Qantas has announced the newest in its series of highly popular concept flights to combat the border blues, with plans to operate three domestic mystery flights for travellers keen to enjoy unique travel experiences in Australia whereas international borders remain closed.
The nationwide carrier last operated mystery flights within the 1990s when travelers would turn up at the airport and be allocated seats on a scheduled flight to any of the airline’s destinations where they spent a day at their leisure before flying home.
Qantas has evolved the concept and will offer three dedicated Boeing 737 mystery flight experiences that will include not just the flight, but an entire day of activities in a mystery destination – so all passengers need to do is a book and turn up at the airport. All destinations are outside major capital cities.
Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, stated the mystery flights were about giving Australians memorable travel experiences and promoting domestic tourism.
“Our clients tell us that where they can and can’t travel within Australia has been a bit of a mystery lately.
“The vaccine rollout is bringing a lot more certainty and domestic border restrictions should soon be a thing of the previous. Within the meantime, these flights turn that thriller into a positive by creating a unique experience for the many individuals keen to begin travelling once more.
“In addition to serving to bring more of our individuals back to work, these mystery flights are one other way to assist tourism operators in regional areas particularly, who’ve been hit significantly hard by a number of waves of travel restrictions,” Ms. Tully added.
Qantas’ Mystery Flight Experiences follow its Flight to Nowhere (when domestic border closures were at their peak) and Flight to Somewhere (when initial reopening began the last yr), which proved extremely popular.
The restricted mystery flight experiences will depart from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne to a destination within approximately two hours. As part of creating a unique onboard experience, the flights will include some low-level scenic flybys of key landmarks en route (subject to weather conditions and air traffic control).
Experiences on the ground might include anything from a winemaking course in a premier Australian wine region to a gourmet lunch with musical entertainment on the shores of one of Australia’s tropical island wonders.
Customers can be provided with clues to ensure it’s an appropriate outing for their areas of interest and to assist with whether to pack a snorkel or sneakers in their carry-on baggage.
Seats on the Qantas Mystery Flight Experiences go on sale on Qantas.com at midday Thursday 4 March for travel in March, April, and May.
The all-inclusive fares, which include meals and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages plus activities on the ground, are $737 for Economy (with a Qantas Points earn of 2,400 points plus 40 Status Credits) and $1,579 for Business (5000 Qantas Points earn plus 80 Status Credits).
All three flights will operate with net-zero emissions, with 100% of emissions carbon offset.
Mystery Flight Adventure from BRISBANE Saturday 27 March 2021
This is the perfect getaway if you love it:
- nation hospitality
- gourmet food and wine
- the great outdoors
Mystery Flight Adventure from SYDNEY Sunday 18 April 2021
This is the perfect getaway if you love it:
- the tropics
- the saltwater on your skin
- long lunching on the beach
Mystery Flight Adventure from MELBOURNE Saturday 1 May 2021
This is the perfect getaway if you love it:
- the great outdoors (including a little walking)
- gourmet food and wine
- regional farmers markets
