Virgin Australia and Qantas launch 2023 Pride flights

Pride flights are back and bigger than ever before, with Virgin Australia clearing the runway for two new services. Qantas also joins in on the fun as the exclusive airline partner of Sydney WorldPride, with an official WorldPride flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

Ready for a day of fabulousness, flair and fun? Here’s the low-down on Australia’s various Pride flights to Sydney in 2023.

Virgin Australia Pride Flights 2023

Virgin Australia is upping the ante with two new maiden services in 2023. In addition to Melbourne-Sydney and Brisbane-Sydney, the airline is also launching Adelaide-Sydney and Perth-Sydney. United Airlines will also fly a special service from San Francisco to Sydney, in partnership with Virgin Australia.

All flights descend into Sydney on Friday 24 February 2023 in the early afternoon. A complimentary after-party at The Beresford is also included for all passengers. Tickets for domestic flights are on sale now through Virgin Australia. $30 from each sale will be donated to the Minus18 LGBTQIA+ youth charity.

You can expect a rainbow celebration in the sky for Virgin Australia’s own domestic flights. It starts with pre-departure parties in each city. Then there are mid-air drag performances, bottomless beverages, DJ entertainment and more.

• VA2000 from Brisbane to Sydney: $229 one-way
• VA1978 from Melbourne to Sydney: $229 one-way
• VA1975 from Adelaide to Sydney: $229 one-way
• VA2017 from Perth to Sydney: $379 one-way
• UA863/VA8005 from San Francisco to Sydney: from US$1,012 one-way

All domestic Pride flights book into Economy Flex, which earns 25 Status Credits from Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne. Perthians will earn 45 Status Credits, which is a pretty decent haul out of WA for $379. As usual, you’ll also earn at least 5 Velocity Points per dollar spent, with more for Silver, Gold and Platinum members.

Qantas WorldPride Flight 2023

The Red Roo is setting the sky sparkling between Los Angeles and Sydney with a special WorldPride flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, as the exclusive airline partner of Sydney WorldPride. Aimed at flying the members of the American LGBTQI+ community down under for a week of partying, the Pride flight will take place on a Boeing 787 with Economy, Premium Economy and Business.

Tickets can be booked on the Qantas website and start from US$1,545 return in Economy. Various fare types are available for flexibility and extra points/Status Credits, plus tickets in Premium Economy and Business.

The WorldPride flight experience includes preflight entertainment in the Qantas Los Angeles First Lounge, inflight fun, special ‘Rainbow Roo’ PJs and a special menu designed by Neil Perry.

All passengers also receive a voucher code to redeem a free ticket to Live and Proud, the Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert with a special guest performance by Kylie Minogue.

Summing up

Pride flights are a fun and flamboyant way for the LGBTQIA+ community and supporters to celebrate love and inclusion. With COVID firmly in the rear-view mirror, Virgin Australia is putting on double the seats compared to last year, while Qantas joins with a star-studded WorldPride flight from Los Angeles.

Since we’re Point Hacks, it would be amiss for us to not mention that you can’t redeem Velocity or Qantas Points for reward seats on these flights. But the cash fares are quite reasonably priced, given all the entertainment and atmosphere that’s packed into the ticket.

The experience of flying with friends and allies to one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ events in the country? If that’s your jam, then being on a Pride flight has to be priceless.

All images courtesy of the respective airlines.