Qantas have managed a personal best in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic with the scenic Great Southern Land joy flight selling out in around 10 minutes last Thursday.
Operated by a 787, flight QF787 will be one of the few opportunities to enjoy the Dreamliner this year given our international borders are closed and most of the Qantas international fleet sent to the US for storage.
It’s also fitting that Qantas are offering joy flights once again, just as they did when the Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services did in their early days from Longreach.
Fares for the 7 hour flight to nowhere were A$3,787 for Business Class, A$1,787 for Premium Economy and A$787 for Economy.
In this post:
See The Great Barrier Reef and Uluru From 4,000 Feet
The main sights to see on this border-free tour of Australia are Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Byron Bay and iconic Sydney Harbour. Now, while I’ve been lucky to experience the scenic approach into Sydney Airport with Opera House and Harbour Bridge views, when a Dreamliner is cruising over the NT at 35,000 feet there won’t be much of a view of Uluru.
Qantas are going to have QF787 fly low over these landmarks to make the experience worthwhile and give you a feel of what it must have been like to be in the Qantas Choir.
Window Seats Gone In A Flash
With the views being the main attraction on this flight, it’s no surprise that the window seats were the first to be snapped up. By the time I got through the booking process and was able to select seats, only aisle seats were left.
Enjoy A Business Class Experience
All passengers on the Great Southern Land will have a Business Class experience with breakfast in the lounge, Qantas Business pyjamas, amenity kit and a gift bag.
- Pre-flight breakfast in the Sydney Domestic Qantas Business Lounge from 8am before a 10.30am flight departure.
- Exclusive opportunity to participate in a 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 pyjamas and an amenity kit.
- Gift bag.
Summary
In a world where flying had become common, and in some cases unpleasant, it is wonderful to see Qantas bringing a bit of fun back into the air. These flights tend to be booked by aviation enthusiasts and give those who enjoy the experience of flying a great day out during a difficult year.
