[BAG]

V Australia continues to shake up the market with the introduction of super cheap one-way tickets between Australia and Los Angeles offering more flexibility for travellers, which are on sale from Monday 20 July.

While one-way fares are not new to the arena, V Australia is the first airline to offer one-way fares across ALL of its fare brackets to the US, including its lowest lead-in fares, offering one-way International Economy tickets from just $579*, approximately 70% lower than the lowest one-way fare currently offered by competitor airlines.

Virgin Blue Group Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said the initiative was another example of V Australia remaining open and adaptable to new ideas and championing change for consumers.

“Nine years ago when Virgin Blue entered the market we virtually invented the concept of affordable, unrestricted one-way domestic fares by removing the archaic ‘advanced purchase conditions’ and minimum stay requirements then associated with expensive one-way fares.

“The biggest joke in the industry was that for the cheapest and least-restrictive one-way fare, travellers had to purchase a return fare and throw away the return portion. This was obviously good for the airlines, but not so for travellers and Virgin Blue changed all that and now we’re doing the same for trans-Pacific travel on V Australia.”

Currently trans-Pacific one-way fares on other carriers are only available in the higher fare brackets.

Brett Godfrey continued, “Effectively travellers get stung twice for even considering a one-way fare which is usually exquisitely expensive coupled with extensive conditions.

“With V Australia’s new ‘freedom fare’ we’ve certainly made it easier and much more affordable for those who want flexibility for their return flight, or only need to travel in one direction.”

Availability of affordable one-way fares is great news for students, backpackers, expats and those on working holidays who may not necessarily have a firm return date.

If travellers are in doubt about their travel plans, buying a one-way fare will also negate any penalty fees that usually apply to the lower fare brackets if changes are made to a return flight after the booking is confirmed.