A health consultant has revealed how she found herself raving with drag queens at 30,000 feet after she was accidentally booked on to a party plane.
Tracey Waters James, 50, from Melbourne was heading to Sydney for a work event when she found herself on the pride flight destined for Mardi Gras.
The flight was one of two star-studded parties in the sky put on by Virgin to celebrate the biggest event in the LGBTQI+ calendar.
Tracey Waters James, 50, from Melbourne was heading to Sydney for a work event last Friday when she found herself on the pride flight destined for Mardi Gras
The party plane was hosted by drag queens and had a fashion show where guests could show-off their outfits to their fellow passengers
Notable guests included Danielle Laidley, Dannii Minogue and drag queens from hit TV show Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
‘When I got to the airport there were rainbows everywhere, then as I got further there was heaps of glitter and glam,’ she told FEMAIL.
Tracey said she assumed it was for Mardi Gras but still didn’t realise she would be part of the festivities all the way to Sydney.
‘Then I got to gate 42 and it was all-systems go,’ she said.
The gate-lounge was packed with people in glitter makeup, rainbow masks and vibrant outfits and all the announcements were being made by drag queens Tora Hyman and Coco Jumbo.
Tracey was seated next to Nick Rohrloch, the Velocity program’s CEO, and said they shared a laugh, a drink and talked about their kids in what was ‘the best flight of her life’.
She was seated toward the back of the plane where a DJ was blasting tunes from the likes of Britney Spears and Cher for the entire flight.
The in-flight entertainment also included a catwalk down the centre aisle, complimentary alcohol and the hilarious antics of the two drag queens.
Tracey beaming beside Nick Rohrlach, who she didn’t realise is the Virgin Velocity CEO
The company had two party planes in the air on Friday – one from Brisbane and one from Melbourne – Penny Tration is seen here making demands of her guests
‘I had never met drag queens before, the closest I have been was 30 years ago when I walked through Kings Cross,’ she said.
‘I have been in the dance industry for a long time so I am aware of them but have never had that interaction.
‘I knew they would be the most divine human beings, and they were.’
The mum-of-three is a health and skincare consultant so usually doesn’t drink alcohol – but said she decided to dive into the celebrations.
‘It flowed really nicely. I had vodka and gin, and got Nick to have some with me,’ she said.
Guests on both flights were encouraged out of their seats for a fashion show and mingled freely until they got into Sydney
‘I didn’t know who he was the, he was so down to earth, but it wouldn’t have changed how I treated him if I did.’
When Tracey got off the flight she phoned her kids, buzzing.
‘They were like ‘you go girl”, when I told them about everything,’ she laughed.
She was one of eight business people heading to the conference who were on the flight.
‘Some of the other guys were having a great time, two just put their headphones in and ignored the party,’ she said.
Tracey was thrilled to see celebrity guests Dannii Minogue and Danielle Laidley on the plane
Here she is showing off her festival wear sunglasses which were given to each person on the flight
She described the accidental party as the flight of her life and said she ‘felt very blessed’ to be part of it.
‘The flight back was boring, mundane. I thought ‘where’s the party at,’ she joked.
‘I would definitely book on this again, when people invited me to the after party I wanted to go but had work commitments,’ she said.
Tracey usually drives between the cities but decided to fly this time after not being on a plane in over two years.
She was gifted a pair of Quay festival sunglasses on the flight, as was every passenger, and says she may not wear them but will keep them as a momento.
Watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under only on Stan.