Qantas is launching a series of “mystery flight” weekend adventures, with tickets going on sale from 12pm (AEDT) today.
Many airlines have sold mystery flights in the past, where travellers purchase a ticket for a regularly scheduled flight but don’t learn where they’ll be flying until the last minute. But these new Qantas mystery flights will work a bit differently, with Qantas running dedicated Boeing 737-800 charter flights to mystery destinations. Passengers will only learn where the flight will land at the top of descent, but Qantas will provide clues to help them decide what to pack.
Qantas will run a total of three mystery flights, with one each departing from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne at 7am and returning in the early evening. All of the destinations will be outside of major cities and within two hours’ flight time from the origin airport.
As well as same-day return flights, the package includes low-level scenic flybys of key landmarks along the way and a full day of activities at the mystery destination.
The three mystery flights will take place on the following dates:
- Saturday 27 March 2021: Departing Brisbane, Qantas says this mystery destination is perfect if you love country hospitality, gourmet food & wine and the great outdoors
- Sunday 18 April 2021: Departing Sydney, Qantas says this mystery destination involves the tropics, salt water and beaches
- Saturday 1 May 2021: Departing Melbourne, this mystery flight is ideal if you like regional famers markets, gourmet food & wine and the great outdoors, including a little walking.
Economy class seats on these Qantas mystery flights will cost $737 each and earn 2,400 Qantas points & 40 status credits. There are also 12 Business class seats per flight which cost $1,579 and earn 5,000 Qantas points & 80 status credits. Qantas flight credits and Travel Passes can’t be used to book seats on these special flights.
“Our customers tell us that where they can and can’t travel within Australia has been a bit of a mystery lately,” Qantas Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said.
“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.
“As well as helping bring more of our people back to work, these mystery flights are another way to support tourism operators in regional areas especially, who have been hit particularly hard by several waves of travel restrictions,” Ms Tully said.
Tickets will be on sale from midday (AEDT) on Thursday, 4 March 2021 on Qantas.com, until sold out.
Qantas’ hugely popular “flight to nowhere” in October 2020 sold out within 10 minutes, and the subsequent “flight to somewhere” trip to Uluru sold out in less than a day. So, if you want to book a ticket on one of Qantas’ mystery flights, be sure to get in quick!
Qantas has given priority access to seats on the three mystery flights to selected Platinum One members, who received emailed invitations to book seats on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, tour company Constellation Journeys has tapped into the demand for domestic adventures by offering its own week-long tour around Australia aboard a privately-chartered Qantas Boeing 737. Departing from Sydney in late April 2021, that tour will visit Hobart, the Barossa Valley, Uluru and Longreach.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Qantas Mystery Flight Adventure
