$737 Qantas 'mystery flights' from '90s set to take off

Qantas has announced it is bringing back its ‘mystery flights’ in a bid to boost domestic tourism amid news that Australia’s international borders will be shut until mid-June.

The ‘concept flights’ are a trend from the 1990s that allows passengers to board a plane to a mystery destination for a day trip before flying back home.

The national carrier plans to operate three domestic return flights departing from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane that include a whole day of activities in an undisclosed destination.

“All passengers need to do is book and turn up at the airport,” the airline announced on Wednesday morning.

Passengers would be in the air for about two hours before arriving at their destination.

Low-level scenic flybys of notable landmarks, subject to weather conditions and air traffic control, would be a feature of the flights.

Activities at the destination can range from a winemaking course in a prime wine region to a gourmet lunch and live music at a tropical island.

Customers will also be given clues to ensure the destination matches with their interests, and will be told whether they need to bring items like snorkels or sneakers.

The mystery flights have been released in order to promote local tourism and provide Australians with travel experiences, said Qantas chief customer officer Stephanie Tully.

“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,” said Tully.

“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.”

The Qantas Mystery Flight Experiences drop on the Qantas website at noon Thursday 4 March for the travel periods of March to May.

Economy tickets are priced at $737, which includes meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and activities at the destination.

Business class tickets are going for $1,579.

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