Qantas offers Airbus A380 flight simulator sessions for frequent flyer points
By David Flynn, October 16 2013
Qantas is opening up its state-of-the-art Airbus A380 flight simulators to the general public in exchange for a fistful of frequent flyer points.
Costing around A$30 million each, these high tech flight simulators are the same ones used to train superjumbo pilots and are so heavily used that there's only five sessions per week available to the public, with those lasting from 10.45pm to 1am.
But with two hours sitting in the captain's seat of an A380 as you take a virtual flight anywhere around the globe, landing and taking off from some of the world's most famous airports, this is perhaps the ultimate present for an aviation enthusiast.
Your ride includes a pre-flight briefing with an experienced Qantas instructor "who will also walk you through an array of take-off and landing scenarios from airports across the Qantas network", the airline promises.
The Qantas A380 flight simulator package covers two people in the cockpit of an A380 flight sim located at the Qantas Jetbase in Sydney. You can pony up 275,000 Qantas Points, or settle for 165,000 Qantas Points plus $847.
If you'd rather be flying for real, then take solace in the fact that for just 256,000 points you could buy a round-the-world business class ticket with Qantas and clock up a lot more hours in an A380 with top-notch food and fizz on tap.
Qantas also offers rides in its Boeing 747 simulators at significantly lower rates, no doubt due to the higher cost and demand on the superjumbo sims – a virtual ride on the 747 will set you back just 115,000 points or 69,000 points plus $354.
If you're wondering what it's like to go for a spin in one of these incredibly lifelike simulators, check out the video below when I made the virtual journey from Sydney to London in one of Qantas' Boeing 747 simulators (I've always been a fan of the majestic jumbo).
Take my word for it: the 3D motion of the simulator plus the detailed scenery outside the cockpit makes this an extraordinary and unforgettable experience!
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1519
I have no doubt that this is unforgettable experience. However I rather trade 256K points for business class seat.
I never understand how Qantas convert points to money and back. Article says that one can replace 110k point with $847. So if points are “currency” then I should be able to buy them back for this or similar money. So business ticket to LHR will cost about $1970 (256k points) + about $1200 taxes and fuel surcharge ending tad above $3k. Where is the queue? I love to join!
While again I do believe that it is great experience, I cannot think about whole offer as another scam from Qantas aiming rid of points from people hands.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
Yes, it's a points-cleaner, but hey - it's something that has an appeal to a market, and it's got a cool factor. You could buy AA points and get a similarly good deal on a QF flight.
That said, though, what if we decide to be cheeky and ask to fly to SFO or FRA? :P
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
That's a LOT of points required. Guess it'd be a perfect gift for someone who has everything.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
I read you have to be a citizen to enter the premises, that would rule out a fair few people I'd imagine.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Oct 2013
Total posts 93
This seems like a great reward... but not for its cost. Is it worth a premium over the 747? Definately. Is it worth a premium over 160k points? Hell no!
I'm sure QF will come to their senses and reduce the cost by around 60k in the next couple of years or so.
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