The Most Bizarre Services Offered By Airlines—From In-Flight Massages To Choosing Seatmates On Facebook - Forbes

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In an era when commercial aviation is becoming well, more commercialised, many airlines are hitting the headlines for removing services rather than adding new and quirky services for passengers.

Sometimes for consumers, it’s the little things that make all the difference. Granted, many airlines are quick to add nice little perks for premium passengers in First and Business class, but what about nice little extras that all of us can enjoy?

Below we take a look at some of the most interesting services offered by airlines around the world.

Choosing You Seatmate

The Dutch airline KLM introduced a ‘Meet and Seat’ service that allowed passengers to check out ... [+] other passengers Facebook or LinkedIn profiles before selecting seats. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Dutch airline KLM introduced a ‘Meet and Seat’ service that allowed passengers to check out other passengers Facebook or LinkedIn profiles before selecting seats. This could be quite an interesting feature, particularly for long flights if passengers are looking to meet new and interesting people. Obviously, the feature requires passenger consent but could certainly be a little creepy!

“Blind Bookings”

The German airline Germanwings allows passengers to select a broad range of requirements for a trip, ... [+] such as shopping or partying, and then after selecting your dates, it allows passengers to “book blind” so to speak. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

The German airline Germanwings allows passengers to select a broad range of requirements for a trip, such as shopping or partying, and then after selecting your dates, it allows passengers to “book blind” so to speak. You don’t find out the destination you are flying to until after booking, and if you’re not satisfied with playing travel roulette then tough luck. It’s the true modern-day form of sticking a pin in a map and seeing where you go! Exciting or terrifying, take your pick.

A Lay-Flat Bed In Economy

the Air New Zealand SkyCouch allows some seats in economy to be converted into a bed if a couple is ... [+] traveling together they can buy the third seat in a a row at 50% off to convert into the SkyCouch

Air New Zealand

Air New-Zealand has offered a “cuddle-class” on some of its very long haul flights in economy. For a select amount of passengers traveling in a pair, there is the option to buy a third seat for half the price. The benefit of this is that the three seats together in economy can be converted into a bed by a cleaver fold-out feature where passengers legs normally are.

Virtual-Reality Headsets onboard

Qantas is adding virtual Reality headsets for passengers in First class

Qantas

Granted, this is for First class passengers, but the Australian airline Qantas now offers passengers VR headsets to pass the time. The headsets show passengers a 360-degree view of the runway, lounges, on board an A380 aircraft and even Australian national parks.

Massages On-Board

(GERMANY OUT) Frau bekommt Gesichtsmassage / Kopfmassage | woman getting facial massage (Photo by ... [+] Archiv Mehrl/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

ullstein bild via Getty Images

Air Malta introduced an onboard spa and massage service for economy passengers back in 2015. Air Malta said they wanted to push smaller projects to increase passenger satisfaction, and free head and shoulder massages on select flights for all passengers was just the start of this. As you can imagine, the service has proved very popular.

Hello Kitty Themed Aircraft

Taoyuan, TAIWAN: Local journalists take photos of EVA air plane decorated with "Hello Kitty" during ... [+] a press preview in Taoyuan, 20 October 2005. The plane will provide special trip from Taipei to Japan's Fukuoka from 22 October 2005 to 31 March 2006. AFP PHOTO/Sam YEH (Photo credit should read SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

EVA airways offer fights on an A330 aircraft that is completely Hello Kitty themed. The global phenomena goes down a storm, with everything from staff uniforms, to amenity kits, meals and even the seats being inline with a Hello Kitty theme. As you can imagine, the flights are very popular and the aircraft is instantly recognisable from the Hello Kitty livery.