We always thought that in-flight WiFi kind of advertise itself, but apparently it’s necessary to get a little marketing behind it to bring it to the masses. Virgin America was just trying to be clever when they sent an email to some frequent flyers referencing astronaut Buzz Aldrin and record-breaking pilot Chuck Yeager, but one of the air travel pioneers was not too happy to be associated with the airline without his permission.
Chuck Yeager—famous for first breaking the sound barrier—filed a lawsuit against Virgin America claiming that he didn’t give permission for his name to be used in their communications. The retired Air Force general usually doesn’t lend his name out for commercial purposes, but we’re thinking that he’s just a little jealous that everyday travelers can now be part of a monumental moment in air travel...and he's just old. Just so you know, the original Virgin America email stated, “Not unlike Buzz Aldrin or Chuck Yeager, you have the opportunity to be part of a monumental moment in air travel.” ]]>
