Boarding now for a flight from Tokyo to Paris that never takes off

By Kwiyeon Ha

 

Staff dressed as flight attendants, perform a safety demonstration at the "First Airlines", virtual first-class airline experience facility in Tokyo, Japan February 14, 2018. Picture taken February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Fasten your seatbelts for a flight departing to Paris, and never leave the ground.

 

That's exactly what 12 passengers did at First Airlines in central Tokyo this week, where they relaxed in first and business-class seats and were served four-course dinners, before immersing themselves in 360-degree virtual reality (VR) tours of the City of Light's sights.

 

"A real trip is a hassle to prepare for, and expensive, and takes time. So I think it is good that we can enjoy all this hassle-free", said Takashi Sakano, 39, who was on his first VR trip, adding that he wanted to 'travel' to Rome next time.

 

At 6,600 yen ($62), a fraction of the cost of an actual trip overseas, it's easy to see why First Airline's two-hour 'flights' to Paris, Rome, Hawaii and New York have been fully booked since the company opened in 2016.

 

"We have lots of elderly customers, who want to go overseas but are not able to easily, given their physical limitations", Abe said, explaining that the majority of First Airlines' visitors are older Japanese from around the country.

 

Abe added that domestic flights around Japan will be added soon, with meals highlighting the region's cuisine.

 

(Reporting by Kwiyeon Ha, Writing by Olivier Fabre and Karishma Singh, Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-16

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"We have lots of elderly customers, who want to go overseas but are not able to easily, given their physical limitations", Abe said, explaining that the majority of First Airlines' visitors are older Japanese from around the country.

This is one of those ideas, which first sounds so very silly. Then again, if a person has never flown before and wonder how it feels to be in the airplane.. why not. That's an experience for some.

 

 

I am waiting for a virtual job, with a real pay check.

 

2 minutes ago, Credo said:

I am waiting for a virtual job, with a real pay check.

 

Many times during my life I had a real job with a virtual paycheck!

Should have one from China to Thailand. No disrespect. Fewer brakes failed fatalities here.

the Japanese are great pioneers ...first virtual sex and now virtual tourism 

And one of the first Eastern countries to actively employ foreigners as bartenders to increase traffic, no work permits necessary 1974.

Sounds like the film "The Magic Christian" has become reality

1 hour ago, fvw53 said:

the Japanese are great pioneers ...first virtual sex and now virtual tourism 

And then a virtual "mile high" club. Remember you saw it here first!

10 hours ago, webfact said:

"A real trip is a hassle to prepare for, and expensive, and takes time. So I think it is good that we can enjoy all this hassle-free", said Takashi Sakano, 39, who was on his first VR trip, adding that he wanted to 'travel' to Rome next time.

Yeah, who needs the hassle of real life experiences that might enrich your life...much better to pretend you have had such experiences. 

On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 10:49 AM, oilinki said:

This is one of those ideas, which first sounds so very silly. Then again, if a person has never flown before and wonder how it feels to be in the airplane.. why not. That's an experience for some.

 

 

I didn't read this thread till now as I thought it would be some stupid thing, but this is a brilliant idea. If someone has the vision to seize this and patent it they'll make a killing. Franchise similar set ups in every country with a population that like to travel, and it'll be a very big thing. 

It's not the pretend flight thing that is the hook ( my version wouldn't even pretend to be in a plane, just comfy seats for a few hours while watching a travel doco on those VR headsets ), but the chance to see a place without having to go through all the hassle of flying, security etc at a fraction of the price of actually doing it in person. I never thought there would be a proper reason to use those VR headsets, but this is it. Don't even have to be watching the same destination on every headset, just pick where one wants to go, have a nice 1st class type meal, settle back in a first class type seat, relax and enjoy the destination. Amazing, and all without having to sit in a plane for 12 hours, and q to go through immigration, spend an hour getting to an hotel with a hard bed etc etc etc. No danger of getting food poisoning, mugged or conned.

I'm telling ya, the person that picks this up and develops it is going to become very, very rich.

They could even convert little used cinemas to do this in, without the first class seating or meals- just the travel doco in VR.

PS. Could even start a home service to deliver the VR viewer and computer set up to someone's home. Travel without leaving home.

On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 7:34 PM, Bluespunk said:

Yeah, who needs the hassle of real life experiences that might enrich your life...much better to pretend you have had such experiences. 

Did you not read the OP? Not everyone is physically able to travel, but why should they be denied the pleasure of seeing different places.

Not everyone can afford to do so, but this makes it possible for most to experience far away places.

On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2018 at 5:14 PM, car720 said:

or a virtual wife that you don't have to blow up.

Coming soon.

I recall reading about a similar business in India, economy-flight with full sound-effects, in an old decommissioned fuselage, but charging a premium-price & making it First-Class, that's a good twist on the theme !

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Did you not read the OP? Not everyone is physically able to travel, but why should they be denied the pleasure of seeing different places.

Not everyone can afford to do so, but this makes it possible for most to experience far away places.

Did you read the guy I quoted?

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

Did you read the guy I quoted?

This is a brilliant way for those that can't travel, or are afraid to, or in wheelchairs etc to do so. I'm all for it and I hope it becomes available everywhere so I can still travel after I can't do it physically any more. Be great to be able to keep up with changes in Pattaya from a different country. It's just not the same looking at a screen with a CCTV picture.

They finally came up with a proper reason to wear those VR headsets.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

This is a brilliant way for those that can't travel, or are afraid to, or in wheelchairs etc to do so. I'm all for it and I hope it becomes available everywhere so I can still travel after I can't do it physically any more. Be great to be able to keep up with changes in Pattaya from a different country. It's just not the same looking at a screen with a CCTV picture.

They finally came up with a proper reason to wear those VR headsets.

I can see that

 

However...

 

The guy I quoted was just worried about the hassle of a holiday.

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by Bluespunk