Qantas launches first major sale for Kiwis travelling internationally

Qantas has launched it's first major sale in 2025 for Kiwis. Photo / Josh Withers on Unsplash

Qantas has launched its first major sale of 2025 for New Zealand travellers, discounting airfares to 20 destinations across its international network.

The Qantas Global Sale will last 14 days and claims to offer “competitive fares” to Asia, North America, South Africa and Australia. Sale fares include checked baggage and food and beverages.

Routes from Aotearoa include direct flights to Melbourne, Sydney, New York and direct flights from major Australian cities to Bali, Japan, Singapore and Manila. Travellers must fly on select dates between February 11, 2025 to December 4, 2025, with “some blackout periods” Qantas said.

Return flights to Sydney or Brisbane start at $569, while Aucklanders can visit Bali for as little as $979 return. Tokyo return flights from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch start at $1099.

Whether the sale translates to cheaper trips depends on when you fly, who you fly with and how you feel about stopovers.

Qantas’ sale includes Auckland to Sydney for $569. In March, Air New Zealand offers the same trip for $516 in economy, Jetstar offers it at $401 and a combination of Latam and Qantas is $483, according to Google Flights, at the time of publishing.

Aucklanders heading to New York are best to fly Qantas if they can nab a $1599 sale fare or fly Air Canada, which offers a similar fare depending on the date. According to March fares, other airlines are about $800 more for the same trip.

As for Bali, a popular destination for Kiwis looking for an island escape, the appeal of Qantas’ $979 fare depends on whether you mind a stopover and 12-hour journey. For about $800 more, depending on the date, one can fly direct with other airlines.

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are included in the sale. Photo / 123RF

Qantas to change airline uniforms

The airline has also announced it’s looking for a new Australian designer to lead a major uniform redesign. This will be the first time in more than a decade the national carrier has significantly updated staff uniforms.

More than 17,500 team members have been surveyed about the redesign, which Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said would kickstart a “new era” for the airline.

“With a vast and growing international and domestic network, a historic fleet renewal program under way and the final frontier of global aviation just around the corner, it’s time to define a new look for our people that reflects where we are heading,” she said.

Prices quoted correct at time of publication.