QANTAS: The Americas — north and south on Red Tail sale. Some real bargains

Qantas had a Red Tail sale similar to this last year, from memory. It had a North American sale just after its double status credits promotion. I picked up a roughly AU$7,000 Business Class fare to Vancouver for September ’24. A trip I eventually had to delay and then cancel due to a positive COVID test and a fortnight feeling really shitty despite anti-virals. I got a full refund from Qantas and from all hotels booked via American Express, although doctors’ certifications were required.

I don’t usually post about fare sales, but this one has some value that you might want to take advantage of.

Sale length

This red tail sale runs until 11.59 pm (AEDT) Wednesday 26 March 2025 (unless sold out prior) for travel between 14 April 2025 to 29 January 2026. There are a few blackout dates to watch out for too.

No trips to the USA while budding dictator Trump is in power

I would leap at some of these fares, except our household has a primary ban on travel to the USA during the Trump regime. Still, there is always Canada or South America . . . If only I hadn’t spent all my hard-earned on the Double Status fares!

Red Tail Sale to the Americas — details

The sale runs for a week from today (20 March to 26 March). But as always, act quickly to score the best fares.

First Class fares only apply to Los Angeles and Dallas Fort Worth and are all still over AU$15,000 return.

Premium Economy could be the sweet spot, with fares ranging from AU$2,399 to Honolulu to AU$4,299 to New York JFK.

Business Class Red Tail Sale

I’m going to concentrate here on Business Class airfares. Here are some examples:

• Santiago AU$5,599 (from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane)
• Los Angeles AU$7,599 (from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane)
• Vancouver AUD$7,299 (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane)

Given that last week a standard Vancouver fare from the East Coast of Australia was closer to AU$11,000, there are some good prices here.

Use your Points, but only on ‘Plus’ rewards and not standard Classic Rewards

There are some points bargains here, too, but not at Classic Rewards rates, the most efficient use of points. Redemptions available are in the Classic Plus category, which is fast becoming the predominant way of using points. An example is a Sydney to Vancouver return in Business for 401,900 points (+ $1,271 in taxes and fees, etc.). Not a great deal in my book.

There is some availability of Classic Rewards for Economy seats on most of the routes on sale.

2PAXfly Takeout

OK, unless something miraculous happens with my bank balance, this sale is not for me — political considerations aside.

For you, it might just be the time to nab a bargain if you are OK with a country that seems now to arbitrarily detain tourists for up to two weeks in disgusting conditions.