Before heading to a new place, you probably spend a good amount of time researching it. You figure out which famous sites to visit, uncover the coolest hidden gems, and book the best restaurants and accommodations. But what if you tossed all that planning aside and let your spontaneous side take over? That's the allure of a unique concept introduced by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). A group of adventurous passengers recently hopped on a flight to a city only the pilots knew about beforehand… And here's how it went!
So what is a mystery flight and how does it actually work?
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Widespread enthusiasm
In February 2024, the Sweden-based airline SAS launched a promotion called "Destination Unknown," which offered members of its loyalty program the chance to book a mystery flight in April to an undisclosed location. According to the airline's press release, more than 6,000 people signed up for the opportunity, with over 1,000 doing so within minutes of the announcement. The airline also held a special contest that attracted 20,000 entries, reserving 6 seats for the winners.
Ultimately, 180 lucky passengers were randomly selected to receive tickets for the mystery trip, which could only be booked using the airline's rewards points and cost just 30,000 points for a round-trip journey. The overwhelming interest in the promotion wasn't entirely unexpected, as Paul Verhagen, the EVP and chief commercial officer at SAS, noted that "the prospect of embarking on an adventurous and mysterious journey with fellow enthusiasts, finding new connections and friendships along the way, is truly exciting."
Location uncovered
On April 5th, passengers boarded an SAS airplane at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), scheduled to take off at 9:25 a.m. local time and return on April 8th. According to an interview with the Daily Mail, only the pilots knew the destination beforehand – even the airline's CEO didn't know where the plane was headed, and the passengers didn't find out until about 2 hours into the journey. The airline made special changes to its usual procedures, including marking boarding passes with "XXX" instead of the typical 3-letter airport code.
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The mystery destination turned out to be Athens, Greece. Once there, travelers could explore one of the world's oldest cities, first settled sometime between the 7th and 11th centuries BCE, and home to iconic landmarks, such as the ruins of the Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens (where the travelers received a VIP tour). The airline also arranged special hotel rates, cocktail parties, dinner reservations, and other tours – promising a memorable getaway for those lucky enough to experience it.
Additional mysterious flights
Though the first attempt was clearly successful, SAS hasn't yet said if they'll offer the "Destination Unknown" program again in the future. Other airlines, such as the German carrier Lufthansa, have run similar promotions before. There are also companies that focus on surprise vacations. With Pack Up + Go, for example, you give them a budget and some other information, and they plan the entire trip for you – all the details are sealed in an envelope you open right before you leave.
Alternatively, if you're feeling adventurous, you could take advantage of an unlimited flight pass. For example, the GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Pass from American budget airline Frontier Airlines lets travelers book last-minute flights to any destination the airline serves. And there are also benefits to booking a hotel room at the last minute.
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