'Huge demand': Qantas is selling some of its memorabilia - but it will cost you
Updated . First published
They once trundled down the aisle serving drinks and snacks at 30,000 feet, now they are landing in the homes of aviation enthusiasts as part of the décor.
Qantas is selling pre-loved inflight trolleys for sale on its Marketplace and Wine websites, offering frequent flyers the chance to "secure a piece of aviation history".
The authentic half-size bar carts, which feature five internal drawers, are being offered for 40,000 frequent flyer points, on sale from the usual price of 75,000 points.
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Qantas is selling pre-loved inflight trolleys for sale on its Marketplace. Reddit/Stuff
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There are 1200 longer, full-size carts with 10 drawers also available for 85,000 points.
Since October, nearly 1000 carts have been sold with the half carts being the most popular, Qantas told Stuff.
The listings described the carts as "more than just furniture", calling them a "conversation starter".
While the trolleys are in used condition with minor scuffs and marks from their time in the sky, Qantas stated they were in good order.
The airline first began selling carts in 2020 when it listed 1000 galley carts from its retiring Boeing 747 aircraft before the planes were flown to the Californian desert.
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The authentic half-size bar carts are being offered for 40,000 frequent flyer points. Qantas/Stuff
These ones were stocked with champagne, wine and Tim Tams and cost $974.70 or 169,000 points for a half-size cart, while full-size versions were $1474.70 or 256,000 points.
The airline said there had been a huge demand for the memorabilia and people wanted to convert the inflight trolley into everything from lamp stands to storage units.
On a Reddit thread this week, owners shared how they had repurposed their carts, using them to store alcohol or as a side table next to a barbecue.
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The airline said there had been a huge demand for the memorabilia. Supplied
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Some posters noted that while the carts showed signs of wear and tear or stickers from their former lives, they came up great after a clean.
They feature a pedal-operated braking system which owners find useful for locking them in place at home.
The current range features branding from across the fleet, including Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar or Atlas, which is randomly selected for each order.
The sad news for New Zealand plane lovers is that the carts can only be shipped within Australia.
Also circulating on social media with the bar carts this week was a listing for a Qantas lifejacket and a plane lavatory but these were fake.
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This story was originally published by Stuff NZ and has been reproduced here with permission.
