Unsuspecting Melbourne diners surprised with free flights to Wellington

In an Australian first, Air New Zealand last night surprised 60 unsuspecting diners at the sell-out Melbourne restaurant ‘WLG’, with a free return flight each to Wellington.

The ‘pop-up’ restaurant in the hip Melbourne dining district of Fitzroy is named after Wellington’s airport code in an initiative by Positively Wellington Tourism. The restaurant is currently into its second week of serving diners a uniquely Kiwi food and wine experience created by Wellington’s top chefs and sommeliers.

Last night Wellington based Air New Zealand cabin crew stormed the restaurant and performed a specially choreographed version of the airline’s famous in-flight safety videos culminating in the surprise gift of a free return flight to Wellington for each of the diners.

The flight giveaway was a gesture by the airline to highlight the increased schedule frequency between Melbourne and Wellington as part of the airline’s alliance partnership with Virgin Australia.

Video of the flight giveaway can be viewed at www.youtube.com/airnewzealand

Air New Zealand’s Australia Marketing Manager, Kelly Millier, said, “Through our alliance with Virgin Australia, we are committed to keeping our fares low, frequency high, and being an airline that Australians can depend on.”

Melbourne diner Rebecca Saunders who was eating out with friend Grant Goodwin, said the free Wellington flight was one of the best surprises she has ever received: “I woke up this morning and said ‘today is going to be a great day’ and then I got these free tickets to Wellington!

“I think my heart stopped when they announced it,” added Goodwin. “Never in a million years did I think I’d get a free flight while out for dinner. It’s fantastic!”

The combined Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia schedule offers more than 220 flights a week to connect Australians from 30 Aussie airports to 27 New Zealand destinations at convenient flight times, offering direct daily flights between Melbourne and Wellington and double-daily direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Wellington.

Extending the generosity Australia-wide, Air New Zealand has also launched a 24 hour sale which ends at midnight tonight, offering $100 off return flights to Wellington for travel from February to June 2012. Check out www.airnewzealand.com.au for details.