The first rule of Last Flight Club? You definitely talk about it, because this isn’t your average flight. It’s a bold test of whether the journey itself can be the experience, not just the means to one.
Taking off Thursday 7 August, the initiative transforms the final Virgin Australia flight of the day from Sydney to Melbourne into the start of a curated evening of food, sport, music, and hospitality.
What is Last Flight Club?
Last Flight Club is a one-time event flying Sydneysiders to Melbourne for a fully curated night out. It begins with Virgin Australia’s last scheduled flight of the day from Sydney (VA892 ETD 8.30pm) and concludes with the first flight home the following morning (VA803 ETD6.00am). Customers only need to book their flights; all activities are complimentary.
The program aims to highlight Melbourne as Australia’s leading destination for late-night culture, with Virgin Australia already transporting up to 12,000 passengers on late-night Melbourne-bound services each week.
What’s included in the experience?
The itinerary includes a series of exclusive events and experiences around Melbourne:
- In-flight entertainment hosted by comedian Ben Lomas.
- A private DJ set from Client Liaison inside the Virgin Australia Melbourne Lounge.
- A bespoke Lego Star Wars experience at Melbourne Museum curated by The Brickman.
- Late-night snacks from the Star Wars Café.
- Cocktails and Victorian produce at the Melbourne Supper Club.
- A martini-making session with the Melbourne Gin Company.
- VIP access to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with AFL legends Anthony Koutoufides and Darcy Vescio.
- A chance to take photos with AFL trophies and kick a footy on the MCG field.
Who’s behind the initiative?
The collaboration brings together Virgin Australia and Visit Victoria, as part of a shared effort to boost overnight visitation and shine a light on Melbourne’s after-hours economy.
“Last Flight Club is about showing what’s possible when you turn a regular flight into something extraordinary,” said Virgin Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Libby Minogue.
“With Virgin Australia, it’s not just about the destination, it’s about how we help travellers create memorable moments along the way.”
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said the initiative builds on Melbourne’s late-night reputation.
“While other cities wind down, we’re just getting started – with a mix of culture, sport and hospitality that’s unmatched across the country,” he said.
“This incredible itinerary highlights all the best bits of Victoria, showcasing the passion, creativity and diversity that makes our state ‘Every bit different’.”
Why Melbourne?
According to Visit Victoria, 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country’s best city for late-night experiences, a figure that rises to 46 per cent among high-income earners.
From live music and bars to galleries, sport and street culture, Melbourne has positioned itself as a city that invites visitors to arrive late and stay out even later.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Last Flight Club taps into a growing trend: flights that do more than move people. As airlines look for new ways to deliver value, late-night services like this open doors to experience-led itineraries, creative upsells and new talking points for client engagement.
