Take the flight of a lifetime to Antarctica

For bucket-list travellers, it’s the final frontier: the most remote, driest, coldest, windiest, least inhabited, and least explored continent.

Antartica is also one of the most beautiful places on Earth – particularly as seen from above – and Australia’s geographic position makes it the ideal starting point for an epic round flight to enjoy it.

Flights on privately chartered planes are an ideal way for senior travellers to experience the wonders of Antartica in comfort and style. 

These trips, on selected dates in November, December, January, and February, use Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which provide optimal views thanks to windows that are 65% larger than planes of a similar size.

Its lower cabin altitude mitigates the discomfort passengers sometimes experience during and after a long flight.

As you would expect, the plane offers USB charging points, so you can make sure your devices are always ready to capture a photo, and personal touchscreens with an entertainment program to fill the time getting to and from the destination.

The plane has reduced passenger capacity compared to a normal flight, and it is configured in such a way to ensure maximum comfort over six classes of seat, ranging from economy to deluxe business.

With the exception of those in explorer economy class, who can view from aisles and common areas on the aircraft, all passengers will rotate so they have access to a window seat or a seat next to a window seat while the plane is over the Antarctic.

In deluxe business, all passengers will be assigned either a window or aisle seat, and passengers will swap at the halfway point of the journey while enjoying the best international standard in business-class comfort and service.

Depending on the departure point – Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne – the flight will cover 9,500 to 10,500 kilometres and take about 12½ hours.

Expert Antarctic expeditioners onboard the aircraft will talk about the polar environment and its history and play videos depicting life on the ground.

About three hours south of Australia, passengers will usually see the first scattered ice, followed by dozens of icebergs and ice floes.

The flight will then cross the South Magnetic Pole, with spectacular views of the rugged mountainous topography of the Antarctic mainland.

Depending on the conditions of the day, the pilot will choose from 19 flight plans, taking into account:

• Maximum viewing potential from both sides of the aircraft.

• Maximum penetration over Antarctica.

• Maximum variety in land mass scenery, including high mountains, glaciers, ice plateaux, and coastline.

• The best possibility for viewing should weather conditions be adverse.

Every Antarctica flight is carbon neutral, thanks to carbon credits that contribute to a reforestation project in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor in Southwest Australia.

The flights also support the Antarctic Science Foundation, an international charity investing in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, and the OneTomorrow Charitable Fund.