Jetstar Is Celebrating Its 20th Birthday with Free Fares Home From Japan, Thailand, Hawaii, Bali and More

Just like most of us, Jetstar enjoys marking the passing of another year spent journeying around the sun. And, also like most of us, it's fond of flight sales. Combine the two and you get the Australian airline's 20th-birthday celebrations, which bring the return of its popular 'return for free' sale — where you buy a ticket to your holiday destination, then the carrier covers the cost of you coming home.

This time around, the airline is doing discounted flights across Australia and to a range of international destinations, including in Japan, Thailand, Bali, Hawaii, South Korea and New Zealand. Wherever you'd like to head, the key part of this sale is making your way back Down Under without paying for the flight, which'll also make your holiday oh-so-much cheaper.

Running from 12am AEST on Wednesday, May 1–11.59pm AEST Thursday, May 2, or until sold out — with Jetstar members getting an extra 12 hours access to the sale from 12pm on Tuesday, April 30 — it really is as straightforward as it sounds. Whatever flights you opt for as part of the sale, you'll get the return fare for nothing.

The caveats: you have to book an outbound fare, then you'll get the return fare for free — and the deal only applies to Starter fares, and only on selected flights. Also, checked baggage is not included, so you'll need to travel super light or pay extra to take a suitcase.

Plus, you have to use the same arrival and departure ports for your flights — so you can go from Sydney to Osaka and back, for instance, but can't return via another place or to another city.

On the international destinations list: Osaka, Phuket, Bangkok, Bali, Honolulu, Bali, Seoul, Singapore, Auckland and Wellington, to begin with. Prices obviously vary depending on where you're flying from and to, but some include Sydney to Osaka from $548, Melbourne to Singapore from $399, Brisbane to Seoul from $479, Adelaide to Bali from $349 and Perth to Bangkok from $309.

Domestic fares span deals such as Sydney to Ballina/Byron from $86, Melbourne to Launceston from $87 and Gold Coast to Melbourne from $125.

You'll be travelling within Australia from mid-January to late March next year, and from mid-June this year to late March 2025 if you're going global.

Jetstar's 20th birthday 'return for free' sale runs until 12am AEST on Wednesday, May 1–11.59pm AEST Thursday, May 2 — or until sold out. Jetstar members get an extra 12 hours access to the sale from 12pm on Tuesday, April 30.

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