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Australian budget carrier Jetstar has launched a new network-wide promotion called the “Fare Play Sale,” dangling one-way flights to Bali from the equivalent of about 149 US dollars and tens of thousands of other discounted seats for travel across Australia and the Asia Pacific in 2026.
Jetstar Unveils New Sale as Aussies Eye 2026 Getaways
The latest promotion from the Qantas-owned low-cost airline lands at a time when Australian demand for short breaks and affordable international escapes remains strong. Jetstar is pitching the Fare Play Sale as a simple way for travelers to “take off more, for less,” with sharply reduced fares on both domestic and international routes.
The sale centers on a five-day booking window, with Jetstar confirming that discount seats will be available from midday on Monday and remain on offer until late on Friday, unless they sell out earlier. A total of around 280,000 seats are being promoted across the airline’s network, giving travelers in multiple Australian cities a shot at lower fares.
While the cheapest headline price in the campaign is a domestic fare starting from 39 Australian dollars one way on select routes, the most eye-catching deal for many travelers is the set of sale fares to Bali, which begin at 149 Australian dollars one way from Perth. At current exchange rates, that Bali lead-in fare equates to roughly 149 US dollars, placing it firmly in the low-cost long-weekend territory for West Australians.
Jetstar executives say the sale is underpinned by recent and upcoming additions to the airline’s fleet, including refreshed Boeing 787 Dreamliners and new Airbus A320neo and A321LR aircraft, which together are allowing the carrier to add capacity and keep base fares low. The airline has been steadily rebuilding and expanding its international network out of Australia, with Bali at the heart of that growth.
Bali Lead Fares From Perth, Plus Wider Asia-Pacific Deals
Bali remains one of Jetstar’s most in-demand overseas destinations, and the Fare Play Sale is tailored accordingly. The airline’s promotional material highlights one-way fares from Perth to Bali’s Denpasar airport from 149 Australian dollars, which converts to roughly 149 US dollars at present levels, assuming a near one-to-one comparison once fees and currency margins are taken into account.
Other Australian cities also see competitive sale pricing to Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Routes flagged in the wider campaign include Gold Coast to Bali from 215 Australian dollars, Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City from 199 Australian dollars and Perth to Manila from 215 Australian dollars, alongside a raft of discounted domestic flights. These long-haul narrow-body and wide-body routes showcase how Jetstar is using its mixed fleet to connect leisure travelers to popular beach and city destinations.
For Bali specifically, the airline has grown capacity over the past year by adding new routes and extra frequencies, especially from secondary Australian gateways. Travel industry observers note that Bali’s enduring popularity with Australian travelers, combined with relatively short flight times from the west coast, makes it fertile ground for aggressive discounting during sales periods such as this one.
For U.S.-based travelers eyeing a Bali holiday, the 149 US dollar-style fares are only available on the final leg between Australia and Indonesia, but they can still significantly reduce overall trip costs for those piecing together multi-stop itineraries through hubs such as Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.
Sale Window, Travel Dates and How to Book
The Fare Play Sale is tightly time-limited, a strategy Jetstar frequently uses to drive quick decision-making and fill seats outside peak booking periods. The airline says sale fares will be released at midday on Monday 23 February local time and remain available until just before midnight on Friday 27 February, or until the discounted inventory is exhausted.
Travel dates vary by route, but most of the heavily promoted international discounts fall between mid-March and mid-November 2026. That includes Bali services from Perth and the eastern capitals, as well as new seasonal routes from Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast to Denpasar that are scheduled to commence from March. As usual with low-cost carriers, blackout dates may apply around school holidays and major events.
Seats must be booked directly through Jetstar’s website or mobile app, and the lowest advertised prices are for one-way economy fares. The airline is steering customers to book early in the sale window, warning that many of the ultra-low prices are for limited seat allocations on specific flights. Travelers who have flexible dates will stand the best chance of snagging the cheapest tickets.
Club Jetstar members, the airline’s paid loyalty tier, are again being offered early-bird access, with a 24-hour head start on sale fares before they go on general release. That can make a tangible difference for high-demand routes such as Perth to Bali, where the lowest price brackets can disappear quickly once the wider public jumps in.
What the 149 US Dollar-Like Fare Actually Includes
While the 149 Australian dollar Bali headline fare is undeniably sharp, would-be passengers should be aware of what is, and is not, included in that ticket. As with most low-cost carriers, Jetstar’s base fares are structured around a no-frills model, with extras charged on top.
