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Air NZ plans 'Pink Flight' from San Fran

Sat 15 Sep 2007 In: International News

Following the success of Air New Zealand's 'Pink Flight' from Auckland to Sydney Mardi Gras back in February, the airline will now also offer the themed flight from San Francisco to Sydney for next years' Mardi Gras. The flight will feature some of San Fran's well-known drag queens, pink cocktails and a cabaret performed by the flight crew. The 'Pink Flight' is scheduled to depart San Francisco International Airport on the 26th of February, and will arrive in Sydney in time for Sydney's Mardi Gras Parade and Party. “We are looking at tailoring the inseat entertainment and having gay-friendly movies and contests and different music and things like that,” Air New Zealand marketing director Jodi Williams told the Associated Press. The airline also plans to throw a "Get-Onboard-Girlfriend" going away party for its passengers, who will pay an average of US$1,000 (NZ$1,400) for the return trip. The flight will be modeled after Air New Zealand's Auckland-to-Sydney Pink Flight, which will return next February. Before that flight, the crew put on pink feather boas and sang for its 200 passengers. Michael Wilke, executive director of a New York-based advertising advocacy group called the Commercial Closet Association, said that while American, Air Canada and other airline companies have become visible sponsors of gay pride events, none had so far used campy programming to appeal to gay and lesbian travellers. "They could probably do very well with it," Wilke said. "It really sounds like someone put together the idea of what a gay cruise is and just applied that to the air. And even gay cruises don't feature employees in particular outfits or gay-themed movies." Air New Zealand's Williams said the airline still is working out some details of the flight plan - like what will go inside the goodie bags. Since it takes 14 hours to get from San Francisco to Sydney, the airline also plans to schedule in some 'down time' during the overnight flight. "We had to think about keeping people entertained while knowing they will want their beauty sleep," she said.     Ref: Associated Press (m)

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Saturday, 15th September 2007 - 6:52pm

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