2023 Southern Lights Flight

– Unfortunately no. As mentioned in the previous FAQ,  the auroras are dependent upon the prevailing solar activity and given the amount of pre-planning involved our chances are around 90% – 95% of seeing them. Given the huge success of our 2022 flight and similar flights through America, Canada, Scandinavia and New Zealand, we’re VERY confident they’ll be seen!

– Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of seeing auroras. They are dependent upon the prevailing solar activity. We do however maximise our chances by flying well above any prevailing cloud-cover plus we’ll fly into or near the southern aurora oval at ~ 58ºS-60ºS latitude late in the night when skies are dark. We run our flights around the equinox when aurora activity has a peak due to a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect”. We estimate chances of seeing auroras at around 90% – 95%.

As we’ll be flying at ~38,000 feet high above any cloud cover and the fact that auroras occur high up in the atmosphere between 80km to 500km above the Earth’s surface, the weather will not affect visibility at all!

We’ve timed the flight to be down under the “aurora oval” around 11pm to midnight when it’s darkest plus at a time when the moon will not affect the sky’s darkness.

– Total duration will be around 9-10 hours departing at ~8pm in the evening. We expect to fly for around 3.5hours southwards to ~58º-60º south latitude and then if the auroras are showing we’ll spend around 180-240 minutes “zig-zagging” the plane to be able to maximise the view for our guests from either side.

Even though this is classed as a domestic flight, Qantas shall be providing us with international standard food and beverage on our private charter.

A full dinner and beverage service on departure, beverage service throughout, light refreshments served mid-flight and a light breakfast prior to arrival back in Melbourne.

YES! We will try and accommodate seating requests based upon availability at the time of your booking. Seats will be allocated on the best available at the time of your reservation or based on your preferences.

The final seating allocation will be done the evening before departure when final bookings and passenger numbers are confirmed.

The sooner you book, the better your chances of getting the seats you’d like!

NO! Unlike other operators running aurora or scenic Antarctica charter flights, you do NOT have to rotate your seats with others on the plane. You only rotate with and amongst your own travelling companions within your own set of two (or three or four) seats during the flight. You’ll have on window with your seat booking and its adjacent seat to share between two.

We welcome passengers of all ages on board however as the trip will be around 9-10 hours long we recommend the trip for ages 12 and above.

• Seats are priced the same for both adults and children
• Children under 16 years of age must travel with an adult
• If you are travelling alone, you should be able to move around the cabin unaided

– Unfortunately on Qantas charter flights like this frequent flyer points are not accumulated as they are not officially scheduled Qantas flights.

– Yes! We have been able to secure access to the Business Lounge for  those who book Business Class flights. Those with the appropriate Qantas Membership tier status or Qantas Club Membership will have access to the Qantas Business or Club Lounge. These are usually not included as part of Business Class and Premium Economy ticketing with Qantas charter flights so Quo Vadis Holidays is delighted for its guests at having secured this for them.

– No. As the trip is considered a domestic departure, no passport is required. You will however require formal/official photo identification for boarding (ie drivers license etc)

No. Though the flight is classified as domestic, we recommend travel insurance for our passengers to cover in the case of having to cancel due to unexpected injury or illness. You may wish to purchase it through a travel insurance provider. Please read the PDS of any travel insurance before purchasing to ensure it is right for you.

– This will depend upon Australian Government and Qantas requirements at the time. In conjunction with airport and airline regulations, Qantas/Quo Vadis Holidays at this stage shall be exercising the following measures which will be updated as to what requirements will be closer to the date:

• To reduce congestion on board, the entire centre section of Economy Class will be kept empty for our passengers and to provide a much more pleasant and relaxed experience.
• Check-in will be done directly at the departure gate at the airport. Passengers will proceed straight through security and to the departure gate. A vaccination check ma be required prior to collection of your boarding passes.
• Prior to embarkation, each passenger will receive a personal Qantas pack for the flight including disposable mask, sanitiser and disinfectant wipes.
• Qantas have implemented strict cleaning protocols. Prior to embarkation, there will be enhanced cleaning of the aircraft with a disinfectant effective against coronaviruses. There will be a focus on high contact areas – seats, seatbelts, overhead lockers, air vents and toilets. The air conditioning system of all Qantas aircraft are fitted with hospital-grade HEPA filters, which remove 99.9% of all particles including viruses. Air inside the cabin is refreshed every few minutes, ensuring the highest possible quality of cabin air.
• Additional sanitisers will be available on board throughout the duration of the flight.
• More detail will provided in the weeks prior to the flight

DEPOSIT: A deposit of AU$500 per passenger is required within 3 days of booking to confirm your seat reservations.

