- For the first time ever, Virgin Australia launched Halloween at 40,000 feet with its midnight Night Flight (VA570) from Perth to Sydney.
- Guests were invited to get their very own spooky makeover before boarding the first flight of its kind with surprise mid-air trick-or-treating from Mars Wrigley.
- The flight comes as Halloween continues to gain consumer popularity in Australia with more than 5.3 million Australians expected to celebrate Halloween this year^.
- To mark the occasion, Velocity Frequent Flyer has “slashed” the price of select domestic Economy Reward Seats on Virgin Australia flights to scary low levels, with travellers now able to nab a flight from just 5,200 Velocity Points* (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges) one-way.
Tuesday 31 October (Halloween): Halloween was launched mid-air on the maiden Virgin Australia Halloween Night Flight (VA570 from Perth to Sydney) with Mars Wrigley offering an Australian-first trick-or-treating experience at 40,000 feet.
The departure gate at Perth Airport was transformed into a haunted hall where guests received their very own Halloween makeover before boarding the first flight of its kind. Onboard, cobweb covered bar carts were pushed by cabin crew whose uniforms were given a ghoulish glow-up, offering guests midnight treats from M&M’S, Mars Bars, Milky Way and more, before touching down in Sydney at 6.15am local time.
New research shows a spike in the popularity of Halloween with more than 5.3 million Australians celebrating the trick-or-treat traditions as well as other Halloween related activities. From those people surveyed, 45 per cent of Aussies said they planned to go trick-or-treating while 39 per cent said they’d stock up on chocolate and other confectionery ahead of the celebration^.
Mars Wrigley produces over 39 million fun size treats to cater for the high demand across the nation during Halloween; with Virgin Australia Night Flight passengers expected to be the first people to trick-or-treat in Australia this year.
More seats for less! Velocity “slashes” pricing on Virgin Australia Reward Seats
To get into the Halloween spirit, pricing on selected Virgin Australia domestic Economy Reward Seats have been “slashed”, with fares on offer from a scary low price of just 5,200 Velocity Points* (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges) one-way, for bookings made from 10.01am AEST today until 10.01am AEST 7 November for travel by 30 June 2024.
The airline has also released 600,000 additional Economy Reward Seats on Virgin Australia operated domestic and international routes, giving Australians more opportunities to fly for fewer Points amidst the rising cost of living.
Commentary
Virgin Australia Chief Customer & Digital Officer, Paul Jones, said Virgin Australia is about bringing unique and wonderful experiences to the travel journey, even during Halloween.
“It’s our mission to be Australia’s most loved airline and that means giving our customers wonderful experiences whenever they fly. Halloween has become increasingly popular in Australia over the last decade, and it’s a holiday we are excited to share with our guests as we take the spooky celebrations sky-high,” said Mr Jones.
“Our cabin crew loved getting into the spirit of Halloween and guests were thrilled by the theatrics. From the eerie orange in-flight lighting and spooky costumes to the mid-air trick-or-treating, it was without a doubt one of our most memorable flights,” he said.
Mars Wrigley Chief Halloween Officer, Richard Weisinger, said Halloween was one of the busiest times for the snacks and treats manufacturer to meet demands for Trick-or-Treating.
“With more and more Australian households participating in Halloween, we see this as a season that aligns with our purpose of inspiring moments of everyday happiness,” said Mr Weisinger.
“M&M’S was the first chocolate brand to travel into space in 1981, so it makes perfect sense for M&M’S to be involved in Australia’s first ever Halloween Night Flight,” he said.
Virgin Australia also invited its entire frontline workforce to get into the Halloween spirit today, with a uniform relax that will see cabin crew, ground crew, guest services and more add their own spooky touch to their uniforms for the next 24 hours.
