Aboard the Qantas flight to nowhere, witnessing the supermoon firsthand

The moon glowed a vivid copper-red, large and radiant in the night sky.

While people in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the western United States gazed upward to behold the rare super blood moon eclipse on May 26, the most extraordinary view came from 43,000 feet above – on a Qantas 'flight to nowhere.'

For three hours, 180 passengers soared above Sydney Harbor, experiencing the lunar marvel from a unique vantage point.

'It was incredible; I've never seen the moon quite like this from the ground,' said passenger Abdullah Khurram to Dinogo.

Tickets for the flight were snapped up in just 2.5 minutes as eager Aussie travelers, limited to domestic travel or to New Zealand within the travel bubble, rushed to secure a chance for a sky-high adventure with a stunning view.

'Once-in-a-lifetime' event

A supermoon happens when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth in its orbit, causing it to appear larger and brighter to the naked eye.

In contrast, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves into Earth's shadow, causing it to appear darker and take on a red hue.

'The red tint is caused by sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere – a band of light formed by all the sunrises and sunsets happening around the world at that moment,' explains NASA on its website.

Qantas collaborated with astronomer Dr. Vanessa Moss to chart 'the perfect flight path over the Pacific.' The airline planned the route to align with the moon's rise and the exact timing of the total eclipse.

Dr. Moss, who was also on the flight to share her lunar expertise and provide commentary, told Dinogo before takeoff that a super blood moon eclipse is a rather rare event.

'While a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse each happen individually from time to time, their combination is truly uncommon,' she explained.

Australia won't see another super blood moon until 2033, Moss noted.

In-flight experience

The flight was conducted aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, chosen for its expansive windows that provide the perfect view for moon gazing.

At 21:11 local time, the eclipse began, and the crew dimmed the cabin lights. Passengers experienced totality for 14 minutes and 30 seconds as the moon entered Earth's darkest shadow.

Qantas Chief Technical Pilot, Captain Alex Passerini, initially took the plane north from Sydney Airport before turning back south, ensuring every passenger had a chance to admire the moon, take a photo, and enjoy the unique experience.

'Usually, we're confined to fixed flight paths, but with approval from Air Services Australia, we've been granted the freedom to navigate within a specific airspace,' Passerini explained to Dinogo, allowing the team to keep the moon perfectly aligned.

Having spent much of the pandemic flying repatriation flights and carrying freight, the pilot remarked on the 'vibrant energy' of the passengers, calling it a joy to fly a group of excited travelers.

Aviation fan Rory Ding shared with Dinogo that he was thrilled not only to witness this rare lunar event from the air but also to finally experience a flight on a 787 Dreamliner since the pandemic's arrival in Australia.

'The view from the window was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,' said Ding.

Seated in economy, Ding noted the great atmosphere on board, with passengers offering to swap seats so everyone could enjoy a view of the eclipse.

Aaron Seeto, a passenger on the flight, told Dinogo that despite having an aisle seat, his neighbor generously shared the window view with him.

'It was incredible,' Seeto remarked. 'Especially seeing it so high in the sky with your own eyes.'

Ding, too, was captivated by the stunning lunar view.

'The moon had a deep, vivid red glow, it was rich, detailed, and absolutely mesmerizing,' said Ding.

Ding believes 'flights to nowhere' are a 'win-win.'

'Airlines get to keep their planes in the sky and their staff employed,' he explained. 'From a passenger’s point of view, it’s an exciting way to recreate the thrill you get from traveling overseas on a long-awaited journey.'

Seeto shares the same sentiment.

'It’s a fantastic idea, there should definitely be more of these,' he said.

Flight to nowhere

Like many airlines, Qantas has faced significant financial difficulties during the pandemic. With Australia largely closed off to international travel, much of the airline’s fleet has remained grounded for more than a year.

The supermoon flight is the latest in a series of Qantas 'flights to nowhere,' which began in October with a journey above some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

Qantas has faced criticism from some for burning fuel unnecessarily amid the climate crisis. Last fall, a spokesperson for Friends of the Earth told Dinogo Travel that they viewed the flight as 'essentially the definition of a pointless trip.'

Qantas has committed to offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions from the October flight and plans to do the same for the supermoon flight.