Flying without fear

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Virgin is well known for coming up with innovative ways of expanding their potential consumer base and its latest offering is no exception. The airline has designed an iPhone app – Flying Without Fear - to help people overcome their fear of taking to the skies.

This is not the first time Virgin has helped consumers overcome their phobia of flying. In 1997, it offered a series of seminars, costing £199, doing just that. The app, which has evolved out of the seminar’s teachings, comes in at a rather more reasonable $4.99 and is more practical as it can be used when the owner most needs it – on the flight.

The app begins with an intro from Virgin founder, Richard Branson, and offers features such as a 10 minute relaxation exercise, a Q&A with Virgin’s General Manager of Flight Operations and an in-flight explanation video dealing with topics such as turbulence. One interesting feature not available in the seminars is the panic button which, when pressed, offers reassuring messages such as: ‘This is natural. We know you’re scared. You will be okay.’

According to Virgin’s website, its seminars had a 98% success rate so one would assume that the app will deliver a similar success rate. If it does, the app will likely prove very popular with consumers. So, too, will Virgin Airways.

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