FINAL PAYMENT: Dec 15th 2022.

PASSENGER CANCELLATIONS: i) Up to Dec 15th 2022 – full refund of deposit/s

ii) From Dec 16th to 60 days prior to departure: Full refund minus 25% Tour Cost Cancellation Fee

iii) From 59 days to 30 days prior to departure:    Full refund minus 50% Tour Cost Cancellation Fee

iv) From 29 days up until departure:                        No refund

TRIP CANCELLATION Should our 2023 “Southern Lights Flight” not be able to depart due to official Government restrictions with coronavirus, a full refund will be provided.

CHANGES IN PRICES & ITINERARIES: Pricing and dates shall be confirmed around June 2022.

Prices in this brochure are based on costs, charges, taxes and levies at the time of publication. In the event that such fluctuations affect the price to be paid for services, Quo Vadis Holidays reserves the right to adjust prices as necessary at any time.

TRAVELLING ALONE: Seats are sold in pairs with option in Premium Economy and Economy sections to purchase additional adjacent seats. Solo travellers looking to share a seat-pairing with another solo passenger should contact us to check if there are any possibilities for this.

BAGGAGE: Hand luggage limit of 10kg/person including any photographic equipment that fits within the standard Qantas carry-on sizing limits.

PASSPORTS, ID: Passports are not necessary as the flights are considered domestic however ID will be required to match your Boarding Pass.

MINIMUM NUMBERS: The costs are based upon a minimum of 110 people travelling. The trip will be confirmed once minimum numbers are achieved by Dec 15th 2022

NOT INCLUDED: Airport transfers and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the passenger.

AGENTS RESPONSIBILITY: Quo Vadis Holidays and associated businesses act in the capacity of agent for the suppliers of transportation. For further conditions please see those listed at our website under “Terms and Conditions”.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.

CHARTER MANAGER Quo Vadis Holidays (ABN 15 151 545 541) trading as Quo Vadis Holidays, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia.

CHARTER AIRLINE Qantas Airways Limited has been contracted as the operating airline. However, Qantas is not involved in the organisation of the flights.

FARES All fares and charges are per person in Australian dollars.

PHOTO ID is required upon check-in e.g. Valid drivers licence, passport or equivalent.

TRANSFER/CHANGES You may transfer your ticket to another person up until 24 hours prior to the flight departure. There will be a AU$100 name change service fee per change will apply. This same service fee will apply for change of class.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Your “Southern Lights Flight” travel documents and information will be emailed to you approximately 3-4 weeks prior to departure, providing full payment has been received.

SEAT NUMBERS Will not be confirmed in advance of the flight. They will be issued on your boarding pass at the departure airport.

FORCE MAJEURE Force Majeure means the occurrence of an event that is beyond “Southern Lights Flight”/Quo Vadis Holidays’ reasonable control and which could not have
been reasonably prevented by Quo Vadis Holidays, which includes, but is not limited to: (a) war, armed conflict, criminal damage, riot, civil strife, industrial
dispute, terrorist activity or the threat of any such acts; (b) natural disaster (including but not limited to flooding, fire, earthquake, landslide), adverse weather conditions; (c) nuclear or other industrial accident causing environmental pollution or contamination; or (d) change in law, meaning, enactment, amendment (including repeal) in the law
or administration of any law in Australia or any jurisdiction or territory relevant to the booking contract, which includes changes in statute, regulation, determination, bylaw, declaration, licence and the common law as applicable from time to time, including changes or amendments in regulations or access to services, sites or countries
caused by declared epidemic or pandemic events.

