An increasing number of airlines and holiday retailers are turning to virtual reality (VR) to engage with customers and attempt to entice them into paying money for their products. Joining airlines such as KLM who are offering ‘virtual upgrades’ to passengers of other airlines, Air Canada are offering potential customers a virtual trip aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the world’s biggest commercial passenger aircraft. Designed mostly for long-haul flights, it is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft to travel the skies. Using the VR experience offered by Air Canada, potential customers can experience an interactive trip aboard the Dreamliner in International Business Class, seeing what food, drink and other services are on offer for travellers who travel in one of Air Canada’s ‘executive pods’.
“Air Canada is always developing new ways to enhance the customer experience and to engage partners such as the travel agent community, which plays a key role in helping our customers select the travel options best suited to them. Virtual reality enables us to familiarize thousands of travel agents and potential customers with Air Canada’s offerings through the magic of an interactive, virtual tour,” said Duncan Bureau, Vice President, Global Sales at Air Canada. “We have already seen an increase in bookings since we began using this technology.”
After donning the headset and taking hold of the controls, users begin the virtual journey with an overview of Air Canada’s global routes, followed by an exploration of Air Canada’s livery. Users are then guided through all three cabins, Economy, Premium Economy or International Business. Various items such as in-flight magazines, in-flight entertainment or even tray tables are all available for user’s to peruse and interact with.
The Air Canada VR experience will be available at the following events:
- Air Canada Pop-Up Poutinerie, Shoreditch, London (UK), until November 11, 2017.
- True Patriot Love Gala, Toronto, November 9, 2017;
- BAZAR ED, Santiago, Chile. November 22 to 26, 2017;
- WX Top 100 Leadership Summit, Toronto, November 23, 2017;
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year National Gala, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, November 30, 2017.
Further information and a sneak peek of the experience can be found on the Air Canada website.
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