Mystery Flights are back as a holiday!

[oz_mark]

You mean....like this?

I never expected to get Rickrolled on AFF

 

[markj23]

Reminds me of the episode of "Kath & Kim" where Kath & Kel are given mystery flights from Kim (by using Kaths CC to earn points) but end up having to spend the day at Tullamarine because of strikes ..

ok .. clearly i need to go to rehab for remembering that

 

[k_sheep]

I see a mystery flight as being one where you don't know where you're going til you get on the plane. 1-4 days out? That's just a normal trip.

 

[777]

I never expected to get Rickrolled on AFF

So many good years of work by VA on this forum undone!

 

[Ansettaddict123]

I see a mystery flight as being one where you don't know where you're going til you get on the plane. 1-4 days out? That's just a normal trip.

You've got to know what to pack for though...

Imagine showing up to the airport expecting a flight to Launceston and ending up in Broome :shock:

 

[chrisb]

You've got to know what to pack for though...

For the day trips they'd tell you at the airport. We ended up in Kalgoorlie.


I notice it includes airport transfers - That's a useful inclusion. I also assume there's no 'twin share' catch if travelling alone. I couldn't find it in the T&C's.

Being in Perth, it could be an amusing way to waste $399 and a weekend.

 

[jsd]

Reminds me of the episode of "Kath & Kim" where Kath & Kel are given mystery flights from Kim (by using Kaths CC to earn points) but end up having to spend the day at Tullamarine because of strikes ..

ok .. clearly i need to go to rehab for remembering that

The Qantas Club scene of that episode makes me laugh every time I see it...

"I'm am sorry Sir, but we don't accept Video Ezy cards"

 

[Reggie]

For the day trips they'd tell you at the airport. We ended up in Kalgoorlie.

I had family who lived in Kalgoorlie, who drove to Perth for their mystery flight, they were thrilled when they checked in to find that their myster lfigth was to ........... Kalgoorlie.

Apparently this happened a fair few times, and Kal was removed from the mystery flight destinations list.

 

[Reggie]

And yes i have at least one good memory of Broome...

I worded at Cadjebut, and thus lived in Broome for just over a year. My best memory was my first ever J flight, from Broome to Darwin.

 

[oz_mark]

I had family who lived in Kalgoorlie, who drove to Perth for their mystery flight, they were thrilled when they checked in to find that their myster lfigth was to ........... Kalgoorlie.

Apparently this happened a fair few times, and Kal was removed from the mystery flight destinations list.

Indeed, back in the day it happened to someone I worked with.

I was perhaps fortunate that the one time I had a mystery flight I scored Sydney. Was on the Red Eye Per-Syd, and last flight back Syd-Per.

 

[haydensydney]

Awesome work Virgin Australia! It's a very '80s initiative (reminds me of Ansett NZ) and I hope that it is popular. It would be a nice gift (corporate or personal).

What I would like to see from VA is the following:
- A "deluxe" package that includes:
- Premium Economy / Business Class
- Guaranteed 5* Accommodation
- Status Credits earning

I get nervous re: mystery accommodation because who knows where you will end up. As someone who likes to research and make sure that my hotel selection isn't a flea/bed bug infested cesspit, handling this level of control over to an airline would make me anxious. That, and the chance you may end up somewhere close (like Canberra from SYD) or a boring ghost town (like Mackay).

Question to Virgin Australia: is the destination automatically allocated by a computer system or is there someone that continually pulls destinations out of a hat?

As an aside, wasn't there a independent company somewere that put together mystery packages? I wonder what happened to them?

 

[elemist]

I have very fond memories of a mystery flight with Ansett back when i was young. First time on a plane, first time out of the state and spent the day in Sydney visiting the sights As i remember it we were notified the day before the flight what the destination was and flight time etc. (although my parents kept it a surprise until just before we boarded the plane!)

 

[Jama]

Come on, its Friday!!!

No earning of Status Credits on this (yet), but you do earn Velocity Points.

That was my next question. Thank you for preempting that. I guess it is an obvious one for us lot.

 

[chrisb]

Are the flights only point to point or can there be connections?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

AFF Mystery Flight Do...?

 

[Kim Thomas]

Mystery Flights are also offered by other operators

 

[Virgin Australia]

Awesome work Virgin Australia! It's a very '80s initiative (reminds me of Ansett NZ) and I hope that it is popular. It would be a nice gift (corporate or personal).

What I would like to see from VA is the following:
- A "deluxe" package that includes:
- Premium Economy / Business Class
- Guaranteed 5* Accommodation
- Status Credits earning

I get nervous re: mystery accommodation because who knows where you will end up. As someone who likes to research and make sure that my hotel selection isn't a flea/bed bug infested cesspit, handling this level of control over to an airline would make me anxious. That, and the chance you may end up somewhere close (like Canberra from SYD) or a boring ghost town (like Mackay).

Question to Virgin Australia: is the destination automatically allocated by a computer system or is there someone that continually pulls destinations out of a hat?

As an aside, wasn't there a independent company somewere that put together mystery packages? I wonder what happened to them?

Hi Hayden,
Thanks for the feedback.
Mystery Breaks is for those looking for something different and not wanting to spend hours investigating and organising a holiday. For guests interested in organising their own holiday, wanting to select their hotel and destination they are more than welcome to go to our regular holiday site www.virginaustralia.com/holidays. There is a huge selection available.

In regards to your specific question "is the destination automatically allocated by a computer system or is there someone that continually pulls destinations out of a hat?"

This is not computer generated, we have our lovely Guest Contact Centre staff randomly choosing destinations.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

This is not computer generated, we have our lovely Guest Contact Centre staff randomly choosing destinations.

Is most of this decided by seat availability/ flight loadings?

That said there's other factors such as hotel availability... Just curious however

 

[LiamR]

In regards to your specific question "is the destination automatically allocated by a computer system or is there someone that continually pulls destinations out of a hat?"

This is not computer generated, we have our lovely Guest Contact Centre staff randomly choosing destinations.

I dare say yield management have a say in this. I'm assuming they'll send you somewhere which doesn't have high loads and easy hotel availability.

Ie, they wouldn't be sending you to Sydney the weekend of State of Origin.

 

[Kim Thomas]

Mystery Flights take time and care when booking Mystery Flights packages, we use Jetstar,Qantas & Virgin Blue Airlines. We handpick hotels for their location & standards,and most of our transfer companies meet you personally off your flight. Our friendly staff can help you over the phone if you are nervous about doing it online.