Last year, Meta took a significant step by joining forces with German airline Lufthansa to introduce Quest 3 headsets to travelers. With the venture proving to be successful, Meta is now setting its sights on extending this next-level in-flight experience to additional airlines.
Meta’s Travel Mode, eagerly anticipated by VR enthusiasts, launched last year. It enables users with a Quest 2 or higher to counteract the usual motion discomfort experienced during flights, a perennial challenge for VR fans whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
Building on this innovative feature, Meta rolled out a trial run last June, giving Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite passengers the opportunity to enjoy a Quest 3 headset on specific flights. This setup offered a variety of activities, from watching films and TV shows on virtual screens to exploring spatial videos and select 360-degree content, practicing guided meditation, and engaging in games like Connect Four and chess.
Meta revealed that the Lufthansa initiative has been a hit, delivering Quest 3-based entertainment to nearly 4,000 passengers. Encouraged by this success, Meta is exploring possibilities to collaborate with more airlines soon.
Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs, noted, “This activation signifies a crucial advancement in our Travel Mode and immersive service offerings. We’re dedicating our efforts now to broaden this service to more airlines and enhance our product lineup.”
While Meta hasn’t disclosed which airlines are on their radar, it’s safe to assume this feature will likely be exclusive to Business or First Class passengers. These premium travelers typically enjoy added luxuries such as flatbed seats, noise-cancelling headphones, gourmet dining, and top-shelf beverages.
This isn’t the first foray into XR for airlines. Back in 2015, Qantas Airlines from Australia was a pioneer, offering complimentary Samsung Gear VR sets as an exclusive first-class entertainment perk. Other airlines, including Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines, followed with VR trials of their own, although these have since been phased out.
