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See Antarctica by air on a 12-hour non-stop flight
I've heard of many cruisers offering trips to the Antarctic, but this is the first time I hear of a flight that takes you over the continent in 12 hours. The Boeing 747-400 covers five main spots on the continent's east coast. Organized by Croyden Travel, you can board one of these flights from Sydney or Melbourne, and cost between $999(economy)-$5699(first class). The plane doesn't land, you don't require your passport to travel, and you get to change seats once on the flight. Meals and drinks are provided too.
The next flight is new year's eve 2008; if you take this flight you will be the first to see the Sun of 2009!
Although it sounds great and I'm sure the aerial view of the glaciers is mind-blowing, I'm not sure I'd want to pay that much for a trip where I'm couped up for 12 hours. I'd take a week long cruise instead.
10 tips for smarter flying
Filed under: Antarctica, Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick Hawkins Sep 2nd 2008 2:19PM
This actually has been going on for quite a while. I remember reading something a long time ago that Qantas actually did this, but I'm probably wrong.
Me again Sep 2nd 2008 9:04PM
I recently made a post about how I have traveled to the top of the world and the bottom. Which, I have been fortunate to do.
I have traveled to Antarctica before and touched the continent. Would I do this flight, yes. I, however, do not desire to travel on New Years, but am going to research other posibilities.
I paraphrase Robert Louis Stephens who said, "I travel for travels sake. The great love afair is to move."
Nick, you are right. They have done this kind of trip for several years on and off.
The 12 hour flight in First Class would be fine. What concerns me is the fact that I would have to travel from New York to Sydney for this fun expedition. That part of the trip would make the 12 hour flight seem like a puddle jumper or should I say continent jumper.
Abha Sep 2nd 2008 5:02PM
Nick you are right. They do it in collaboration with Qantas.
nzm Sep 3rd 2008 6:29AM
Air NZ also did flights like this in the 70s, although they stopped in 1979 when they lost a DC-10 plane which crashed onto the slopes of Mt. Erebus in whiteout conditions. All pax and crew were killed.
Unlucky Sep 8th 2008 10:37AM
With my luck, I'd get a seat in the middle of the plane and, when and if I finally get to switch to a window seat, it would be over the wing. And twelve hours straight sitting on a no-legroom airline economy seat and nothing to eat but airline food? I thought the Geneva Convention prohibited such torture. Wait; maybe they'll show yet another screening of "Sixteen Candles" with a mismatched sound track. Sign me up! Yeah, right.
B.O STINKS Sep 8th 2008 11:30AM
Who in their right mind would want to fly around for twelve hours ??? i cant stand more than four and then i am going SOMEWHERE.this must be for people with more money than brains.
love thy neighbor Sep 8th 2008 11:20AM
Sounds interesting, but "be the first to see the sun of 2009" What? Is it going to be a whole new different sun? I'd thought it be the same sun.
RRRhonda9 Sep 8th 2008 11:21AM
"Cooped"...not "couped" unless you're being CUT in the air?
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Angiebaby Sep 8th 2008 12:14PM
I don't travel much. Don't think I like strange foods and would get confused in a new place where they speak a different language. But I do know I wouldn't want to fly around the top of a continent as an armchair tourist when I could spend my $$ on a trip to Antarctica and see whales, seals, penguins, birds, and marine life new to me. Doesn't anyone want to see the ice bergs up close, as well as the glaciers? Not to mention viewing the huge ice-breaking ships? To each his own, but this sounds like an expensive, wasted opportunity for someone like me.
Nancy Sep 8th 2008 1:00PM
AOL is getting pretty bad. Most of their articles are written by people who can't spell or have bad grammar. Are they getting paid for this crap? Do they ever proof their work before they post it?
"Couped" is wrong. The word the writer meant is "cooped." Coop, like chicken coop. Not coupe, like a car.
Wicky Sep 8th 2008 1:07PM
This trip isn't news - it's been around for years. It hasn't always been as expensive as it is now and when I did it, it was well worth the $300.
J Zablotny Sep 8th 2008 1:07PM
PanAm had two flights to nowhere:
One celebrating its 50th aniversary went NYC/DEL/TY0/JFK in 1977 The passengers booked and flew around the world for fun.
Second one celebtating 60 years in 1987 flew over the NORTH POLE and over the SOUTH POLE. Routing LAX/LON (over No pole) Lon/Capetown/Sydney Austrailia (over So Pole/ then Syd/Lax.