Webjet is as Australian as a Qantas Frequent Flyer card and a flat white at the departure lounge. Founded in Melbourne in 1998, it's one of the country's oldest and most recognisable online travel agencies. But in a world where Skyscanner, Google Flights and direct airline booking have made price comparison effortless, is there still a reason to book through Webjet — or is it a relic of the early internet era?
What Is Webjet?
Webjet is an ASX-listed Australian online travel agency (OTA) founded in Melbourne. It offers flight bookings (domestic and international), hotel bookings, car hire, holiday packages and the "Webjet Exclusives" deals programme. It's one of the largest OTAs in Australia and New Zealand, with a dedicated team serving Australian customers from its Melbourne headquarters.
How Does It Work for Australians?
Visit webjet.com.au to search and book flights, hotels and packages. Webjet Dollars (its loyalty programme) earn credits on eligible bookings that can be redeemed on future purchases. The platform supports AUD pricing and all major Australian payment methods including BPAY, PayPal and credit cards. Webjet has a dedicated
Australian customer service team — a genuine point of difference from international OTAs. The mobile app is available for iOS and Android.
Pricing
Webjet charges booking fees: typically AUD $7.95–$9.95 per person per booking (varies by route and promotion). Webjet Dollars earn approximately 1% back on eligible bookings. Flight prices are generally competitive but the booking fee means you need to compare total cost against booking direct with the airline or through a fee-free platform. Occasionally Webjet Exclusive deals offer genuinely cheaper fares not available elsewhere.
Webjet vs Alternatives
vs booking direct: Always check the airline's direct price — Webjet's booking fee means direct is often cheaper for simple, uncomplicated bookings.
vs Skyscanner: Skyscanner searches more airlines and doesn't add fees. Webjet's main advantage is the Australian customer support and local expertise.
vs Expedia: Expedia has better international hotel and package deals; Webjet is stronger for domestic Australian travel and local knowledge.
Verdict — Is Webjet Worth It for Australian Travellers?
Webjet earns its place in the Australian travel booking landscape primarily for its local customer service — an underrated advantage when flights are disrupted, itineraries change or you need to sort out a booking issue in real time. For standard bookings where everything goes smoothly, compare Webjet's total cost (including fees) against booking direct. For domestic Australian travel in particular, Webjet remains a genuinely useful and competitive platform.
Webjet vs Direct Booking: When Does It Make Sense?
Webjet's position in the Australian flight booking market is as an OTA (online travel agency) that aggregates fares from multiple airlines. The core question for any OTA: does it consistently find fares cheaper than booking directly with the airline? The honest answer for Webjet in 2026: sometimes yes, sometimes no, and the difference is usually modest. Webjet's genuine advantages are the "Webjet Exclusives" (negotiated fares not available on airline websites, typically AUD $20-60 cheaper on select routes) and the convenience of booking multi-airline itineraries in a single transaction. For straightforward return flights on a single airline, comparing Webjet's price against the airline's website directly almost always reveals that booking direct is equivalent or marginally cheaper and avoids Webjet's booking fee (AUD $7.95-9.95 per person per booking).
Webjet's "Book with Confidence" and Other Features
Webjet's Book with Confidence product (an optional add-on at approximately AUD $15-30 per booking) provides some cancellation and change flexibility for bookings that would otherwise be non-refundable. It is not a substitute for travel insurance but provides a useful layer of protection for fare-in-advance bookings on inflexible fares. The Webjet Mastercard (issued by Latitude Finance) earns Webjet Dollars (1 Webjet Dollar per AUD $2 spent) redeemable against future Webjet bookings -- a closed-loop reward that delivers value specifically to frequent Webjet bookers. For Australian travellers who already use Webjet regularly, the card is worth considering; for those who don't use Webjet as a primary booking platform, the Webjet-locked redemption structure reduces its value compared to a general points-earning card. The Webjet affiliate program (available through Commission Junction) pays 2-3% on completed bookings -- lower than most hotel programs but relevant for flight-focused content.
The most useful Webjet feature for Australian families: the family fare search, which aggregates adult and child fares simultaneously and flags routes where the family price point represents genuine value. For Australians booking multi-stop international itineraries (Sydney-Bali-Singapore-Sydney on different airlines), Webjet's multi-city search surfaces combined itineraries that would require multiple searches on individual airline websites. The Webjet Price Drop Protection add-on (approximately AUD $10-20 per booking) refunds the fare difference if the price drops within 48 hours of booking. For international travel bookings over AUD $2,000, the absolute price saving from comparison across Webjet and direct airline booking justifies the additional search time, even if the difference is typically small. The Webjet bottom line for Australian travellers: use Webjet as one of several comparison tools rather than a default booking platform. The genuine cases for Webjet over direct airline booking are the Webjet Exclusive fares (when they exist on your route) and the multi-airline itinerary convenience. For straightforward return bookings on a single airline, the airline's website is almost always the right booking endpoint. The booking fee (AUD $7.95-9.95 per person) is the clearest indicator of where Webjet's value sits -- it makes sense when the total price including the fee beats the direct airline equivalent. The Webjet app notification system for Australian travellers: enabling Webjet's flight deal notifications (in app settings, filter by home airport) provides early visibility of promotional fares before they are widely publicised. The notifications include Webjet Exclusives -- negotiated fares available only through Webjet at prices that are not available on direct airline booking. For Australians who travel regularly to specific destinations (Bali, Japan, Thailand), the push notification system provides a passive fare monitoring service. Webjet is most useful for Australian travellers when its Webjet Exclusive fares appear on your specific routes -- these negotiated prices represent genuine savings over direct airline booking and justify using the platform specifically for those routes. For all other bookings, the airline website or a comparable OTA without per-booking fees delivers equivalent or better value.