The Australian airline Qantas has released a few more details of its latest attempt to entice travellers back to the skies with a series of mystery destination flights.
The national carrier last operated mystery flights in the 1990s when travellers 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.
Critics, including some within the government, have criticised the airline for the mystery flight service, not least on environmental grounds but also concerns over virus contamination issues, however, Qantas has said that all the destinations are outside major capital cities, so should be safe. The airline says all three flights will operate with net-zero emissions - an impossibility, with the type of aircraft and the onward transportation they are using. However, the airline said it would do a carbon offset of 100%, yet just because you offset something, doesn't stop the pollution from being released in the first place.
Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said "Our customers 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 past. In the meantime, these flights turn that mystery into a positive by creating a unique experience for the many people keen to start travelling again."
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 last year), which proved extremely popular.
The limited 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 high-risk low-level scenic flybys of key landmarks en route
Experiences on the ground could 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 will be provided with clues to ensure it is an appropriate outing for their areas of interest and to assist with whether to pack a snorkel or sneakers in their carry-on baggage.
At a time when most people have seen a negative effect on their incomes and disposable finances, the day trips are pretty expensive = $737 / US$570 / £409 for Economy (with a Qantas Points earn of 2,400 points plus 40 Status Credits) and $1,579 / US$1220 / £878 for Business (5000 Qantas Points earn plus 80 Status Credits).
Mystery Flight Adventure from BRISBANE Saturday 27 March 2021
This is the perfect getaway if you love:
country 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:
the tropics
salt water 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:
the great outdoors (including a little walking)
gourmet food and wine
regional farmers markets
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