Samsung and Google in airline link-ups

Galaxy tablet to be made available at Heathrow Airport's Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Samsung and Google will be marketing their brands to air passengers in separate deals with airline companies.

In the UK, Samsung's Galaxy Tab - an Android mobile tablet - will be available at Heathrow Airport's Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse for passengers to try out. Customers will be able to swap their boarding cards for a Galaxy Tab pre-loaded with films, music and games, and then return it once their flight is called.

Samsung's managing director of mobile, Simon Stanford, said: "Our collaboration with Virgin allows us to demo the product in a real-life situation, where people have a genuine need for a portable entertainment device, and we're pleased to be able to give Virgin Clubhouse customers a chance to try before they buy."

The promotion will be confined to Virgin Upper Class customers who have access to the Clubhouse. However, the airline will also run a competition to win one of the smart phones in its in-flight magazine, Seatback. The Galaxy Tab launches in the UK on 1 November.

In the US, Google Chrome has teamed up with airlines AirTran, Delta and Virgin America to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi on every domestic flight from 20 November 2010 to 2 January 2011. Passengers will be able to access the internet through the Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi system that each of the airlines has installed - the service is normally accessed through pre-paid passes.

Google's promotion is expected to reach 15 million passengers during the holiday season.