Rex challenges Qantas, Virgin with $79 Sydney-Melbourne flights

Regional Express is making good on its promise to challenge Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar for a slice of the lucrative Sydney-Melbourne travel market, with sharp prices and inclusions in both business class and economy.

Business class fares for the Boeing 737 flights, which take off on Monday March 1 2021, begin at a very competitive $299 one-way: inclusive of lounge access, an inflight meal, checked baggage and more.

As previously reported, Rex's Boeing 737 jets are all drawn from Virgin Australia's former leased fleet and retain the same eight business class seats, albeit redressed to remove the Virgin logo.

Look familiar? Rex's Boeing 737s are ex-Virgin Australia, including the seats.

In economy class, fares are currently on sale at $79 one-way – with 100,000 seats available at this price – with regular ticket prices normally beginning at $99.

Rex has also retained Virgin's extra legroom 'Economy X' seating at rows 3, 4, 5, 13 and 14 for an additional $15 'Advance Seat Selection' fee.

Rex's Boeing 737s include 'Rextra Legroom' seats, which Virgin used to call Economy X.

Fares for the Sydney-Melbourne flights went on sale as of December 1, and Executive Traveller understands they are already being snapped up.

Rex will extend its nascent Boeing 737 network to Brisbane as of April 2021, with those fares likely to go on sale in early January 2021.

Also to come is a revamped version of the regional airline's Rex Flyer loyalty program, which previously ran on a 'coffee card' concept of buying nine flights and getting the tenth free.

Unpacking Rex's Boeing 737 fares

Regional Express divides its fares into seven categories: four in economy and three in business.

Even the entry-level Community and Promo fares include checked luggage plus a complimentary inflight snack, and tea, coffee and water.

However, as you'd expect, almost everything else costs you extra – such as $6 for seat selection and $35 to change your flight – or falls under the 'not allowed' banner, such as changing the passenger's name or cancelling the flight.

There's no seat selection fee on the higher-level Saver tickets, which also allow the journey to be cancelled and credited to a Travel Bank.

As well, passengers on Saver fares can purchase airport lounge access for $33, where available.

Travelling under the top-priced Flex economy ticket offers half-price access to Rex airport lounges, and unlocks refunds to the original form of payment (with a $33 fee).

It also bumps your cabin baggage allowance from 7kg to 10kg on jet routes, among other advantages:

Rex Boeing 737 business class

Passengers at the pointy end of the plane can choose between Biz Saver, Biz and Biz Plus business class fares.

The $299 Biz Saver fare is half the price of the topmost $599 Biz Plus fare, although the core experience is similar across all three.

One difference is that Biz Saver passengers get 10kg of carry-on baggage, whereas Biz and Biz Plus get 15kg (with up to 10kg being in a single item).

All business class fares (as well as Flex economy) let you move onto an earlier flight – something Rex calls Get Me Home – at no charge.

Flexibility rules also loosen as you climb the fare ladder. Biz Plus fares allow flight changes with no fee prior to the scheduled departure time, as well as name changes without fee: handy for business travellers who need to send a colleague in their place.

Rex's Sydney-Melbourne schedule

With up to nine flights per day between Sydney and Melbourne, travellers will have plenty of choice as to when they fly.

Here’s what Rex’s flight schedule looks like from Sydney to Melbourne on most days of the week:

In the opposite direction from Melbourne to Sydney, your flight options are as follows on most days:

Bookings between Sydney and Melbourne can now be made via travel agents and the Regional Express website, which thankfully has been overhauled to becomer far more attractive and user-friendly.

Brisbane and beyond...

Rex will kickstart its Sydney-Melbourne flights with three Boeing 737 jets, and add two more to bring Brisbane under its wing at the start of April 2021.

That ambitious assault on Australia’s lucrative ‘golden triangle’ between the east coast capitals could later extend to Canberra, Adelaide and Perth, according to the airline’s investor deck for what it termed Project Mother.

“If our (triangle) services prove successful, we will inject up to 10 aircraft into the domestic market by the end of 2021,” says Rex Deputy Chairman John Sharp.

“From there, we intend to develop a full domestic airline network, linking all the capital cities over time.”

The airline is chasing a mid-market position, with fare prices comparable to Jetstar, but with inflight service and inclusions more along the lines of Virgin Australia.

Also read: Rex to join Virgin Australia in a race to the middle ground

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.