By Travelmail Reporter <\/p>\n
PUBLISHED: 07:19 EST, 31 August 2012 | UPDATED: 07:19 EST, 31 August 2012 <\/p>\n
If the price of a ticket on Sir Richard Branson's planned Virgin Galactic space tourism programme seems a little out of your price range, don't despair. <\/p>\n
Some 500 tourists have already signed up for the 128,000 two-hour flights, expected to launch next year, but Virgin Airlines' frequent flyers are being offered the chance to win a sub-orbital space flight. <\/p>\n
Although it might take more than an annual holiday to Florida to clinch it.<\/p>\n
Unearthly: An artist's impression of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, 'the world's first commercial spaceline' <\/p>\n
Entrants to the competition - dubbed Mission: Galactic - are required to clock up as many air miles as possible on Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia flights by August 7, 2013. <\/p>\n
The 'total status points' will then be calculated, the winner reaching 'the ultimate status: Galactic.' <\/p>\n
The runner-up will be rewarded with a zero-gravity flight on board a specially modified Boeing 727. <\/p>\n
Tourist trips to space are on course to become a reality next year when the first of Sir Richard's flights soars 60 miles up into space on the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) aircraft. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more here:<\/p>\n
Virgin Airlines launches air miles competition to take lucky winner out of this world<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Travelmail Reporter PUBLISHED: 07:19 EST, 31 August 2012 | UPDATED: 07:19 EST, 31 August 2012 If the price of a ticket on Sir Richard Branson's planned Virgin Galactic space tourism programme seems a little out of your price range, don't despair. Some 500 tourists have already signed up for the 128,000 two-hour flights, expected to launch next year, but Virgin Airlines' frequent flyers are being offered the chance to win a sub-orbital space flight. Continue reading