The 12-hour flight hosted by Antarctica Flights allows travellers to get a look at the seventh continent without the usual trek
Travellers itching to experience something new will have the chance to visit the elusive seventh continent thanks to this quirky Australian day trip come November. In conjunction with Antarctica Flights, Qantas will once again be offering 12-hour trips to visit Antarctica from the sky.
The privately chartered flights will run starting as soon as November—the best time to spot wildlife in Antarctica—and will depart from Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne on Qantas 787 Dreamliners.
“There is no passport or luggage needed for an Antarctica Flight, you can even go in board shorts if you wish,” said Antarctica Flights CEO Bas Bosschieter in a 7News report. “I personally think it’s the best answer to the question, ‘What did you get up to on the weekend?’ Just popped down to Antarctica.”
While the flights don’t touch down until returning to Australia, they’re considered to be a domestic Australian flight, making it easy for travellers to visit one more continent in spite of the many global travel restrictions at the moment.
Each flight will perform “sweeping figure 8s” for up to four hours in order to allow passengers appreciate views of the continent, with every traveller aboard getting allotted time in both window and aisle seats depending on how full flights are.
This type of travel is particularly appealing for travellers who wish to see the icy continent without committing to the tumultuous journey over the Drake Passage that traditional cruise or other expedition trips to Antarctica consist of. The harrowing journey, combined with the two to three week time commitment, isn’t a desirable option for many travellers whereas this day trip-style journey allows travellers to catch a glimpse of the continent without sacrificing first class luxury.
Eager to start planning your own day trip from Australia once borders open up? Economy seats for the trip start at US$1,199 per seat, with business class seats starting at US$7,999. For more information or to book your seat aboard, be sure to visit the official Antarctica Flights website.
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