Win a sightseeing flight to Antarctica
Antarctic flight specialist Antarctica Flights has announced a flight from Perth to the world's driest, coldest and windiest continent on January 26 with proceeds to support Telethon.
And The West Australian and AirlineRatings.com have a trip for two to win.
Antarctica is a land of extraordinary extremes.
The world's driest continent, it holds 75 per cent of the world's water.
Its mood changes in an instant. From tranquillity, to winds of 320km/hr and temperatures as low as -89C.
In the cabin of the Qantas 747-400ER however you can relax in a mild 21C while sipping a cold beer or champagne.
Qantas management pilots, who command each flight, survey satellite photos the day before and choose from up to 16 routes the one which will give the best view.
All Antarctic bases are informed of the route and the flight crew is in constant contact with the bases for last-minute weather changes.
On the flight down, a final choice is made and locked into the aircraft's computers.
Environmental considerations are uppermost in the planning of the flight. Airline policy dictates that the aircraft does not descend below 800m above the highest point within an 18km radius of the flight path. Despite this the view is simply stunning.
So what is it like to go south for a day?
In a word: unforgettable.
You can see forever - 160km to be precise - the air is so clear.
The snow is a brilliant white - sunglasses are an absolute must. The atmosphere on the plane is exhilarating - a sense of adventure sweeps the cabin as you take off.
Passengers share stories over a drink and a party mood gets into full swing almost immediately.
You are going where very few have ever been.
On the four-hour trip down, breakfast is served with many documentaries about the great white continent available in the seat back entertainment system.
Passengers are transfixed by the majesty of the Antarctic as you ponder the great explorers who crossed the enormous continent, twice the size of Australia.
The pilots fly figure eights over the many scenic highlights so everyone can see the view, which is accompanied by a commentary from Antarctic experts.
Passengers share the windows which on the 747 are about the largest available aside from the 787.
The first sighting of icebergs brings cameras to life. The party atmosphere gets into high gear.
Even passengers in the centre of economy that do not get a window seat or a seat next to a window seat still get to see plenty.
As well as passengers sharing windows there are also the large windows in the cabin doors.
Technical experts wander around talking to passengers and give commentaries from the flight deck. These experts have typically spent many years in the Antarctic and they add enormously to the trip.
