Southern Lights Flights

[Rusty776]

Just received this from Qantas via email.. Not much detail except a minimum of 135,000k needed to get onboard

 

[Matt_01]

Also received.

 

[Kangol]

From here:

Qantas Southern Lights by Flight | Chimu Adventures

Use your Qantas Points to join a scenic flight adventure of a lifetime Fly south over the Southern Ocean and directly under the auroral oval to witness the striking Aurora Australis in her full glory. On this extraordinary scenic flight, astronomers will offer real time commentary as the pilots...

www.chimuadventures.com

BOOK THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS BY FLIGHT USING QANTAS POINTS​

"Each and every display is unique...you never know just what you are going to see until you get down there. It is pure excitement."
Dr Ian Griffin Astronomer and The Southern Lights by Flight Program Manager
The impressive, dancing skies of the Aurora Australis - or Southern Lights - have been witnessed by more penguins than humans. So, by offering unobstructed views of this incredible natural phenomenon from a privately chartered Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner, Chimu Adventures are offering you a trip of a lifetime.
* Onboard, astronomers and astrophotographers will offer travellers a deep insight into the magic.
* Fly from Sydney, Melbourne or Perth in the evening and return in time for breakfast the next day.
* A strictly limited number of seats are available to Qantas Frequent Flyers to be booked using Qantas Points.
Don't miss out. Secure your vantage point on your chosen flight today.

Book now by calling the Chimu team on 1300 737 008.
QANTAS POINTS PRICE, VALID FOR NEW BOOKINGS ONLY

Departing	Date	Economy (Wing)	Economy (No Wing)
Sydney	9 April 2021	135,000	160,000
Sydney	15 May 2021	135,000	160,000
Melbourne	10 April 2021	135,000	160,000
Melbourne	5 June 2021	135,000	160,000
Perth	8 May 2021	155,000	185,000

Equivalent cash price for Economy (Wing) is $1,886 departing Sydney / Melbourne and $2,156 Perth. Economy (No Wing) is $2,246 departing Sydney/Melbourne and $2,606 Perth.

Short on Qantas Points?
If you need more points, visit qantas.com (both options are immediate), and
• Family transfer - Qantas Points can be transferred among eligible family members
• Top-up Points - buy Qantas Points

T&C’s for seats paid with Qantas Points (slightly differs from standard T&Cs)
Seats booked using Qantas Points will be offered on flights listed above until sold out. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Seats are limited and are not guaranteed on every flight. We apologise in advance if the available seats are exhausted at the time of your booking. Full cancellation policy can be found below.

Amendments
• No date or cabin change permitted
• Ticket can be transferred to another Eligible Family Member (of person whose Qantas Points were deducted) up to 24 hours prior to departure, by contacting Chimu adventures. A $150 name change service fee per change will apply. If cancelled, any applicable points will be refunded to the original QFF account (points are not transferable)

Cancellation fees
• Flight unable to depart due to government restrictions with coronavirus – no fees, 100% points refund
• Customer cancels at least four weeks prior to Flight Date - 50% points refund
• Customer cancels within four weeks prior to Flight Date - no refund


Interesting when you do to the main website here:

Antarctica Cruises 2025, 2026 & 2027 | Small Ship Expedition Cruising

Antarctica cruises on sale for the 2025/26/27 season. An Antarctica cruise is the ultimate journey. Discover the wildlife-rich, icy world of Antarctica via a small ship cruise.

www.chimuadventures.com

Then go to "Enquire now", it comes up with this, Business class is available:

Overview
Fly into the night and bear witness to one of the world's most indescribable natural phenomena. Aurora hunter and astrophysicist Dr Ian Griffin has provided his expertise in the planning of these unique flights. Join him or a team of expert astronomers on board a private Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as you head over the Southern Ocean to chase down the Southern Lights in the Aurora Zone. As we take you far away from the light pollution you will drift high above the clouds and weather systems to see a magical and unforgettable display with an uninterrupted view of the Southern Lights - where Aurora Australis is brightest.

For full details please read through our brochure by clicking here: https://www.chimuadventures.com/sites/default/files/2020-10/SouthernLights-2020_0.pdf

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ THROUGH OUR BROCHURE PRIOR TO COMPLETING THIS FORM. YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT SEAT CATEGORIES YOU PREFER AND NEED TO HAVE READ & UNDERSTOOD THE FLIGHT TERMS & CONDITIONS.

