Hmm how much would a ticket cost to ride on this bad boy?

DOOOOOOOMMMM! Yes!!! I love you, Richard Branson.

Air Canada has had these (sans Doom) for a while on short haul A320's.

Their nice but I still use my PSP to watch or listen to my own stuff.

Great for the infrequent traveler though.

I love these enhancements but I keep thinking about that swissair flt 111 MD11, supposedly the inflight entertainment system jinxed it.

@lilliedesigns: Virgin America is a low-cost budget airline similar to JetBlue, so prices are pretty good.

I would normally be so excited about the power in the seat.

But as a Mac guy, the MBP's don't work with airline seats.

Sadly, the 85 watts it draws is more than the 70 watt max airplane seats have.

(It amazes me the press has not hammered Apple on this.)

Anyway, I welcome Virgin to the US. The state of air travel is beyond pathetic at this point, and the new competition is a great thing.

I second the welcoming of VA to our skies! I have really enjoyed my overseas flights with them. Hopefully, this 'Red' system will spread to the international Virgin fleet.

DOOOOMMM!

Oooh... a note passed to me by a friend: "Though I think yelling "shoot him, die, die!" during the excitement of playing Doom may have negative consequences."

The color of the lighting seems a bit strange but everything else sounds great.

Why the ethernet connectivity if there is no internet access?

I loved the comment by Branson on CBS News Sunday Morning, when asked why he decided to bring Virgin to the US. His answer? "Have you flown on a US airline?"

And roundtrip first-class for under $800 from LAX to JFK's not bad... cheaper than anything on Expedia and I know I'd rather fly an airline that gives a crap. Why should I have to re-build my playlist from the onboard 3000 song library each time I fly? Oh wait, US airlines only have party mix and 8oz drinks.

Every seat includes 110 volt AC current...

I think you mean 110 volt AC. Current is not measured in volts... it's measured in amperes.

I happen to know (from an inside source) that Virgin America is trying to get in-flight internet working. It will (probably) launch with only email checking capabilities, with streaming access available once Virgin America works out the in-flight internet (something to do with transferring signals while in flight).

The planes will also have Direct TV and on-demand movies in every seat.

RB please, please come to DFW, goodness knows we have enough empty gates! I'm an AA Platinum but would switch in a jiffy (as they say across the pond).

...but does it play Doom?

Doom is cool, but I don't know if people like to hear the word Doom at 35000 feet! It's a long fall.

If it really does have DOOM, the irony would be crazy.
First person shooters on an airplane.
Nice.

@LillieDesigns: prices are pretty cheap. check it out on their website. first class seats have massage function!

in-plane chatting and private messaging?! there is gonna be a HUGE boost in the mile-high club's membership

it's got ethernet but no internet????? confuzzled....

@rayman19082:

lan parties for doom, and private messaging so you can hit on anyone around you without having to leave your seat

Do you need Multipass to board these planes?

Yes, the real question is not if it has Doom, but if each seat can do deathmatch.

Mandatory muzzles for the gamers. When I fly long distance, I just want to have a drink, recline the seat, and be orally serviced. (God, I miss MGM Grand!)

Can a I getta "Sooooouuuullll Plane"

Hard to believe that Snoop Dogg was on the design committee for this one.

Hmmm...I wonder if the front steering column has hydralics?

@sshrum:

dont forget the 8" spinning landing gear rims for that jefferson airplane

We've been complaining about the nightmare that is business trips for ages, but it looks like the future of flight will be completely geek and work friendly.

Welcome to the first edition of bits & bytes. This weekend series will provide you with brief summary of the weeks tech products and happenings. We will gladly consider any products or suggestions to review via tech at gothamist dot com.

Sorry to double-post, but if anybody reads this article, look at the "conversation" in the seat-to-seat chat picture. Funny stuff.