PHOTOS: Virgin & United celebrate Mardi Gras 2024 with trio of Pride Flights

  • MelbPride_12
  • MelbPride_13
  • MelbPride_14
  • MelbPride_16
  • MelbPride_17
  • MelbPride_20
  • MelbPride_21
  • MelbPride_22
  • MelbPride_25
  • MelbPride_27
  • MelbPride_28
  • MelbPride_29
  • MelbPride_30
  • MelbPride_31
  • Pride-76-PRH_2102
  • Pride-81-PRH_2236
  • Pride-90-PRH_2348
  • Pride-92-PH2_4577
  • Pride-93-PRH_2363
  • Pride-1-PRH_0556
  • Pride-1-PRH_0578
  • Pride-17-PRH_0668
  • Pride-37-PRH_1099
  • Pride-39-PRH_1167
  • Pride-49-PRH_1476
  • Pride-52-PRH_1649
  • Pride-59-PRH_1753
  • Pride-60-PRH_1775
  • Pride-61-PRH_1794
  • MelbPride_54
  • MelbPride_55
  • MelbPride_56
  • MelbPride_57
  • MelbPride_58
  • MelbPride_32
  • MelbPride_33
  • MelbPride_34
  • MelbPride_35
  • MelbPride_41
  • MelbPride_42
  • MelbPride_43
  • MelbPride_44
  • MelbPride_45
  • MelbPride_47
  • MelbPride_48
  • MelbPride_49
  • MelbPride_50
  • MelbPride_51
  • MelbPride_53
  • MelbPride_1
  • Pride-63-PRH_1835
  • Pride-69-PRH_1931
  • Pride-71-PRH_1976
  • Pride-21-PRH_0718
  • Pride-35-PRH_0955
  • Pride-56-PRH_1715
1 / 56
Edited by Travel Weekly


    More than 500 travellers, including drag performers and famous faces, partied at 30,000 feet today onboard Virgin Australia and United Airlines’ Pride Flight services from San Francisco, Melbourne and Brisbane.

    The services touched down in Sydney ahead of Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ event this weekend.

    After landing, Virgin Australia and United Airlines’ Pride Flight ticket holders were welcomed at the gate by Tinder ‘Glambassador’ Danni Issues.

    Travellers then made their way to the official Landing Party (after party) at popular venue, The Beresford, for a lineup of exciting entertainment, including Virgin Australia dance troupe performance and ballad by Hugh Sheridan.

    Arrivals for Mardi Gras 2024

    Three Pride Flight services landed in Sydney today ahead of Australia’s largest annual gay and lesbian celebration this weekend:

    Melbourne to Sydney VA1978 (numbered to represent the year 1978, when Sydney hosted its first Mardi Gras Parade), Brisbane to Sydney VA2017 (the flight number represents the year same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia) and San Francisco to Sydney Pride Flight, UA863 (codeshare flight VA8005).

    Flights from Melbourne and Brisbane included a pre-flight departure party with drag entertainment by local LGBTQIA+ venues (Fluffy Nightclub and Sircuit), celebrity appearances, mid-air drag performances, bottomless beverages, DJ entertainment, dancing and more.

    Celebs on board

    A number of famous faces were part of the celebrations today including NBL star Isaac Humphries, former AFL player Danielle Laidley, triathlete & lululemon ambassador James Parr and Tik Tok personality/Tinder ambassador Tim Collins.

    $30 from the sale of each ticket on Virgin Australia-operated Pride Flight services will be donated to Minus18, a LGBTQIA+ youth charity. United Airlines will donate $125K USD to The Trevor Foundation as part of an annual contribution.

    Check out the fabulous pics of the flights at the gallery above!

    Latest News

    • Aviation

    Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

    It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

    • Attractions

    SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

    AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

    • Cruise

    Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

    Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

    • Technology
    • Travel Agents

    Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

    Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]