Here’s an indication of just how pent up travel demand is: a Qantas flight to nowhere just set a record as the fastest selling Qantas flight in history.
Qantas Flight To Nowhere Sells Out In 10 Minutes Flat…
Dubbed the “Great Southern Land Scenic Flight,” the seven hour flight to nowhere will depart Sydney on October 10, 2020 and include low-level flyovers of:
- Sydney Harbor
- Great Barrier Reef
- Outback
- Ayers Rock (Uluru)
- Bondi Beach
Other flight perks include:
- Pre-flight breakfast in the Sydney Domestic Qantas Business Lounge from 8:00am ahead of the 10:30am flight departure
- Live auction of original and limited Qantas 747 memorabilia as well as 787 Flight Simulator sessions
- Funds from the live auction will be donated to the Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children
- Lunch menu designed by Neil Perry
- Surprise celebrity host MC and entertainment
- Commemorative flight certificate
- Qantas Business pajamas and an amenity kit
- Gift bag
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Tickets ran AUD3,787 (USD2,772) for business (six tickets available), AUD1,787 (USD1,308) for premium economy (24 tickets available), and AUD787 (USD576) for economy class (104 tickets available).
A Qantas spokesperson noted:
“It’s probably the fastest selling flight in Qantas history. People clearly miss travel and the experience of flying. If the demand is there, we’ll definitely look at doing more of these scenic flights while we all wait for borders to open.”
I’m not sure what the economics are considering how few seats were actually sold, but certainly this isn’t a charity flight. With 42 business class seats in the cabin, I find it very odd only six were sold, though my guess is lucky members of the Australian media will be part of the festivities.
CONCLUSION
I’d jump on one of these flights in a heartbeat if it was offered in the USA (or Australia would let me in). 10 minutes to sell out? Sounds like UA747, the final 747 flight…
Any readers get one of the seats? If so, I’d love to live vicariously through you!
> Read More: Qantas Will Resume 12-Hour Flights To Nowhere (Antarctica Scenic Flights)
I got a ticket but need help with the positioning flights.
Most of the internal borders are still closed, eg, it’s not possible to fly from Melbourne to Sydney to catch this flight, even if tickets were available. It might be another couple of months before they start to open ( …and then dependent on no further outbreaks…)
If American did it they would probably still find a way to arrive late.
So few seats is not at all surprising when you consider that such a ‘sight-seeing’ flight will require a window seat for every passenger. Not much point in booking an aisle seat if you’re not going to be able to enjoy the view.
Amazing how much free publicity this has gotten Qantas. Their marketing and PR department blazing the trail as usual.