Premium Airline Beond to Offer Passengers Apple Vision Pro Headsets

[MacRumors]

Newly established luxury airline Beond has announced it will offer Apple Vision Pro headsets to select passengers for "an immersive inflight entertainment experience."

The premium leisure airline said it will provide the Apple devices to passengers on its flights to the Maldives, where the airline is based. From the press release:

Beond's Chairman and CEO, Tero Taskila, said: "The Apple Vision Pro will transform the inflight entertainment experience, and we will be first to offer it to select passengers. In addition to our existing and ever-growing library of inflight content such as movies and games, Beond will showcase stunning resort destinations and activities in the Maldives. We are working now with partners in the Maldives to prepare truly amazing footage. The inflight experience will build anticipation for passengers before they arrive in the Maldives. Offering the Apple Vision Pro is another step in our vision of delivering a premium travel experience to our customers, from the start to finish of their journey. We're proud to be the first airline to deploy the technology."

The overall response to Apple Vision Pro from users, critics, and the broader public has been varied. However, the consensus is that wearing the headset during flights stands out as one of its most widely appreciated applications.

Acknowledging the headset's potential to make long-haul flights more private and liberating, Apple has included a Travel mode in visionOS that stabilizes visuals for users on an airplane, allowing them to, for example, watch movies on a massive virtual screen.

Beond said it will offer "Apple's ground-breaking content experience" beginning in July 2024. The news follows Beond's launch of commercial passenger services in 2023 from Munich, Zurich, and Riyadh to Malé, Maldives. Beond says it plans to debut flights from Milan, Dubai, and Bangkok to the Maldives in mid-2024, in an all-lay flat seating configuration.

Article Link: Premium Airline Beond to Offer Passengers Apple Vision Pro Headsets

 

[dbwie]

That is a brilliant way for an airline to attract attention and possibly passengers.

 

[AlmightyKang]

Yeah this isn't happening. Beond have 1 cranky old airbus and one on order, only 5 destinations and a low density luxury model. They will be taxed to hell for this soon and the investors will pull out. It's for people who can't afford a Learjet but think they can.

 

[Shirasaki]

If Middle East luxury airlines don’t offer it today, I find it hard to believe this offer will last very long. Besides, what if something happens and plane needs to emergency descend or do dangerous manoeuvre? How would crew let passenger pull out their expensive Vision Pro and prepare for the emergency without damaging those $3500 devices in commotion and chaos? How about theft? Are they really thinking through?

 

[Mr_Ed]

Yeah this isn't happening. Beond have 1 cranky old airbus and one on order, only 5 destinations and a low density luxury model. They will be taxed to hell for this soon and the investors will pull out. It's for people who can't afford a Learjet but think they can.

Yeah, a single plane ‘airline’. More like a glorified shuttle to their resorts.

 

[mazz0]

Ooh, I like that paint scheme on the plane. Reminds me of my favourite skin for the spaceship in Fallen Order.

Also, I can't hear the word Maldives without thinking of Angola Maldives, the super spy character.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

This is the end, my only friend the end.

 

[Godspeed8230]

Next up: Skip the actual flight itself and travel to the Maldives using your AVP. A trip only costs $3500 and lasts 2,5 hours (due to the battery)

 

[GeoStructural]

That is a brilliant way for an airline to attract attention and possibly passengers.

Yeah, I am sure that a Vision Pro is what will attract prospective passengers to a luxury destination on an airline with a very questionable business model. 😒

 

[macman01101]

This will not last long

 

[Harry Haller]

Is shark jumping a thing in the Maldives?

 

[Fuzzball84]

Maybe its a good way to put peoples minds off certain makes of aircraft they are travelling in... 🤔

 

[crsh1976]

Available to select passengers, read first-class customers (and it's a premium airline, a round trip is already over $3k to start with) - those who have the means to have their own AVP in the first place, and/or that would probably skip the option of using one that's been worn by hell knows how many people before them.

It makes for a spiffy press release tho.

 

[Harry Haller]

I wonder what multiple disinfectings does to the integrity of the light seal?

 

[Powerbooky]

Nice... they only have to add the noise-canceling headphones.
Then you can enjoy a fully immersive safety instruction by your favourite flight attendant.

 

[japanime]

How can Beond afford all those AVPs when they can't even afford a Y for their name? 🤣

 

[ghostface147]

They’re going to have a lot of prescriptions lenses on hand, plus light seals.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Well, that's a good way to get passengers too preoccupied to ask for free peanuts on the flight.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

That’s kinda gross

 

[JohnRckr]

Yeah this isn't happening. Beond have 1 cranky old airbus and one on order, only 5 destinations and a low density luxury model. They will be taxed to hell for this soon and the investors will pull out. It's for people who can't afford a Learjet but think they can.

You have pretty much made them bankrupt just by posting this comment. Absolutely destroyed.

 

[WWPD]

Can't wait to watch Cast Away with these while on my flight!

 

[JonnyMacx86]

Newly established luxury airline Beond has announced it will offer Apple Vision Pro headsets to select passengers for "an immersive inflight entertainment experience."

The premium leisure airline said it will provide the Apple devices to passengers on its flights to the Maldives, where the airline is based. From the press release:
The overall response to Apple Vision Pro from users, critics, and the broader public has been varied. However, the consensus is that wearing the headset during flights stands out as one of its most widely appreciated applications.

Acknowledging the headset's potential to make long-haul flights more private and liberating, Apple has included a Travel mode in visionOS that stabilizes visuals for users on an airplane, allowing them to, for example, watch movies on a massive virtual screen.

Beond said it will offer "Apple's ground-breaking content experience" beginning in July 2024. The news follows Beond's launch of commercial passenger services in 2023 from Munich, Zurich, and Riyadh to Malé, Maldives. Beond says it plans to debut flights from Milan, Dubai, and Bangkok to the Maldives in mid-2024, in an all-lay flat seating configuration.

Article Link: Premium Airline Beond to Offer Passengers Apple Vision Pro Headsets

I feel like fitting every passenger for proper light seal and headband adjustment will make this more of a challenge to implement well than they're anticipating, particularly for the luxury flight passenger demographic who tend to demand perfection.

 

[mattopotamus]

Unless profiles are added. Good luck handing these off in guest mode.

 

[icanhazmac]

How do they plan to clean them between flights/uses? Gross!

 

[JapanApple]

This is wonderful for those of us who have traveled overseas for long distances. Maybe a little fatigued after a while having to sit on your face. But I think this is a great idea. I would love to try this.
seriously what is wrong with people who travel a lot being able to experience this? funny? I assume that those who find it amusing don't go out much. I look forward in trying this.