Jetstar Black Friday 2025: “Return for Free” is back — plus Qantas and Virgin Australia sale highlights and the smartest ways to book

The holiday airfare window is officially open. Jetstar’s Black Friday “Return for Free” sale is live now for a limited time, with the return leg priced at $0 on selected return trips across Australia and popular international routes. Qantas and Virgin Australia have also rolled out Black Friday discounts, stacking bonus-points promos and sharp headline fares for 2026 travel. Here’s the quick guide to what’s on offer, key dates, and booking tactics that actually save money.

Jetstar Black Friday: how “Return for Free” works

• What it is: Book a return trip on selected routes and dates; you pay the outbound fare and the return Starter fare is $0 (carrier charges/taxes may still apply). Inventory is limited and the discount only appears when you price a return in the sale window.

• When it ends: 11:59 p.m. AEDT, Sunday 30 November 2025 (or earlier if sold out).

• Where it applies: A mix of domestic city pairs and short- to mid-haul international favourites (think Bali, Japan, New Zealand and more) with blackout periods.

• Bags & seats: The base Starter fare is carry-on only. During this Black Friday event, some advertised bundles and packages show 20kg checked baggage and standard seat selection included—but that’s not universal. Check the fare bundle you select before paying.

Pro tip: Price two one-ways versus one return. If the sale fare is truly “$0 return,” the return should beat the two one-way total; if not, you may be outside eligible dates.

Qantas and Virgin Australia: what’s worth your cart

• Qantas: A broad, time-boxed Black Friday/Travel Week set with domestic specials and dozens of international city pairs discounted for off-peak 2026 travel windows. Expect competitive east-west domestic pricing and returns to regional Asia under typical shoulder-season thresholds.

• Virgin Australia: Sitewide Black Friday fares with up to 25% off selected domestic and short-haul international routes (Bali, Queenstown, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa). Virgin and its loyalty program are also running limited-time points boosters on eligible spend. End date: 11:59 p.m. AEST, Tuesday 2 December 2025 (or sold out).

Sweet spot: If you’re flexible to travel Feb–Jun or Aug–Nov 2026 (avoiding school holidays), both full-service carriers are pricing aggressively on outbound Australia to Asia and the Pacific.

“Return for Free” route patterns to watch

While exact lists change by region, patterns tend to include:

• Domestic getaways: Capital–capital and capital–coastal pairs with solid midweek availability.

• Trans-Tasman & NZ domestic connectors: Good value when you can travel off-peak and pack light.

• Bali and Southeast Asia: Typically the fastest-selling inventory; book those first if they’re on your shortlist.

• Japan (seasonal windows): Shoulder-season dates often appear; ski peak dates are scarce.

How to book smarter in the Black Friday rush

1. Search return first. The “$0 return” mechanic only reveals itself on return searches; confirm the discount shows on the fare summary before checkout.

2. Use the fare calendar. Slide a day or two in either direction; the “$0” return tranche can vanish on peak days but reappear on adjacent ones.

3. Compare bundles vs. à la carte. If you need checked bags and seats, a bundle can be cheaper than adding extras to a bare Starter fare—especially during Black Friday when bundle promos appear.

4. Mind the clocks. Jetstar’s offer uses AEDT; Virgin’s sitewide timers commonly show AEST in fine print. Don’t miss by an hour.

5. Layer loyalty only when it makes sense. Earning a few hundred points is nice, but the lowest cash fare usually beats a higher fare with a points kicker.

6. Check payment fees and hold options. A low fare can be offset by payment surcharges; if a hold/credit option is offered at low cost, it can protect your price while you lock leave dates.

Example targets (so you know a real deal when you see it)

• Domestic Starter returns with $0 inbound: often price out well under the usual two one-ways, delivering savings of $60–$150 per person versus standard promos.

• Bali/Queenstown/Fiji short-haul returns: look for totals that beat your city’s 12-month average by 20–35% once you add carry-on/bag needs.

• Japan shoulder season: sale returns under your market’s typical shoulder-season median are standouts (bag-inclusive bundles help).

Refunds, changes, and add-ons: read this before you click

• Flexibility: Low fares are usually non-refundable and charge change fees plus fare difference unless you buy a flex bundle.

• Baggage: Adding bags post-booking costs more; decide your bag needs before checkout.

• Seating: Families should add seat selection up front to stay together on busy holiday flights.

• Third-party booking? Book direct during Black Friday to access airline-only promo mechanics and easier changes.

For Black Friday 2025 in Australia, the headliner is Jetstar’s “Return for Free”—a genuine discount when your dates align—while Qantas and Virgin Australia are cutting domestic and regional international fares for 2026 trips and tossing in points promos. Move quickly on Bali, Japan and Trans-Tasman dates, sanity-check bundles vs. bare fares, and set a hard budget: the best prices tend to disappear within hours, not days.