Plane that Feels like “A Big Happy iPod”
08.20.07 - 12:19pm
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The new Virgin America Airlines is up and flying with a new take on air travel; cheap flights that actually offer great service and utmost luxury.
In fact not only does it offer, of course, iPod connections but even feels like an iPod. Boing Boing’s Xeni Jargen said that the purple-and-pink mood lighting along with the white seat backs complete with individual TV screens made the interior of the plane “like a big happy iPod”
The new U.S. carrier is creating a new wave of airline travel which is “cool” and “upscale” as along with its mood lighting, which shifts between 12 different colors depending on the time of day, the plane also offer a barrage of other amenities.
Satellite television at every seat on 9″ touch screens embedded into black leather seats whose white backs are encased in an iPod-like glossy plastis is the main focus. Each touch-sensitive screen is paired with a two-sided wired remote in the armrest. On one side of the remote are standard volume, channel, forward and back controls; on the other side is a QWERTY keyboard.
There is on-demand movies offered, along with games such as “Doom” and “Mad Bomber”. There are iPod connections, wi-fi, Key board connections and the ability to text message other passengers or take part in a “in-flight chat rooms”. You can even play on-screen poker with other passengers. Food can also be ordered using the touch-screens (no more flagging down a flight attendant). New features such as digital books, e-mail and shopping are also being added.
One of the features of the inflight entertainment system is the 3,000+ music tracks. From this you can build a playlist of favorite music which the system will remember so on your next flight you can log in and your playlist will be waiting for you.
Along with the technical amenities the seats are plush with lots of leg room, there is a self service mini-bar and music wafting in the bathrooms.
The first class seats are white leather and along with extra space have in-seat massage and footrests.
The flights are the brainstorm of British business mogul Richard Branson and along with upping flight quality the airline is also offering incredible prices forcing other airlines to match. For example flights from L.A. to San Francisco are now an affordable $44.00. Round trip flights from San Francisco to New York are only $298.
“I think Virgin will make a real difference for travelers in America,” Branson said at a rousing reception at San Francisco International, the carrier’s home base. “American airlines have never really cared about quality in the sky.”
“It’s kind of fun chatting on an airplane,” said actress Haylie Duff who was one of the celebrities on the inaugural flight as she typed into her tiny hand-held keyboard. Messaging from her seat to another several rows ahead, she gushed, “Loov the tiny TVs and the chats.”
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