Virgin Galactic has partnered with a luxury travel agency to mainstream space tourism.

Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, has partnered with Virtuoso, a chain of luxury travel agencies, to offer a limited number of space flight seats to Virtuoso customers, the two companies announced on July 21. Galactic has not yet started its business, partnership It helps Establishing space travel as a new category of luxury tourism.

Virgin Galactic sells 90-minute round trips to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere (about 50 miles above sea level) for $450,000 per person. In the year In July 2021, the company successfully flew a full-crew test mission for the first time, with Branson and five Virgin crew members on board. The company said it has sold more than 700 locations. Through the new partnership, Virtuoso Travel Advisors will have exclusive access to select reservations. Virgin GalacticAccording to the press release, the first 1,000 seats.

Virgin could launch commercial space flights in the first quarter of 2023, the company said in May. Until then, prospective customers who make a deposit will be given access to member activities, including astronaut training programs and events, and trips around the world.

Virgin Galactic is competing with Blue Origin, which takes customers to the same altitude but uses a rocket instead of a plane. Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, launched last summer. But the booking system and pricing is less transparent than Virgin Galactic, which charges a flat fee.

Virtuoso is a platform for more than 20,000 travel agents connecting high net worth customers to more than 2,200 hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines and tour operators in 100 countries. Virtuoso agencies sell an estimated $25-30 billion worth of travel annually, making it a significant player in luxury travel. Partnering with Virtuoso can help Virgin Galactic reach a wider base of potential customers. It is estimated that more than 2.4 million people worldwide can afford the $450,000 price tag.

“For our consultants who have clients who are looking for a pioneering, transformational journey, a Virgin Galactic “Spaceflight is the ultimate experience,” said Matthew D. Upchurch, chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, based at Virgin Galactic, in a statement.