Australia’s Qantas airlines announced that it would be launching a new trial for its first-class passengers’ in-flight entertainment experience.  First-class passengers on select flights out of Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles on the massive Airbus A380 aircraft, as well as at the international lounges, will get treated to Samsung Gear VR headsets to immerse themselves in an interactive, photo-sphere-like experience.

The trial will operate for three months and Qantas will use customer feedback to gauge if using virtual reality technology like Gear VR is an added benefit to long-haul flights. Qantas is working with production company Jaunt to produce live-action content which will also include features like destination footage.

Samsung plans to capitalize on the opportunity, “We believe Samsung Gear VR…will open new worlds for Qantas customers who experience the technology for themselves,” according to Samsung Electronics Australia CMO Arno Lenior.

The Gear VR will be powered by the Galaxy Note 4 and will be available in the airport lounges beginning the middle of February, followed by flights to Los Angeles in the middle of March.

sources: Qantas via Gizmodo Australia

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