Virgin Australia sends Pride to the Skies again – Tickets from AU$289 / €175

The airline's seventh annual celebration flight books out as Sydney Mardi Gras weekend packages SOAR in price.

Virgin Australia is once again proving that inclusivity pays dividends, announcing its seventh consecutive Pride Flight celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community with two specially-liveried services bound for Sydney Mardi Gras festivities.

Tickets go on sale from AU$289 / €175 one way in Economy, departing Melbourne and Brisbane on Friday 5 March 2027 – landing just in time for Australia’s largest annual gay and lesbian festival.

Virgin Australia

Historic Flight Numbers

What makes this celebration particularly meaningful? Each service carries flight numbers honouring pivotal moments in Australian LGBTQIA+ rights history.

VA1978 flies Melbourne to Sydney – commemorating the year Sydney hosted its first Mardi Gras parade

VA2017 connects Brisbane to Sydney – marking the historic year same-sex marriage was legalised across Australia

Both flights will be operated by Virgin Australia LGBTQIA+ crew members and allies, transforming a routine journey into a flying party at 35,000 feet.

Bottomless Beverages & Drag Royalty

For the fare of AU$289 / €175, passengers receive departure gate parties, bottomless drinks, sponsor giveaways, and live entertainment from drag royalty including DJ Harry K, Beverly Kills, Freya Armani, Kora Kurvacious, and Karen From Finance (qnews.com.au).

Additional acts will be announced closer to the date, with Virgin promising this will be «our biggest yet».

Ground-Based Celebrations

The airline isn’t stopping at airborne revelry. Two new ground events are now bookable for Saturday 6 March 2027:

Free Virgin Australia flights and holidays are up for grabs for best-dressed guests attending the official Pride Flight Landing Party afterparty (qnews.com.au).

Pricing Debate

Some social media users have noted the price trajectory over recent years. One Instagram commenter pointed out: «It was AU$149 / €90 between 2020-2024, then AU$269 / €163 in 2025 & 2026, now AU$289 / €175 in 2027»

Others defended the increase, calling it «a special flight that brings people together» and «best weekend of the year» (instagram.com).

Company Commitment

Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Andrew Cleary told reporters: «Pride Flight was a home-grown idea from our people at Virgin Australia, and it’s incredible to see how it has grown into an event that our team, our guests and the community look forward to every year».

Virgin Australia

«Pride Flight is a celebration of inclusion, and a reminder that we all have a part to play. We want Virgin Australia to be a place where our team, our guests and the communities we serve feel welcome every day». (qnews.com.au).

Pinterest Predicts Theme

This year’s flight features a Pinterest Predicts™ theme, tying into trending aesthetics forecast for 2027 – though specific details await further announcement.

Venue Partnerships Change

Not all news is celebratory. According to Instagram comments, Virgin Australia has ended its partnership with Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel, replacing them with IHG & Resorts. The recovery brunch has been relocated from Ovolo to The Beresford.

Seventy years after decriminalisation began across Australian states, and twelve years since marriage equality passed, the LGBTQIA+ community continues building celebratory infrastructure. Virgin Australia’s Pride Flight has become one such institution, a seven-year tradition showing commercial airlines can champion inclusion while generating revenue.