Many different airways have been exploring and testing VR products while in the air for customer entertainment, but none of them hav stuck. Spain airway’s Iberia has been dabbling inside of VR, but they quickly killed the experiment. This is the latest in-flight VR experience to be killed, but not the latest to be born. British Airways have now announced that they are rolling out the SkyLights VR system AlloSky to their longer flights, specifically the ones flying over the pond to the United States. This is the company’s first time offering 3D entertainment while in flight.
The AlloSky is a standalone VR device that is slightly different than anything we have seen on the large consumer market just yet. This device is offering 6DoF, but nothing other than experiences will make it onto the headset. There is no controller that is going to act like a sword, and there is no external sensors that are going to tell you where your virtual hands are. If you are interested in something that isn’t the AlloSky, you can check out the Oculus Quest.
The AlloSky headset is a beast of an in-flight entertainment system. Coming in at a lightweight 250 grams, the goggle-like headset packs a punch with the resolution. With 1080 pixels per eye and dioptric correction, you are sure to see the best images with this headset. If that doesn’t impress you, the headset can connect to your own bluetooth speakers and has wifi built into it.
British Airways are the first British company to offer this in-flight virtual experience. BA will be offering this entertainment system to first-class flying customers on select flights that are going from Heathrow London to New York JFK. Although this experience will only go throughout the remainder of the year, BA is expected to receive positive feedback for their new -in-flight system. The headset can be used with no extra costs for the first-class customers and is expected to available for all in that class on the flight. This is replacement of the chair TV’s that most have become accustom to seeing while in the air.
Because this headset is able to connect to your own headphones, having an immersive experience can easily be achieved while flying. Watching films has never been so convenient. The films will be preloaded onto the headset and range from super hero hit Aqua Man, to romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. Top movies and documentaries will consistently be updated, and there are plenty of ways to view them. You can watch the films and movies in 2D, 180°, 360° (although that will be useless while in an airplane), and 3D.
“We are always looking at the latest technology to enhance our customers’ experience on the ground and in the air,” said Sajida Ismail, Head of Inflight Product at British Airways, in a statement. “Virtual reality has the power to revolutionise in-flight entertainment and we’re really excited to trial these new glasses as they should create a unique and memorable journey for our First customers”.
British Airways is always looking for the next best way to propel their airline ahead of the competition, and this is just the latest thing they have done. BA is obsessed with the future, and VR is the future of many different areas. Entertainment while flying is always a priority for every competitive airline and rightfully so. Travelers want to be entertained, and using the AlloSky headset is just another great way the British Airlines have revolutionized it.
