Flixbus Partners with Inflight VR for Immersive Entertainment in Coach Travel in Europe
FlixBus has had a successful run deploying its virtual reality headsets in bus routes across the US and the company is set to introduce its immersive entertainment to coach travel in Europe through its partnership with Inflight VR. Initial rollout will cover three routes between France and Spain.
Airlines already include an extensive palette of inflight entertainment options for their passengers. On top of the traditional inflight entertainment with movies, TV shows, music and documentaries, airlines have been introducing onboard connectivity on select routes. The emergence of virtual reality has seen many airlines incorporating this into the flight experience through partnership with various onboard VR entertainment providers. Inflight VR is one of the biggest players in this space and has already signed up a number of international airlines. The company partnered with FlixBus to introduce its virtual reality product to coach travelers in the US.
That collaboration will now see FlixBus bring virtual reality entertainment into the European routes, starting with routes between France and Spain.
The initial rollout will involve the use of 15 devices to be used on three routes. The US immersive entertainment service on the coaches currently relies on the Pico Goblin 2 headsets. In Europe, the VR devices will be provided free of charge between Paris and Rouen; Barcelona and Montpellier; and Paris and Cabourg. FlixBus will be using these three routes as testing grounds to gain greater passenger insights on their usage preferences before they decide to expand the deployment of the Inflight VR service to other routes.
The service will offer passengers a wide range of content to occupy and entertain them while onboard the long bus journeys. These will range from the FlixBus city destinations to experiences such as the climbing of Mount Everest, guided meditation experiences or movie watching sessions in your own private virtual movie theater.
Adding virtual reality experiences to coach travel will really push the envelope when it comes to customer experience on coach travel. The FlixBus partnership with Inflight VR, which has had some extensive experience in rolling out onboard VR on flights, will be a good synergy, tapping into Inflight VR’s vast experience when it comes to the technical, logistical, usability and the rights management aspects of the deployment of VR, thereby assuring FlixBus of a seamless option to entertain their passengers and build their brand.
Inflight VR not only grants access to a platform that has been successfully trialed with some of the world’s leading airlines but also a well-developed VR-based IFE platform that enables lots of third-party app integrations to be included into the experience such as virtual reality storytelling, tourist shopping, destination-based content or sightseeing tours. It is also a good ancillary revenue stream for both airlines and coach companies.
https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2019/07/11/flixbus-partners-with-inflight-vr-for-immersive-entertainment-in-coach-travel-in-europe/https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FlixBus-VR-Header-600x209.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FlixBus-VR-Header-150x90.jpgTechnologyFlixBus has had a successful run deploying its virtual reality headsets in bus routes across the US and the company is set to introduce its immersive entertainment to coach travel in Europe through its partnership with Inflight VR. Initial rollout will cover three routes between France and Spain. Airlines already...Sam OchanjiSam Ochanji[email protected]EditorVirtual Reality Times - Metaverse & VR