Budget Airline Passengers Can Pretend to Fly KLM in Virtual Reality

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched a first-of-its-kind virtual reality experience, the KLM Flight Upgrader, for passengers on budget airlines to find some pleasure in their flights. To make up for the lack of amenities provided on budget carriers, KLM’s Flight Upgrader allows travellers to experience the benefits of flying KLM without paying extra. KLM’s economy fares are competitively priced vs budget carriers, especially when you start adding in the substantial fees for basic services that budget carriers charge at every step along the journey. The campaign – developed for KLM, by DDB & Tribal Amsterdam – was specially made for the US market where the competition of budget airlines is fierce. 

KLM believes every single flight should be much more than getting from Point A to Point B. The KLM Flight Upgrader visualizes how special a flight can be; how comfortable it is to fly with a crew that goes the extra mile to serve a passenger, and without any hidden costs for basic services. 

Using a VR headset and the KLM Flight Upgrader app or site, travelers on board a budget airline are transported to a KLM flight where they can sample movies on KLM’s in-flight entertainment system and experience the hospitability of KLM’s caring crew.

Passengers can spend as much time on board the virtual KLM flight as they would like, so they will never have to face the harsh reality of a budget flight. The Upgrader lets them try out the inflight entertainment system for free, where they amongst others can watch a recent blockbuster without paying extra as they would on a budget flight. Passengers can access the KLM Media App which provides content from numerous newspapers and magazines. They also get all the leg room they need to virtually stretch out. And like all KLM passengers, they experience the top-notch service of a KLM crew and inflight dining to satisfy their virtual hunger at no extra cost. (No scent or taste VR components included.)