Virgin tries text Q&A for in-flight spunk

If you're in the 99+ percent of folks on non-WiFi-enabled flights, and are well aware that cellphone use while in-air is probably coming later rather than sooner, Virgin Atlantic is hoping to grab your attention. As airlines helplessly grasp at off-the-wall gimmicks to acquire more non-ticket sales and provide a more luxurious and exciting experience to the customer, Virgin seems to think it has a hit on its hands. The London-based company has stated its plans to introduce the "world's first in-flight texting service," that has nothing at all to do with SMS; rather, passengers will be able to text any fathomable question from their seat-back television screen to an existing "land-based text answer service" that supposedly will answer any queries "within minutes" -- not a bad feature to have if trying to brush on a language before arriving in a foreign country or scouting out the nearest Engadget reader meetup. The company has suggested interrogations could arise about popular entertainment in cities, how to survive jetlag, or cabin conversation starters. While there may be more thrilling ways to get to your destination, sometimes a good 'ole fashion plane ride is inevitable, but at least Virgin's Q&A game can help you ignore your boredom (or the awful in-flight movie) when flying the friendly skies.

[tim @ Aug 9th 2006 8:37AM]

Are you aware that "spunk" is British slang for ejaculate? Since Virgin is a British company, this may be a bit too clever.

[Lloyd Medley @ Aug 9th 2006 8:59AM]

Oh yes, i see. You may want to refrase that!

[IwantTouchScreen @ Aug 9th 2006 10:11AM]

lol I was thinking the same thing! I can get my in-flight spunk on? Sign me up!

[phatmuther @ Aug 9th 2006 10:21AM]

tee hee hee you said spunk

[Big Sam @ Aug 9th 2006 10:45AM]

They might as well add those NTN bar trivia games too. Wait, that might not be such a bad idea...

[funetik @ Aug 9th 2006 11:11AM]

"I've got a shoelace, a mars bar and some plastic cutlery. What's the best way to gain control of the cockpit, given my limited inventory?"

[David @ Aug 9th 2006 11:57AM]

Of course you could always try bringing a book.

[John Doe @ Aug 9th 2006 12:26PM]

Actually, virgin already has a really good inflight entertainment system. You get a personal entertainment system with movies that you can start any time you want, audiobooks, and games that some of which network with other sets. The movies are actually new, and they're not all romantic comedys and pixar films.
btw, i am not in any way affiliated with virgin atlantic, or any of its sister companies

[Peter @ Aug 9th 2006 12:31PM]

Not only does Virgin have a good entertainment system but the last time I flew (a few years back) they didn't censor their excellent selection of movies, the way airlines usually do.

They simply had a notice to parents in the entertainment guide asking them to be responsible for their tykes' viewing!

[srw985 @ Aug 9th 2006 1:13PM]

spunk inflight? intresting...

[tristanfey @ Aug 9th 2006 1:21PM]

"Are you aware that "spunk" is British slang for ejaculate? Since Virgin is a British company, this may be a bit too clever."

Same with the U.S. Tim.

[Fraqa @ Aug 9th 2006 3:33PM]

As a researcher for the text answering service in question, all I can say is 'ack!'. We're busy enough as it is, thinking of diplomatic (and legal) ways to answer questions like funetik's is going to be fun...

[Ric @ Aug 9th 2006 4:28PM]

That's lame. This sounds like ACARS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACARS) for passengers. This stuff has been around since the 1970s.

[lar @ Aug 9th 2006 9:02PM]

You're almost there. In the 80's, along with a fellow passenger who was inquiring about what to do in New Orleans, I imagined and designed a in-flight digital magazine that included photos and graphics in its response. By typing into the keypad, passengers could "google" for information by about the upcoming country or city to which they were traveling, and receive it via pre-recorded, pre-designed ads, stored on the hard drive. (similar to the internet) In my version of the DIGIFLY magazine, the hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, tourist attractions, etc., would pay to have their establishment "highlighted" with 4-color digital advertisments, or a small, but affordable listing. Of course, this was before hotels.com and the other travel sources via the Internet. However, a picture paints 1000 words.. why not add graphics to your text messaging responses?
Good Luck!

[Matt F @ Aug 11th 2006 11:51AM]

The "answering service" sounds rather like it might be Any Questions Answered - a UK premium-rate-SMS service who claim to be able to answer "any question", for £1 a time. They have a whole bunch of data sources and are pretty damn good at pop music trivia.