Virgin really, really wants you to keep saving up those frequent flyer miles

The ad above seems to be implying that we'll all soon be able to put our frequent flyer miles toward one of Virgin Galactic's super-expensive space tourist flights. Of course, it's pretty vague, and we're not going to get overly excited about it since we've barely ever saved up enough miles to get to Pittsburgh, but hey -- anything that encourages us to believe we can achieve goals previously reserved for Moby and Sigourney Weaver is fine with us.

[Thanks, Brian]

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:05PM]

I've been on the waiting list since Day One! Just wish I had an extra 100 grand laying around. I think this will be a big hit with people. Space tourism IS the next frontier.

[Brian @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:16PM]

I would be around after space is just-another frontier. When you can make a down payment on your own ship :) [Cowboy Bebop, anyone?]

[MichaelD @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:55PM]

Or rather, the final fun-tier!

[Mitch @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:42AM]

Sorry to hijack, but this article is 100% wrong. It is an ad for V Australia, Virgin's aussie-based international fleet that will be flying its first flight to LA in February. I am positive, I am about to become a V Australia pilot :P

[DEC_42 @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:42PM]

I would think Planetes, instead ;-)

[Jake B @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:07PM]

What is it, like seven trillion points for a space mission?

[KarlW @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:47PM]

Two million air miles, apparently.

It's been going on since 2006:
http://www.skycontrol.net/airlines/sparks-fly-as-virgin-atlantic-announces-worlds-first-frequent-flyer-astronaut/

[slycooper_rocker [anti-panda death murder squadron force five] @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:16AM]

an electrician named watts? sounds...fishy...

[Cris @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:09PM]

Moby & S. Weaver... you are funny Laura ;-)

[Dbs143 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:10PM]

does anyone else think the idea of virgin galactic actually going into service as really, really, really cool?

[poematik14 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:10PM]

Why would you want to be the first one to go to space on a NEW piece of technology that hasn't matured and improved? Its like a giant version 1.0 apple product.

[j @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:12PM]

simple. because they're virgin apple fanboys.

[Fernando @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:16PM]

how did apple got into this post? wtf

[KarlW @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:44PM]

He thinks if he bashes Apple he'll get high ranked.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:25PM]

Apple iPhone.

huh?

[koala72 @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:53PM]

Virgin Blue is battling lately...clearly thats the reason for this decision.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Dec 23rd 2008 1:35AM]

Thank You ^^^^^

[Brian @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:15PM]

Frequent orbiter miles: Free flight into orbit for every one hundred million USD you spend!

[David Z @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:16PM]

An ad doesn't infer something, it implies something. One infers something *from* an ad.

/grammar nazi

[LauraJune @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:19PM]

Indeed.

[GoVegan @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:19PM]

Moby is going on a Galactic flight?
Dam I wanted to be the first vegan in space :)

[absinthe party @ Dec 23rd 2008 7:19AM]

Ugh, why must you be that guy/girl!?... I hate the fact that the one thing seperating me from you is my love of cheese.

[mos @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:21PM]

Not a bad idea, maybe i should spend $10,000 to get a mile.

[Rusty Shackleford @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:21PM]

People infer; ads imply.

[MJZimmer88 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:55PM]

You need to watch The Simpsons more...

[MichaelD @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:56PM]

Or perhaps Honey I Shrunk the Kids-The TV show--

I can't _believe_ I just told someone to watch that...

[Paul Mensah @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:23PM]

Wonderful Ad ... Words were well put ... Idk about the graphics

[The Chad @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:45PM]

Free companion flights when signing up for a Virgin America card. Now frequent flier miles into space? Sure beats my current "rewards" card.

[Rusty @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:46PM]

This is an ad for Virgin Blue which is Virgins discount airline in Australia, considering the average Virgin Blue airfare is under $150 AUD I can't see any bonus scheme getting you much closer to space. I'm sure your assumption is, unfortunately incorrect.

[Perkler @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:52PM]

I think space travel would be better than some perks you can get. One of the big credit cards trumps an 'experience reward' as being "Driving a tractor in Germany". Seems to me galactic travel would be cooler than that!

But I have to agree with Rusty, seems unlikely!

Check out http://www.perkler.com/ to search all programs in one place.