The standard economy sale fare generally includes a seat, basic in-flight service, and up to 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage, which can be split between two small items such as a backpack and handbag. For many short Bali trips, that may be enough, particularly for travelers staying in resorts that provide most amenities or those content to travel light.
Checked baggage, however, attracts additional fees, with prices tiered by weight and route and typically cheaper when pre-purchased at the time of booking. On some international routes, buying checked baggage at the airport can cost significantly more than pre-booking, so cost-conscious travelers aiming to keep their Bali break under budget are being urged to finalize their luggage needs in advance.
Other optional extras include seat selection, in-flight meals on certain services and ticket flexibility products, all of which add to the final price. Travel agents and consumer advocates stress that travelers should take a holistic view of the fare, comparing the fully loaded cost against alternative carriers rather than focusing solely on the enticing lead-in figure.
Growing Bali Capacity and Tourism Implications
The spotlight on Bali in Jetstar’s Fare Play Sale reflects the island’s central role in Australia’s outbound tourism landscape. For years, Denpasar has ranked among the most popular international destinations for Australians, thanks to a mix of warm weather, relatively short flight times from much of the country and a wide range of accommodation at different price points.
Over the last 12 months, Jetstar has added new direct services to Bali from regions such as Newcastle, the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne’s Avalon airport, broadening access beyond the traditional capital-city gateways. Industry analysts say these moves have increased overall capacity on the Bali corridor, which in turn supports discount campaigns like the current sale.
Tourism operators in Bali are likely to welcome any move that stimulates demand from Australia in shoulder seasons and outside traditional winter escape periods. Cheaper flights can encourage repeat visitors and first-timers alike, while also supporting local hospitality businesses that rely heavily on Australian arrivals. Indonesian authorities have in parallel introduced a tourist levy for Bali visitors, which adds a small fixed cost but is unlikely to dampen demand given the scale of flight discounts on offer.
For Jetstar, a strong Bali program helps underpin its broader Asia-Pacific strategy, feeding customers into its long-haul network and reinforcing its brand identity as a leisure-focused, low-cost carrier. The airline’s decision to pair Bali deals with newer routes such as Melbourne to Colombo in Sri Lanka suggests a bid to balance reliable demand with emerging markets.
Key Fine Print for Bargain Hunters
As always with flash sales, the fine print matters. The Fare Play Sale fares are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are strictly limited, meaning not every flight or date will have the lowest advertised price available. Travelers finding higher prices on their preferred dates are likely bumping into higher fare buckets once the cheapest seats have sold out.
Most of the sale tickets are non-refundable and attract change fees if customers need to alter their travel dates, on top of any fare difference. For people whose plans are not yet firm, it may be worth paying extra for a more flexible fare category or travel insurance that covers changes, rather than locking into the absolute lowest price.
Jetstar also reminds passengers that all fares are subject to schedule changes and operational considerations. While cancellations on mainline Australia to Bali routes are relatively uncommon, the broader industry experience of the past few years has shown that network adjustments can occur at short notice, especially when airlines are introducing new routes or ramping up capacity.
Consumers are encouraged to double-check visa requirements and entry conditions before booking international travel. For Bali, that usually includes arranging a tourist visa for many nationalities and paying a modest local tourism fee on arrival or ahead of travel, which should be factored into the overall cost of a holiday even if flights are booked at a deep discount.
How This Fits Into Jetstar’s Competitive Strategy
The Fare Play Sale is the latest in a series of aggressive promotions from Jetstar as the airline competes with full-service rival Qantas and low-cost competitors across the region. Discount waves such as this one help the carrier stimulate demand during quieter booking periods and defend market share on core leisure routes, particularly those to Bali, Southeast Asia and key domestic holiday hotspots.
Analysts note that Jetstar’s ability to advertise Perth to Bali flights from around 149 US dollars is underpinned by a combination of scale, relatively efficient aircraft and high year-round demand. By filling seats in advance through sales, the airline can improve its revenue certainty while offering tangible value to price-sensitive travelers.
For the broader market, sustained discounting puts pressure on competitors to respond with their own offers, potentially delivering a short-term win for consumers. At the same time, industry watchers caution that ultra-low fares are usually available only to those who can move quickly and are comfortable with the stripped-back service model typical of low-cost carriers.
With new aircraft arriving and additional routes to Bali and beyond slated for this year, travelers can expect Jetstar to continue leaning on headline-grabbing sales to reinforce its message of affordable travel. For now, though, those dreaming of a week in Seminyak or Ubud at a fraction of the usual air fare will be keenly eyeing the clock as the Fare Play Sale opening approaches.