Virgin America announced yesterday new elite status levels that will give loyal customers special privileges and freebies – and for one flyer, a chance to travel aboard a Virgin Galactic spaceship.

Virgin Australia’s cabin staff will be taking part in an etiquette program branded Elevate to improve their posture, language, and knowledge of wine and food.

The crew have also been asked to stop calling passengers “mate” unless the individual customer has specifically requested it in documented form as a member of the airline’s frequent flyers program.

Latvian flag-carrier airBaltic on Monday announced plans to offer castles in the air by selling real estate to passengers as they fly.

Interested travellers can buy a voucher for 30 euros ($36), which the airline says will save them up to 9,500 euros when they sign on the dotted line for a real estate purchase with a partner broker.

Flagship Australian airline Qantas is ditching BlackBerry for Apple’s iPhone and rolling out in-flight iPad entertainment streaming, dealing a blow to the US firm’s rivals.

Qantas said it was switching 1,300 employee phones from Canada-based Research in Motion’s BlackBerry to the popular Apple device after a “large majority” of workers expressed a preference for the iPhone.

“Transition from the BlackBerry to the iPhone is part of Qantas’ broader mobility strategy and, once complete, will result in significant cost savings,” Qantas said.

Virgin America partnered with Banana Republic to design new uniforms for its 2,000 in-flight and airport crew members that will debut Aug. 8.

The uniforms will feature a fresh, modern look with aviation details and a palette inspired by the airline’s own inventive service style and signature cabin design.

Qatar Airways has won the award for the Best Airline of the World, for the second time, at the Skytrax 2012 World Airline Awards.