TERMINATION OF BOOKING CONTRACT  OR CHANGE OF TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE

If Quo Vadis Holidays, in its reasonable opinion, considers that any Force Majeure event prevents Quo Vadis Holidays (whether directly or through its employees, contractors, subcontractors and agents) from lawfully
or safely providing any products or services subject of the booking contract with you, Quo Vadis Holidays may immediately by written notice: (a) terminate the
booking contract (in whole or in part); or (b) change your travel arrangements as reasonably practicable to ensure your safety and invoice you for any additional costs.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IN THE EVENT OF FOREC MAJEURE

In the event of a Force Majeure event making it impossible or unsafe for Quo Vadis Holidays to deliver all or part of the holiday package, Quo Vadis Holidays will refund the customer for the unperformed part of the holiday package less any reasonable losses incurred before cancellation. Losses may amount to a substantial proportion of the booking price. Antarctica Flights will use reasonable endeavours to minimise losses incurred by our guests. Customers must take out travel insurance to protect themselves against loss in these circumstances.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

1. Our holiday packages include the services of independent providers, such as airlines and other operators, who are not agents, servants or employees of Quo Vadis Holidays. Although we take care in selecting the independent service providers, Quo Vadis Holidays is not responsible for the conduct of the independent service providers, their servants and agents or for any ramifications of that conduct.

2. If, in the opinion of any representative of Quo Vadis Holidays, your mental or physical condition, or general behaviour is such as to affect your own health and safety, render you incapable to care for yourself, cause you to become a hazard to yourself or other passengers or result in you becoming objectionable to other passengers or staff, you will not be permitted to embark or continue on the whole or any part of the holiday package. Quo Vadis Holidays representatives are empowered to ask guests to depart a holiday package if they are displaying known COVID-19 symptoms. Abuse or harassment of any kind toward crew, contracted suppliers or other guests may result in immediate removal from a holiday package. Quo Vadis Holidays is not liable to you for any costs associated with such decision and you will not be refunded for any part of the holiday package.

3. Quo Vadis Holidays accepts no responsibility for any death, injury, illness, loss (including loss of enjoyment), damage, detention or delay (including mechanical breakdown) beyond its control.

4. Any term, condition or warranty express or implied by statute or otherwise in respect of the holiday packages are excluded to the full extent permitted by law. Nothing in these booking conditions excludes, restricts or modifies the application of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) as amended, consolidated, supplemented or replaced.

5. To the full extent permitted by law, Quo Vadis Holidays’ liability arising under or in connection with these booking conditions: (a) is limited to the resupply of the products or services or the payment of the cost of resupply of the products or services to you; and (b) excludes liability for any indirect or consequential losses suffered by you or any third party, howsoever caused, including but not limited to pure economic loss or any special, extraordinary or punitive damage to you or any other party.

6. You or your travel agent will forward deposits and other payments to us on your behalf, but your travel agent is not our agent for the purpose of receipt of monies. Receipt of deposits and subsequent payments by the travel agent does not constitute receipt of those monies by us and the travel agent has no authority expressed or implied to receive monies on our behalf. There is no liability on the part of Quo Vadis Holidays in respect to any monies paid to your travel agent, unless and until Quo Vadis Holidays notifies you (by way of a booking confirmation advice or payment receipt advice) that monies have been received by Quo Vadis Holidays. Quo Vadis Holidays reserves the right to cancel any ticket or booking or refuse to carry any passenger where payment has not been received by Quo Vadis Holidays within the specified time.

7. The photographs appearing in the brochure and on the website are representational only and are not a guarantee that everything will be exactly as depicted at the location upon arrival. Whilst every endeavour will be made to adhere to the proposed route, weather conditions may determine the actual route, according to the absolute discretion of the Captain of the aircraft. No guarantee can be given of clear viewing conditions or the appearance of aurora australis/southern lights and no refund or part refund will be made if they do not appear or if views are fully or partially obscured. Alternative routes will be selected to give the best viewing if the planned route has unfavourable weather conditions.

GOVERNING RULE The charter proposal set out herein and the participants’ acceptance by completion of the registration form creates an agreement between
the Charter Manager and the participants subject to the law of the State of Victoria. The registration forms part of this documentation.

SPECIAL NOTE A Qantas 787-9 aircraft will operate the flight; however, other appropriate Qantas aircraft may be substituted without notice. Frequent flyer points do not apply. Depending on prevailing weather conditions the flight path may vary. Alternative flight paths will be decided by the Captain of the aircraft based upon prevailing conditions during the flight.

PHOTOS/VIDEOS Photographs or videos of the flight may be used for promotional purposes. Agreeing to these terms online and acceptance of the documents indicates your acceptance and release for this material to be used for promotional and/or resale purposes.

AIRLINE LEVY Airline fuel and/or security levies may apply.