Whatever happened to mystery flights

[wallacej]

I woke up this morning, and thought - I am bored. Where can I go, what can I do.

Wouldnt it be great if the mystery flights were back. Log onto DJ/QF either on a Friday night or early Saturday morning and get a mystery package of a flight out, accom for the night and back sometime on Sunday. (or even out and back on the same day)

Sure, might be some strange times, but wouldnt this be a great way to fill empty seats and beds?

I would like to have gone ex MEL to BNE SYD ADL or even somewhere in Tassie - I just happen to have a free weekend and would like to go....cheap...

Virgin have their happy hour special, maybe they can adopt the same principal on a Friday night at about 10pm-11pm and make a few sales over the weekend.

 

[markis10]

You could always come to Brisbane and solve that mystery of what many of us look like!

 

[wallacej]

You could always come to Brisbane and solve that mystery of what many of us look like!

Hehehehe, I have done that twice. The first time was to do as you suggested, the second time was to see if there was any improvements on the first time.. there wasn't

 

[Sprucegoose]

a friend of mine at Ansett used to solve the mystery before we jetted off for the day!!!1

very good value indeed.

 

[JohnK]

It's a shame mystery flights disappeared.

I think it would be a good way for airlines to fill up empty seats on lightly loaded flights. And people cannot rort the system if they did not have any idea where they were going until the flight was allocated them on the day.

 

[wallacej]

I think this is the fun kind of thing that Virgin could introduce... their marketing team would love a crack at that.... "Take a ride to the unknown, go Virgin"

 

[pshepvic]

Well I think that Tiger do now offer mystery flights

The mystery being whether the plane is going to be there to take you or not...

 

[11sjw]

Tried it once for my sister's Birthday back in the early 90's. Not much fun when you get given Kalgoorlie as your destination!

 

[Mal]

There is of course Mystery Flights & Mystery Weekend - Gift Vouchers & Bookings - (02) 9440 1455 - a company someone set up to "package" mystery flights and bring back the experience.

Prices aren't that keen compared (mainly) to what you could do yourself. You do get a nice pretty folder/itinerary etc though

I like the idea of a "weekend run-out" sale taking place say Thursday night @ 11pm that is used to help fill up some of the quieter flights on the weekend. Of course they'd have to ensure you can actually get back to your home city

 

[BVT]

There is of course Mystery Flights & Mystery Weekend - Gift Vouchers & Bookings - (02) 9440 1455 - a company someone set up to "package" mystery flights and bring back the experience.

Prices aren't that keen compared (mainly) to what you could do yourself. You do get a nice pretty folder/itinerary etc though

I like the idea of a "weekend run-out" sale taking place say Thursday night @ 11pm that is used to help fill up some of the quieter flights on the weekend. Of course they'd have to ensure you can actually get back to your home city

I would be up for that! Even on JQ!

At least from OOL, there would be a limted range of destinations. Even Tokyo and Osaka!!

 

[drewbles]

Tried it once for my sister's Birthday back in the early 90's. Not much fun when you get given Kalgoorlie as your destination!

That's true. I only took one before AN went under but got a day trip to ADL for it (the overnight ones were only available ex-east coast, not from PER).

The thing was when you booked, you were given the time you had to be at the airport. Departing from PER you at least only had a few options. My Mum got SYD/DRW/ADL and KGI as well. Mostly SYD/MEL though.

Shame they're gone though. It was mainly an AN thing, and was a great gift to give to someone who 'had everything'.

 

[thewinchester]

Well I think that Tiger do now offer mystery flights

The mystery being whether the plane is going to be there to take you or not...

ROFL. Having only flown TT twice, I am none too keen on taking a 'mystery flight' with them again any time soon.

 

[wtolmie]

I remember the good old days in the 80's where for $15pp you go do one East West Airlines.. We hit Glen Innes, Inverell, Canberra and Hobart on 3 different trips.. All on Fokka Friendships with cardboard snack boxes.. Could even go look in the coughpit too..

 

[arraitch]

You'd have to assume that the beancounters at QF have run their calculators over this kind of offer from time to time. Maybe profit margins are low and demand uncertain. The advent of LCCs and the shrinking numbers of people for whom flying is a novelty might have something to do with demand, too.

 

[wallacej]

You'd have to assume that the beancounters at QF have run their calculators over this kind of offer from time to time. Maybe profit margins are low and demand uncertain. The advent of LCCs and the shrinking numbers of people for whom flying is a novelty might have something to do with demand, too.

I am sure they have looked at it, but nothing like a marketing campaign to spark peoples interest.
It can even be done low level, word of mouth style. A simple web banner ad on their site, all they are doing is potentially selling seats that would otherwise go unoccupied, so for the price of a little extra fuel to carry the weight of the mystery flyer and what ever admin is required to process tickets etc I would suggest that even if they broke even on the flight, any cash flow (so long as break even or positive) is a good thing.

I am sure there must be a valid reason why this isn't being done.... Take DJ for example, if they were to offer a special happy/mystery hour where unsold seats for weekend flights were offered for their cheapest available fare (GO fares), it might have a chance of making a few last minute flights.

It would be hard for ppl to take advantage of low prices for business etc because of the high risk involved of potentially not getting a flight.
This would be great if you had relatives interstate and wanted to drop in, or just get away for the weekend.... of course, this would need to be sold as a return package either the same or the next day, and then of course there is the option to sell the mystery pax a hotel room for the night...

 

[jb747]

Fly with me. You never know where you'll end up.

 

[ellen10]

My first Mystery flight, DH and I went to Perth over Easter. Great value for $99, when a good value return flight was $599 at the time. We were sad to see them go

 

[drewbles]

I am sure there must be a valid reason why this isn't being done.... Take DJ for example, if they were to offer a special happy/mystery hour where unsold seats for weekend flights were offered for their cheapest available fare (GO fares), it might have a chance of making a few last minute flights.

Would they call them "GO Where? Fare"'s?

 

[JeniSkunk]

Would they call them "GO Where? Fare"'s?

Maybe call them 'GO Somewhere Fares' ?

Jenifur Charne

 

[oz_mark]

Fly with me. You never know where you'll end up.

Hmm, an international mystery flight. I like the concept