Short of providing free beer in economy class, we're not of the opinion that any airline can do anything to mitigate the soul-sucking experience that a trip through the air has become. On the other hand, give it up just a smidge for Burlingame-based Virgin America's new preflight safety video.
The airline says it's the "first-ever domestic safety video set entirely to music and performed in dance," but we're devoting the full resources of KQED News Fix to fact-checking that claim right now.
"Virgin America first made waves in the safety video genre in 2007, when it became the first domestic airline to feature a cheeky in-flight safety video across its fleet," Virgin America said. "The cult favorite animated video will still be featured onboard the airline’s Red in-flight entertainment platform, but the new 'VX Safety Dance' video will freshen up the rotation with a unique preflight safety experience that flyers will enjoy – and pay attention to."
Yeah ... maybe. It's sort of the "Schoolhouse Rock" theory of pedagogy. We'll just have to assume the FAA likes synthesized life vest instructions as much as the next regulatory body.
Virgin says the video was directed by Jon M. Chu, who was at the helm for "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," and features dancers and singers from "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance."