Qantas launches Mystery Flight Experiences

Qantas announced on Wednesday the latest innovative offer to combat the closure of international borders by offering a series of flights. The plan is to operate on weekend three domestic mystery flights for traveller’s keen to enjoy unique experiences in Australia.

Seats on the Qantas Mystery Flight Experiences went on sale on Qantas.com at midday today. 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 AUD737 (USD569) for economy and AUD1,579 (USD1,219) for business.

All three flights will operate with net-zero emissions, with 100 per cent of emissions carbon offset.

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 book and turn up at the airport. All destinations are outside major capital cities.

Qantas 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.

The limited mystery flights will depart from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to a destination within approximately two hours. All of the destinations are outside major capital cities.

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).

According to Qantas, experiences on the ground could include anything from a winemaking course in a premier 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.

Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the mystery flights were about giving Aussies memorable travel experiences and promoting domestic tourism.

“Our customers tell us that where they can and can’t travel within Australia has been a bit of a mystery lately,” she 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.

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.