Summary
Meta is celebrating the success it’s seen with an early pilot program of bringing theMeta Quest 3to Lufthansa flights, and it’s now planning on expanding the program to more airlines. The unique opportunity gives passengers who are bored on a flight something immersive and exciting to engage in, while also introducingMeta Questto more potential customers.
Meta Quest headsets got Travel Mode in 2024, which allows the device to be used even when the user is a passenger on a plane or train. Since the Meta Quest 3 is both a virtual reality and mixed reality headset, users can stay in-tune with their surroundings or completely block them out depending on the experience they engage in. TheMeta Quest’s hand trackingalso makes it easy to use the device without having to fuss over external controllers that can get dropped. While some Meta Quest enthusiasts have traveled with the device already, having one handed out on a flight is a unique experience.
Such has been the case for Lufthansa fliers, of which nearly 4,000 have nowtried out the Meta Quest 3while flying. BothLufthansa and Metaseem to be pleased with their partnership, with users' feedback being “overwhelmingly positive,” according to Björn Becker of Lufthansa Group. The idea has been so well-received that Meta, Lufthansa, and developer MSM.digital were the recipients of the 2025 APEX award for Best Inflight Entertainment. Meta exec Sarah Malkin said that the company sees this as a “pivotal moment” in the development of Meta Quest’s Travel Mode, and Meta is working on expanding the offering to more airlines, though she didn’t specify which.
Meta Quest 3 on Planes Achieves Multiple Goals
As most who have been on long flights can attest to, being stuck in a small space for so long can be boring and exhausting. Putting on a VR headset instantly transports users outside of their physical space, tricking the mind into thinking that what’s being seen through the screen is actually happening around the user. Through theMeta Quest Travel Mode, passengers can potentially remain entertained and content on long-haul trips. However, it also gives those who might not have ever considered using a VR headset a chance to try one. VR fans sometimes point out that when it comes to VR, seeing is believing, as no amount of description can do justice to the moment of feeling like one’s transported to an entirely different place.
While not explicitly stated, it’s likely that if the Meta Quest 3 arrives on additional airlines, they’ll likely be made available for those sitting in the more expensive business or first-class seats. However, the Meta Quest and thelower-priced Meta Quest 3S, are fairly affordable devices, so even those in economy can potentially bring one to enjoy for themselves.
