BA offers virtual view of holiday destinations

Tie-up with Google Earth provides local images.

British Airways has teamed up with Google to provide virtual views of holiday destinations.

Visitors to BA's website can download a customised version of Google Earth, the search giant's global satellite imagery application, allowing them to 'fly' to 111 destinations currently available in BA's World Offer promotion.

BA has created a customised layer for Google Earth, allowing users to research holidays or business trips with high-resolution satellite images.

Potential holidaymakers can find out information such as how far the hotel is from the beach and restaurants, to how much a BA flight will cost.

Jayne O'Brien, head of brands and marketing communications at BA, claimed that the service would allow customers to familiarise themselves with the local area, hotels and amenities through Google Earth.

"Whether it's families checking how near their Florida hotel is to Disney World, their Caribbean resort is to the beach or avid skiers comparing the topography of different pistes, there is something for everyone," she said.

Obi Felton, head of consumer marketing at Google, added: "We hope that holidaymakers have fun with this specially created tool.

"People have always enjoyed finding their own home on Google Earth and now they can see where they'll be laying down their beach towel, or enjoying après ski, before they fly."