Flexible fares in Australia usually come packed with plenty of perks: stress-free changes, opportunity to cancel for credit, more frequent flyer points and Status Credits bundled in, plus a lower threshold to upgrade to Business Class where offered.
So what’s stopping most people opting for these ‘golden tickets’? It’s the cost, of course. We’re not talking a nominal fare difference either — sometimes flexible fares can be more than triple the price of the cheapest non-flexible Economy ticket.
If your work pays for your flexible fare, then that’s easy. You get to benefit from the perks and your employer has peace-of-mind should things go wrong. But what if you need to fund travel out of your own pocket?
What are the different flexible fares on offer domestically?
For a bit of context and comparison, here is a brief summary of the different fares available with major Australian domestic carriers — both restricted and flexible, for your comparison.
Note:The tables below show each airline’s usual change and cancellation policies. Links are provided where relevant.
Qantas domestic fare rules [2025]
The Red Roo keeps it simple with just three different cash fares on offer — Economy Red e-Deal and Flex, plus Business Class. In addition, Qantas Classic Flight Rewards using points are great value as well.
Note: Check its latest ‘Fly Flexible’ updates for more information. The table below shows the usual change and cancellation fees that apply.
| Qantas Changes | Qantas Credits | Qantas Refunds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Red e-Deal | 🟡 $110 fee (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $110 fee (keep value as credit) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Economy Flex | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value as credit) | 🟡 $110 fee (remainder refunded) |
| Business | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value as credit) | ✅ (full refund) |
| Classic Flight Reward (Qantas Points) | 🟡 5,000 points fee (+ fare difference) | n/a | 🟡 6,000 points fee (remainder refunded) |
Virgin Australia domestic fare rules [2025]
You have a choice of three different Economy fares and two Business Class fares when travelling with Virgin Australia, plus its popular Reward Seat option using Velocity Points.
Note: Check its latest ‘Flying Flexible’ updates for more information. The table below shows the usual change and cancellation fees that apply.
| Virgin Australia Changes | Virgin Australia Credits | Virgin Australia Refunds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Lite | 🟡 $109 fee (+ fare difference) | ❌ (not permitted - loss of fare) | ❌ (not permitted - loss of fare) |
| Economy Choice | 🟡 $109 fee (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $109 fee | ❌ (not permitted - loss of fare) |
| Economy Flex | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (no fee) | 🟡 $109 fee (remainder refunded) |
| Business Saver | ✅ (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $50 fee (keep value in Travel Bank) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Business | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (no fee) | ✅ (full refund) |
| Velocity Reward Seat (Velocity Points) | 🟡 4,500 points or $35 fee (+ fare difference) | n/a | 🟡 4,500 points or $35 fee (remainder refunded) |
Rex domestic fare rules [2025]
The airline also offers the most choice, with three Economy and three Business Class fares to choose from.
Its standard fees are also the lowest, at A$44 per allowable change. Note that different change/cancellation cut-offs apply for various fare levels, so see the Rex website for full details.
| Rex Changes | Rex Credits | Rex Refunds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Promo | 🟡 $44 fee (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $44 fee (keep value in Travel Bank) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Economy Saver | Up to 14 days before departure ✅ (+ fare difference) Within 14 days of departure 🟡 $44 fee (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $44 fee (keep value in Travel Bank) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Economy Flex | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value in Travel Bank) | 🟡 $44 fee (remainder refunded) |
| Biz Saver | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value in Travel Bank) | 🟡 $33 fee (remainder refunded) |
| Biz | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value in Travel Bank) | 🟡 $33 fee (remainder refunded) |
| Biz Plus | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (keep value in Travel Bank) | 🟡 $33 fee (remainder refunded) |
Jetstar domestic fare rules [2025]
As a low-cost carrier, don’t expect much flexibility from Jetstar. All changes and fees can be found through the Jetstar Fees and Charges page.
| Jetstar Changes | Jetstar Credits | Jetstar Refunds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Fare | 🟡 $70 fee (+ fare difference) | 🟡 $50 fee (Jetstar Voucher) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Starter Fare with Plus Bundle | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ❌ (not permitted, unless purchased with FareCredit) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Starter Fare with Flex Bundle | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (Jetstar Voucher) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Starter Fare with Max Bundle | ✅ (+ fare difference) | ✅ (Jetstar Voucher) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Jetstar FareCredit Add-On | (as per above fare rules) | ✅ (Jetstar Voucher, overrides previous fare rules) | ❌ (not permitted) |
| Classic Flight Reward (Qantas Points) | 🟡 5,000 points fee (+ fare difference) | n/a | 🟡 5,000 points fee (remainder refunded) |
When does it make sense to pay for flexible fares?
In many cases, the difference between discounted and flexible fares is so great that you may be better off going for the cheaper option and copping a penalty if your plans change later on.
In the screenshot below, Qantas is selling a Perth-Sydney flight for $607 in Red e-Deal and $1,054 in Flex — that’s a 1.74x increase! On the same day, Virgin’s cheapest Economy fare is $493 while its flexible Freedom fare is $630 — 1.28x more.
In both cases, a Business Class cash ticket is available but can differentiate between airlines depending more on the fare type and time you choose.
1. If you’re travelling last minute or during peak periods
If you need to dash off somewhere last minute, such as for a family emergency, then usually you will have no choice but to buy an expensive flexible fare (and even if discounted tickets are available, it may still not be that much cheaper anymore).
The same applies for peak periods of travel, where it’s not unheard of to see Business Class fares cheaper than flexible Economy tickets, as shown in the screenshot below!
In either case, be sure to compare your fare options to maximise your comfort and frequent flyer benefits on the trip, especially if you can nab a Business Class ticket at a comparable price to Economy.
2. If you’re just short of the Status Credits needed for elite status
Normally, we’re not advocates of ‘status runs’ where you’re essentially spending more money than you need to maintain airline status, such as Velocity or Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum.
But if you’re close to attaining or maintaining status and have limited time to fly, you might consider purchasing a flexible fare to earn more Status Credits with the same number of flights.
3. If you want to upgrade for less
In some scenarios, if you’re very set on flying Business Class and also have some frequent flyer points to burn, it could make sense to buy a flexible Economy fare and lodge an upgrade request.
For example, Qantas upgrades on transcontinental routes such as Perth-Sydney and Melbourne-Perth usually cost 32,600 points from discount Economy, whereas it’s just 13,100 points from flexible Economy.
Summing up
To be perfectly candid, it is rarely a sensible idea to personally fund fully flexible fares. The costs usually strongly outweigh any benefits, especially for price-conscious travellers.
Those flexi-fares are usually designed for corporates and businesses with deep pockets, where flexibility and convenience is key and price is of little concern. Therefore, it’s pricing usually makes it quite out-of-reach for ordinary travellers.
But in some scenarios such as above, it could make sense when your travel options are limited, when you’re hoping to earn more points or Status Credits, and when you’re looking to upgrade to Business Class without needing to spend much more cash.
Remember, using points for reward seats remains a viable alternative for those with enough points. Not only can you fly Economy or Business Class for a reasonable rate and without parting with too much cash, but reward seat bookings are also inherently flexible.
