In a first for air travellers - British Airways and Google have teamed up to make holiday preparation even easier, by launching a new interactive service through the airline's website, ba.com.

To celebrate its 'World Offers' fare sale, with more than 3 million seats available, which launches today (August 31), the airline will feature Google Earth satellite technology on ba.com, allowing travellers to zoom in on their destination of choice as they take advantage of the excellent discounts available on flights and hotels.

British Airways has created special 'layers' of information for Google Earth to enable visitors to ba.com to see popular tourist hotspots and their proximity to their chosen hotel - the ultimate planning tool for holidaymakers, so they can organise their itinerary before they arrive.

Jayne O'Brien, head of brands and marketing communications at British Airways, said: "Not only is this a great sale with discounts to more than 110 destinations but it also has the added customer benefit of allowing them to familiarise themselves with the local area, hotels and amenities through Google Earth.   Be it 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's something for everyone."

Obi Felton, Head of Consumer Marketing at Google, said: "We hope holiday-makers 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."

The Google Earth layer is a further extension to ba.com's host of holiday planning tools such as the travel checklist and online check-in, all aimed at enabling travellers to prepare for their trip in advance and arrive at the airport relaxed and ready to fly.

The US features heavily in the sale with London Heathrow to New York starting at just £269 (saving up to £138).  Flights from Heathrow to Miami and London Gatwick to Orlando and Tampa are on sale for £299 (saving up to £183, £187 and £188 respectively).  The Far East is also within even easier reach with flights from Heathrow to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing starting from just £399 (saving up to £158, £125 and £145 respectively).
 
Ski destinations are available including the airline's new route to Calgary from Heathrow that starts on December 1, 2006 for £399 (saving up to £185).  Shorthaul routes including Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva are on sale from just £25 one-way.  Holiday spots such as Malaga, Alicante and Innsbruck, served by franchise carrier GB Airways, start from just £29 one-way.

All hotels and car hire booked on ba.com have been reduced by 10 per cent for the duration of the sale.

Customers can upgrade to World Traveller Plus from an extra £170 per sector, and upgrade to Club Europe from just £50 more per sector on flights from Gatwick, including taxes, fees and charges.