to add on extras, it may be worth comparing Lite fares with add-ons to higher fares. Here, we’ve looked at a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide. It’s $99 for the Lite fare alone.

• If you add on a checked bag, that’s $65 (making the fare now $164)
• If you add on a selected seat, that’s $9 (making the fare now $173)

In this example, opting for the Choice fare instead of the Lite fare, will actually be a savings of $58 if you want to add on the extras.

Does Virgin’s Happy Hour sale include international flights?

They didn’t always, but lately we’ve been seeing more and more international fares included in these sales. Some of the usual suspects include Bali, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.

Can I collect Velocity points when I book a Happy Hour sale fare?

Yes! The earnings system for Velocity members is based on how much money you spend rather than how far you travel or whether your fare is eligible.

You’ll still earn five points per dollar spent on your flights. That’s just as much as you’d earn for every other fare type. But since the fare will likely cost you less than if you’re booking a regular priced ticket, you won’t earn quite as much.

Is the Virgin Australia Happy Hour sale even worth it?

It sure can be! While the fares aren’t always stellar, they are the lowest-priced Virgin Australia flights available.

That said, we’d recommend comparing them to other airlines, including budget airlines like Jetstar and Bonza. Unless you’re a Velocity member, if you’re looking for just the cheapest fare, it certainly pays to shop around.

Is Virgin’s Happy Hour better than Jetstar’s Friday Fare Frenzy?

If all you’re after is price… probably not. Virgin’s fares are almost always higher than Jetstar’s — weekly sales included.

But, we always recommend comparing fares as they can easily fluctuate depending on your travel dates and even preference for the time of day. You can do that using the search box below.

💡Want to read more about these two sales? Check out our in-depth comparison of Happy Hour vs Friday Fare Frenzy.

Virgin Australia Happy Hour sale history

Here’s all the Happy Hour sales that we’ve covered on Cheaptrips.au.