Pricing:
Melbourne and Sydney departures:
Economy Class - Limited View AU$1,295
Economy Class - Wing AU$1,886
Economy Class - No Wing AU$2,246
Premium Economy Class AU$3,995
Business Class AU$6,395
Premium Business Class AU$6,995

Brisbane and Perth Departure:
Economy Class - Limited View AU$1,395
Economy Class - Wing AU$2,156
Economy Class - No Wing AU$2,606
Premium Economy Class AU$4,495
Business Class AU$6,995
Premium Business Class AU$7,695

 

[Mqrko]

It's too bad there is no mention about earning status credit

 

[drron]

Yes very expensive considering you often don't have to pay to see the Southern lights in Tasmania.Seen from all over the island last night plus some reports from the east coast as far north as Bega.Possible viewing tonight and to morrow.
Locally can get a notification from Facebook.lots of pictures of last night.

Log in to Facebook

Log in to Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family and people you know.

www.facebook.com

the BOM has a prediction page which suggests posssible sightings in Tasmania tonight.

SWS - Auroral Oval - Forecast

And a UK guy has a good alert system but does concentrate on the Northern lights.

Glendale App, the world's most accurate aurora app. Not in any app store.

Glendale App is the world's most accurate aurora app.

aurora-alerts.uk

 

[AIRwin]

Leaving BNE today I walked past Gate 24 during the final boarding of the Southern Lights flight QF1336 operated by VH-ZNJ...

 

[drron]

Pity there wasn't a flight last night.Reports of it being seen as far north as Jervis Bay.But here is Blind Bight,Vic.


And Kingston beach,Tas.
.

 

[Mattg]

@JohnM was on the recent Perth flight and posted a detailed trip report.

A PERfect ride to the Southern Lights

Well, tonight it's off from PER on an 11 hour ride in a QF B787 for a bit of Aurora Australis rubbernecking. Here's the likely path for the ride. ETD is 2000h; ETA 0705h Sunday. Here's the seat plan. There is no pre-allocation of seats. 1A is set aside for some interloper who is going to...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Spongbob]

It's too bad there is no mention about earning status credit

I am guessing the flight departs and arrives from/at the same airport, so the distance travelled is "0" km. Hence SC earnings is nil.

 

[bPeteb]

Pity there wasn't a flight last night.Reports of it being seen as far north as Jervis Bay.But here is Blind Bight,Vic.
View attachment 248017

And Kingston beach,Tas.
View attachment 248018.

That’s some mighty photo editing! I remember someone asking where the colours other than green were when we saw them on the way back from Antarctic and one of the photographers said they’re in my camera. Nice photos nevertheless

 

[NSun]

I am guessing the flight departs and arrives from/at the same airport, so the distance travelled is "0" km. Hence SC earnings is nil.

The Great Southern Land flight did earn SCs despite being a flight to nowhere (Sydney to Sydney) and Supermoon will be too. Reason Antarctica flights don't earn SCs is because they're run by a different company to Qantas so technically it's just a charter flight.

 

[2infinity]

I got the email from Qantas 2 days ago and have been umming and arrring about it. $2500 Y (no wing). That's a lot of money for a 10hr Y flight. Can get to Europe return in Y for a lot less. But with QFF points, thats kinda a different story. I've ticked over 1,000,000 points last year and haven't had anything decent to spend them on with Covid and border closures.

So I've just committed to the flight on 24th September out of Sydney - 160,000 pts reasonably spent. There were no fuel or carrier charges on top like a normal award flight and as a single traveller I was told i'm guaranteed a window seat for half the flight, which i'm happy about.

So yay me, i have a trip to look forward to now and as an added bonus, will be my first flight in a B787.

hmmm, wonders how i will record this trip on myFlightRader24 as Sydney to Sydney will show as zero distance.

 

[astrosly]

If you are in or can get to Melbourne this Friday 25 March and are interested in doing a similar flight (departs 8.30pm), Quo Vadis have advised they have had a late cancellation of 2x PE seats and so are offering 1x or 2x PE seats at a reduced price:

"The two seats (21J 21K) would normally be $9,490 for the pair however as they are now last minute I am going to be offering them at the highly discounted rate of $5,990 for one person or $6,990 for two travellers.

Please feel free to contact Tim Kozma directly on 0439 332 669 should you have any interest in securing these last seats."