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If you plan to fly between Australia and the US with Qantas and you are lucky enough to be able to afford a first... Qantas To Offer Gear VR On International Flights

If you plan to fly between Australia and the US with Qantas and you are lucky enough to be able to afford a first class ticket, then you are in for a real treat. Qantas has announced that any first-class passengers, who fly on that route, will soon be able to view content using a virtual reality headset.

So far as I know, this is the first deal of its kind, with Qantas and Samsung teaming up to provide the headsets required for VR in-flight entertainment. The Samsung Gear VR headsets are going to show a diverse array of specifically crafted content.

Experts in the field have questioned just how much content will be made available and also what the impact on other passengers travelling alongside users may be.

Qantas group executive Olivia Wirth said, “Whether the user wants a virtual tour of our new Los Angeles First Lounge or to experience an A380 landing from the tarmac, this technology gives us a completely new way to connect with our customers…It’s also a fantastic tool to feature our network’s destinations, inspiring travel and promoting tourism…and the virtual worlds of favourite Hollywood blockbusters.”

Qantas said the headset would offer new experiences for passengers, although it is not clear how much movie content is currently available in the VR format.

The Australian airline have said they were working with production company Jaunt to develop more content for the new device.

The initial trial will last for a period of three months and it will be made available to first class customers on certain flights between Australia and Los Angeles from March 2015.

If you happen to be in the first class lounge this month, at either Sydney or Melbourne airport, then you can also enjoy the VR experience as headsets will provided in those locations.

[Image via techau]

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31039036