Virgin Atlantic
Posted December 23, 2009 by Joyce Wan
Their music career may no longer be taking off these days, but the Spandau Ballet boys (men?) will be soaring through the stratosphere for real next year.
Richard Branson’s announcement that Virgin Galactic will be sending moneyed tourists into space soon begs the question – What’s the inflight entertainment like? After all, if you’re paying more than £100 000 for a seat, you’d expect something more exciting than a game of Tetris.
And something more exciting than Tetris is what you’ll get – if you happen to be a fan of 1980s pop music, that is. Spandau Ballet themselves have been lined up to perform on SpaceShipTwo’s inaugural flight, giving them the honour of being the first band to perform in space.
The aging former heartthrobs may have been used to performing in arenas filled with crowds of screams girls back in their heyday, but they should probably expect a much quieter audience this time around. After all, SpaceShipTwo only has enough space for six passengers, and ‘in space, no one can hear you scream’…
(Photo: independent.co.uk)
Posted December 2, 2009 by Joyce Wan
You’ve sailed the seven seas and climbed the highest mountains, so what else is there to do these days? After all, when you’ve explored the four corners of the earth, everything else can seem rather prosaic. Well, if you happen to have a spare £120 000 lying around (quick, look under the sofa!), Virgin Galactic will be happy to take you into space.
The company’s sub-orbital space plane – rather unfancifully called SpaceShipTwo – is currently in the last stages of construction. After its completion, it is expected to undergo some test flights early next year.
While you won’t be able to go to the moon or even to the International Space Station, you will be able to fly up to 50 000 feet and look down on the Earth’s curvature as you float around in total weightlessness. That’s still a lot more exciting than spending a wet summer weekend in Butlins, wouldn’t you say?
Of course, going into space may not be for everyone (especially if you’re like my mum and have a phobia of heights) but 300 people have already paid for a ticket so they can float around for a few minutes. And if you simply can’t afford the fee, you can always try recreating the experience by jumping on your bed while the lights are off.
(Photo: crazykid.edublogs.org)
Posted November 25, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Your healthy summer tan is fading to a pallid grey, and the pound is much stronger than the Australian dollar, so, what’s the one thing that’s holding you back from hopping on a plane to Sydney and lying on Bondi Beach? Well, it’s probably the fact that the journey there and back isn’t so much a hop as an odyssey. Even in these days of speedy travel, it can sometimes take up to two days to get Down Under. What’s the point of a break if it takes you the better part of a week to get back and forth, and makes you even more tired than before you left?
If you can hold off going on that holiday for several years, you might be able to take a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Sydney in a couple of hours instead of a couple of days. Those brainiacs at the International Space University in Strasbourg are working on sub-orbital point to point travel (SPTP)—travelling through space to get from one side of the globe to the other.
SPTP is being seen as the equivalent of taking a trip on the Concorde. It is likely that this sort of travel will be aimed at the same sort of people who have paid over £100 000 to go into space with Virgin Atlantic's sister company, Virgin Galactic.
So, if you don’t have that much money just floating around, best start saving your pennies now, as it's predicted that SPTP will come into use as early as 2015. If you don’t see yourself having that much cash to spend on travel to Sydney for a short break, well, maybe it’s time you resigned yourself to sitting in a cramped economy-class seat for 18 hours. Until teleportation actually becomes reality, it looks like that’s the only way most of us will be travelling.
(Photo: EPA)
Posted November 24, 2008 by Jaklien van Melick
Of all the airlines I have ever flown with, Virgin Atlantic must be the coolest one in the sky. Stepping onboard one of their sleek planes is like walking into a trendy London nightclub. The interior has an ultra-modern design enhanced by phased mood lighting. The good-looking flight attendants in their John Rocha designer uniforms wouldn’t seem out of place at a fashion shoot. Heck, there is even a fully stocked bar. I think you get the picture; Virgin Atlantic oozes coolness.
So it comes as no surprise that the most stylish of spies, 007 himself, has chosen Virgin as his favourite airline. For the second time, Richard Branson’s slick and smooth carrier is featured in a James Bond movie. After Casino Royale, the MI6 spy played by Daniel Craig flies on a VA plane in Quantum of Solace. The airplane scene features James enjoying a few too many Vesper cocktails in the Upper Class bar en route to Bolivia. Bond is of course going to South America to chase some bad guys who are trying to overthrow the Bolivian government.
The cocktail, which is named after the woman who betrayed him in the previous film, can be sampled till the end of November in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses at Heathrow, Gatwick, New York (JFK), Washington, D.C. (Dulles), San Francisco and Hong Kong airports. If it's cool enough for Bond, it's cool enough for us, so if you'd like to try the drink without paying a fortune for a business-class seat, here's the recipe:
- 60ml Bombay Sapphire
- 20ml Grey Goose
- 10ml Lillet Blanc
- Twist of lemon peel for garnish
- Stir and serve
Enjoy!
(Photo: YourMovieStuff.com)
Posted October 2, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Does this sound familiar to you—waking up bleary-eyed at 3 a.m., then attempting to get to some forsaken airport to check in for your flight at least two hours before it takes off? (And the airport doesn’t even have the decency to try and be in the world’s top 15 best airports—unless you fly through Manchester Airport.) Many alarm clocks have been destroyed by irate fists in this manner.
