Virgin Australia offers ‘upgrade’ to space flight with Virgin Galactic

VIRGIN Australia’s frequent flyers are being offered a chance to become one of the world’s first space travellers.

VIRGIN Australia’s frequent flyers are being offered a chance to become one of the world’s first space travellers.

As Virgin Galactic counts down to take-off, with its first flight set to take place by the end of the year, it’s saving a seat on one of its first space flights for one Virgin Australia passenger.

Being billed as “the ultimate upgrade”, the space flight offer is “the first program in the world to offer an airline upgrade to space”.

Virgin Galactic offers just one class of seating, with tickets being sold for $US250,000 ($266,000) each.

The new Virgin Australia campaign comes in the wake of controversial changes to Qantas’ frequent flyer program, and follows a cheeky social media campaign from Tigerair that takes a dig at premium airlines’ frequent flyer schemes.

It comes as a survey of more than 1000 Australians found more than half had a strong desire to fly to outer space.

“Virgin Galactic’s mission is to revolutionise access to space, making a trip across the final frontier accessible to all,” Virgin Galactic commercial director Stephen Attenborough said.

“The ultimate upgrade captures the Virgin passion for innovation, upgrading a member of the Velocity program with a seat to space and an opportunity to be part of history.”

“There is world-wide anticipation for the first flight and I look forward to welcoming the Velocity Frequent Flyer member on board SpaceShipTwo”.

Members of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program who fly between May 1 and June 30 can enter at velocityfrequentflyer.com/spaceclass

For more details about Virgin Galactic, visit virgingalactic.com