[KarlW @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:11PM]

Don't you watch Top Gear? The Germans have rocket-powered roller-skates!

Who can begin to guess what the tractors are like down at the Wonka's factory that is Germany?

[Nytrojen @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:13AM]

I'm just after their rocket-powered women

[Nytrojen @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:14AM]

I'm just after their rocket powered women

[iFire @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:47PM]

I guess it depends on how many LOW EARTH ORBITS you would make in one trip. Say you made 7. The earth has a circumference of approximately 24,900 miles (and that's on the ground. It gets larger as you get further out, of course). 24,900 x 7 = 174300.

So you'd basically need over 174,300 collected miles.

But wait...

How would you collect miles? Let's say that, for every dollar spend on this credit card, you earn two miles. So in theory, you'd have to spend around 87,150 USD in order to make one trip. Short, yes, of that 100,000 USD price tag they've asked in the past. But still, for the average Joe... it doesn't seem a worthwile venture to save points (flight miles) that will probably expire before the Global Economy collapses in a heap of dust. Or further recesses. Take your pick.

But I am overly negative here. Perhaps this advertisment is a beacon of encouragement -- maybe they ARE trying to make it possible for the ordinary citizen (like me) to experience, you know, SPACE. Or maybe they're full of shit. Hehe. I seriously hope they've formulated a viable system here -- not so far out of reach for us. That would be amazing.

[howie @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:56PM]

Or, maybe, it's just that Virgin, the global airline (rather than Virgin Blue, the Aussie domestic carrier), is starting service to/from Australia?

[Bradley @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:02AM]

100 Internets for mentioning Sigourney Weaver

[Nytrojen @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:10AM]

Will you be delivering those internets on the back of your truck?

[Bradley @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:27AM]

100 internets to you sir for avatar win :D

[Bee Ware OK @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:10AM]

Me thinks that this is tied in with the launch of V Australia on Feb 29th u can check out the web site here http://www.vaustralia.com.au

[Tom G @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:18AM]

Is it just me who thinks this ad looks fake? It doesn't follow suit with any other Virgin ads i have seen (fonts etc).
Either way, the whole space tourism thing is amazingly exciting for me, especially because of the attention it will bring to other programs, finally i can live on Mars!

[invincible @ Dec 23rd 2008 1:37AM]

Virgin Blue has little relation with the rest of the Virgin Group - there have been periods where Virgin Group only held a small portion of the company.

This just looks like a normal marketing campaign (you know, "out of this world" is likely to be merely a use of hyperbole). The launch of V Australia is probably the most exciting thing that could possibly come out of this. And hey, budget flights to the states are a good thing because that route presently sees barely any competition. It's just a bit outside Engadget's scope.

[ED @ Dec 23rd 2008 1:20AM]

How many points to get to the Pegasus Galaxy?
A lot more than when the Midway Station was operational.

[N3XuS @ Dec 23rd 2008 3:49AM]

You're confusing science fiction with reality mate...don't worry it happens to everyone.

[ED @ Dec 23rd 2008 6:05AM]

False, some people have no knowledge of science fiction at all.
Besides, I'm not confused, I'm merely trying to confuse other people. Or something like that. I think. Wait, how did that go again?

[STINK @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:03AM]

WHY ARE THEY NUKING AUSTRALIA??

[ED @ Dec 23rd 2008 6:07AM]

They must have discovered my hideout. I'd better raise shields and launch a counter-attack before it's too late.
The only winning move is not to play. You have no chance to survive make your time.

[Matt @ Dec 23rd 2008 7:31AM]

Even better, why is Australia nuking Australia?

[Glenn @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:23AM]

That ad is a gadget?

[??? @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:48AM]

To add to invincible's argument, I do believe this has something to do with V Australia and not Virgin Galactic. Many of the points on the map are both confirmed and proposed V Australia destinations.

My guess: FF miles from Virgin Blue will go toward V Australia flights as well, at equal rate (meaning a flight to Perth=a flight to LA). If Virgin Galactic has anything to do with this, it's prolly just a drawing dealie.

[Mitch @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:39AM]

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG!! February is the launch of V Australia, Virgins international aussie-based airline that will be flying Sydney-LA starting very soon. This is what this is an ad for.

I am positive, I am about to become a V Australia pilot :P