Qantas Pride Flight Takes Off as Airlines Celebrate WorldPride
Qantas Pride Flight left Los Angeles bound for Sydney and we were there! Meanwhile, United and Virgin Australia join forces for their own Pride Flight that left San Francisco.
In recognition of Sydney WorldPride, Qantas, United, and Virgin Australia Airlines chartered special Pride flights from the US to Australia on Wednesday, February 22. And we, Vacationer, were aboard the Qantas Pride Flight that left Los Angeles at 11:30 am bound for Sydney!
Before boarding the plane, passengers headed to the Qantas International First Lounge at LAX to take in the excitement of the global celebration Down Under. As a DJ played fabulously gay tunes, from Janet to Madonna to Beyonce, servers came around serving champagne and small plates such as a marinated shrimp dish, parfait, and yes, a pink donut.
Before boarding, comedian Joel Creasey hosted a mini-concert that featured Aussie singers, including nonbinary G-Flip and an electric “Love is in the Air” performance from Hugh Sheridan, a Qantas International Cabin Crew member. Passengers could snap photos with Drag Queens Qantana, Felicity Frockaccino, and Vybe, who also provided the in-flight entertainment: Drag Bingo, giveaways, a fun dance party conga line, and other shenanigans. But before leaving the Qantas lounge, passengers were gifted limited edition Qantas Rainbow Roo PJs before boarding the plane.
Aboard the Qantas Dreamliner plane, with LGBTQ+ pilot Georgina Sutton in the cockpit, the MECCA Max team provided make-up tips as well as a contest for the best ‘beat’ lewks. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the tasty cuisines served onboard including the Black Pearl Kaluga caviar and crème fraiche blini, Moroccan carrot soup, shredded chicken, avocado, kale, and quinoa salad with green goddess dressing, and of course as part of the adult beverage options, the Kylie Minogue Rosé or Prosecco. The Aussie pop star will be the headliner for the Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert on Friday night (February 24), even though the global event started on Friday, February 17!
Qantas has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing our challenges but also showing their commitment to creating an inclusive environment, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, and intersex status.
United Airlines also partnered with Virgin Australia for its Pride Flight on Wednesday, but it departed from San Francisco International Airport. Festivities kicked off with a celebration at the gate as well as giveaways on board, and a welcome party upon arrival in Sydney.
Lori Augustine, Vice President of Operations for United in San Francisco, said, “At “At United, we recognize, embrace, and celebrate the differences that make our customers and employees unique. We’re committed to creating an inclusive work environment while supporting the diverse communities we serve. Our Pride Flight is yet another example of how at United, Good Leads the Way.”
“It’s so important that we use our voice to promote diversity and inclusion in the communities in which we live, work and fly,” added Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of Virgin Australia Group.
In case you didn’t know, United was the first U.S. airline to fully recognize domestic partnerships in 1999 and was the first U.S. airline to offer non-binary gender options throughout all its booking channels in 2019. Also in 2019, the airline became the first public company to be inducted into Pride Live’s Stonewall Ambassador program in recognition of the airline’s commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. Through EQUAL, the airline’s LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group, more than 4,500 members work together to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, working with members and leaders companywide to develop ways to deliver resources, education, and advocacy.
