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You Can Watch the Northern Lights from a Private Jet in Canada

Nov. 03, 2018
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2 min read
northern lights_photo by lightscape via unsplash-2
You Can Watch the Northern Lights from a Private Jet in Canada
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Seeing the Northern Lights from the ground is a life-changing experience — but from the air? That’s taking things to an entirely new level.

Adventure travel company Consulta Meta recently announced they will begin offering a new, five-day Northern Lights trip in Canada come 2019 called Aurora 360.

One of the reasons seeing the Northern Lights can be so difficult is that the weather conditions required to actually observe them are extremely precise. Not only must it be completely dark — no sunlight or light pollution — but it must also be a cloud-free sky. And that can be harder to come by than you might think.

This is why aurora-hunting from an airplane is especially handy: In the company’s words, they can "remove the clouds so you can enjoy the lights.”

The trip will run between Feb. 7 and 11, 2019 and is open to 80 travelers. There are two different booking options: those looking just to take a Northern Lights flight will have to pay $1,045, while those looking for the full five-day experience will pay $2,939.

Those embarking on the full tour will also be treated to guest speakers, optional day tours and Yukon-inspired meals. The speakers include Phil Plait, The Bad Astronomer; Christa Van Laerhoven from the University of British Columbia; William Murtagh of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Pierre Paquette of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

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In short, if you’re obsessed with the Northern Lights, want to know everything there is to know about them and get excited about the thought of being surrounded by people equally as excited about astronomy, this is a trip you need to experience.

The tour will be led by award-winning Canadian photographer, Neil Zeller, who will be on-hand to help tour-takers capture the auroras from the Boeing 737.

On top of all of this, the Aurora 360 flights claim to be the first-ever to take off from the Aurora Oval — a region regarded as “the footprint in the atmosphere of the boundary between the highly stretched field lines of the polar cap and the more normal field lines at lower latitudes,” according to NASA.

For more information on this adventure and how to book your own seat, head over to the Consulta Meta.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.