The latest in-flight entertainment: Virtual reality headsets
Tired of movies as in-flight entertainment? Then you might want to try to snag a first-class ticket on Australian carrier Qantas, which says it will offer virtual reality headsets to some of its premium passengers.
The move is part of a three-month trial in which Qantas will provide Samsung Gear VR headsets to first class passengers on "select" Airbus A380 flights between Australia and Los Angeles starting in mid-March. The airline also will offer the headsets in its international first class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne starting in mid-February.
Qantas claims it will be the only airline to offer virtual reality entertainment in flight, saying the devices will "give customers a spectacular three dimensional experience in a 360 degree style interactive format."
Where will customers be able to "virtually" go via the devices?
The carrier says the headsets "will transport customers to an immersive virtual world at the click of a button," treating passengers to "the sights and delights of network destinations, new Qantas products and the latest in-flight blockbuster movies."
The vignettes, produced by a California-based company called Jaunt, explore surroundings ranging from a Qantas airport lounge to the view from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
During the trial period, Qantas says it will assess customers' feedback "on how this kind of VR (virtual reality) offering might add to their overall travel experience on long-haul flights."
Qantas, of course, offers many long- and ultra-long-haul routes thanks to its location in Australia. Among those is the world's longest passenger airline route, Qantas' A380-operated flights between Dallas/Fort and Sydney.
"Whether the user wants a virtual tour of our new Los Angeles First Lounge or experience an A380 landing from the tarmac, this technology gives us a completely new way to connect with our customers," Olivia Wirth, Qantas' chief for Brand, Marketing & Corporate Affairs, says in a statement.
"From an inflight entertainment perspective, it's an industry first," Wirth adds. "Qantas is committed to being at the forefront of innovation to give our passengers the very best and latest in-flight experiences, like accessing the virtual worlds of their favorite Hollywood blockbusters from the comfort of their seat 40,000 feet above the ground."