In this ever-evolving world of “pings,” “posts,” “tweets,” and “tags,” social media has also entered the arena of air travel. Last year, KLM announced their “Meet and Seat” program where passengers could, if desired, share their social media profile with fellow passengers and then, prior to departure, change their seat assignments to sit by the person whose profile interested them. Along the same lines, Virgin America recently launched their own social in-flight service. Their program is called Seat-to-Seat Delivery or, as their founder and chairman Sir Richard Branson presented it: “Sir Richard Branson’s Guide to Getting Lucky.”
The Seat-to-Seat program allows travelers to “treat” a fellow road-warrior or break the ice by sending a drink, meal, or snack to another seat with Virgin’s Red™ touch screen entertainment system. Flyers can browse the in-flight menus, make their order, and attendants will deliver it directly to the guest of choice. The receiver of the item can then choose to either engage in conversation or reject it.
Some people feel this kind of program is in violation of their privacy and is perhaps downright creepy. Virgin America does allow travelers the ability to opt out of this social feature at anytime during the flight.
To help kick off this new program, Virgin America is also running a competition on Facebook where travelers can enter their best in-air pick-up lines, success stories, or in-air flirt photos. Winners will be selected by Virgin America’s Facebook fans, who will then be awarded an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas.
So, if you are looking for romance on your next business trip, you might try flying Virgin America. Sir Richard Branson said: “I’m not a betting man, but I’d say your chances of deplaning with a plus one are at least 50 percent.” Perhaps it’s not just United Airlines who flies the “friendly skies.”