Well, good news is on the way for those travelling Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic—you get to sleep in a little bit longer! The airline has cut down the check-in times at Heathrow Airport to a paltry 40 minutes—barely time enough for you to show your passport, dump your bags, and run all the way to the boarding gate. Thinking of grabbing a box of Ferrero Rochers at the duty-free shop? Banish the thought, chocoholics, you might miss your flight!
On the other hand, if you’re not the running sort, you can even drive your limousines (because how else will you be getting to the airport?) all the way up a ramp to a special arrival area.
All this must be good news for alarm clocks, as they need no longer cower under the threat of getting smashed during a 3 a.m. wake-up call. Alarm clock manufacturers might have to start looking at other job options though.
(Photo: Houston Airport System)
Posted September 16, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Let’s take a trip back in time ... Try and remember the last time you packed for an overseas holiday. Remember the search for that perfect bikini to make you look a size 8 instead of the size 10 you really are? Remember packing that special bottle of moisturising shampoo to stop your hair getting all greasy in the tropical climate? Remember chucking that bottle into your carry-on bag because there wasn’t enough space in your check-in baggage? Remember how you watched while airport security took that bottle of shampoo out and binned it, right in front of your teary eyes, all because it was in a 150ml container?
Well, it could be nearly time to rejoice, bulk-buying fans! Last week, Virgin Atlantic said that ‘the time may now be right’ for a change to airport security regulations. The current rules state that containers holding more than 100ml of liquid cannot be carried in hand luggage. This has led to many frantic (and slightly amusing) pre-check-in scenes of people digging through their bags, dislodging various belongings and stuffing bottles where the sun don’t shine.
However, all this may be coming to an end. Four U.K. airports, including Heathrow, have recently purchased scanners that are able to detect liquids and even test if those liquids are dangerous. These scanners are now being tested by security services. A source within the security industry has said that ‘when they are happy that it works, the ban will be lifted.’
It looks like we can soon stop wasting our time decanting all our bottles into cute little 100ml plastic containers the night before we fly. Besides, we ought to be spending our time on the really important things, like finding that damned bikini.
(Photo: Rohan Travel Unlimited)
Posted September 4, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Amidst increasing tales of doom and gloom, it’s nice to have something positive to talk about once in a while.
Unlike most airline executives, who these days complain about falling passenger numbers (and revenue), Virgin Atlantic's Richard Branson is able to boast of the exact opposite—a record increase in profits over the last year. While they might be trying to get rid of extraneous weight onboard, they are certainly no Skinny Minnies when it comes to raking it in.
The company announced last week that premium passenger numbers rose by 22 percent during the last year, while pre-tax profits rose 38 percent. This is especially good news if you happen to be lucky enough to be employed by Virgin. Why? Well, the company is about to give all the employees a bonus payout said to be equivalent to about one and a half week’s salary.
It looks like the good news is set to increase over the coming months, as Virgin have announced the launch of several new routes, and are focusing on providing better service in Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy.
All in all, good news for Virgin Atlantic and their staff, but will all these profits be moved on to their passengers? Well, I’m not asking to be given free money just for buying a seat with them (though it would be nice), I’m thinking more realistically. For example, how about more generous portions of cheese during meal times? Surely another square of cheese can’t eat too much into those extra 38 percent of profits? With Virgin Atlantic find: Cheap flights to Boston, cheap flights to New York and of course cheap flights to London
(Photo: Virgin Atlantic)
Posted September 2, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Think your garden-variety aspiring pop stars/models are the only ones to go on faddish crash diets? Well, these days, even the jumbo jets are doing that—and when I say ‘jumbo jet’, I’m not talking about anyone above a size 12. I’m simply talking about airplanes. And I probably shouldn’t use the word ‘crash’ in such close proximity to a sentence about planes.
In these belt-tightening, credit-crunching times, even the big boys of aviation are looking to get rid of some weight. And how are they planning on doing it, so the weight stays off and doesn’t come back? Well, if you’re part of British Airways’ cabin crew, rejoice, because one of the things they are planning to get rid of is paperwork. If you’re flying with BA, however, don’t start jumping for joy yet, as they’re apparently also trying to reduce the weight of in-flight meals. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that doesn’t mean the meals will end up disappearing like Posh Spice when she turns sideways.
Virgin Atlantic is also trying to lose some weight; this time, by shedding some clothes. Well, maybe not clothes exactly. Instead, they’re trying to reduce to amount of packaging their in-flight meals come in. The airline has already introduced lighter seat fitting and lighter cargo bins in their attempt to lose the flab.
With all the weight-watching going on, will there come a time when they decide to weigh their passengers at check-in, too? Anyone larger than any member of Girls Aloud will have to pay extra for the privilege of flying.
(Photo: FlyerTalk)
Posted June 19, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Most airlines would think those people who dread the idea of flying are a lost customer base, and abandon them to their train-, ship-, car-, bus-, and donkey-cart-based travel options. But the ever-entrepreneurial Sir Richard Branson doesn’t head those airlines.
In their ongoing quest to reach every potential customer niche, Virgin Atlantic has recently created a Flying Without Fear course. It’s targeted at those of us who think it’s crazy to strap ourselves into a 20-tonne piece of metal that launches itself thousands of feet into the air. At £199 a pop, the course is almost as good as having an actual, paying customer on one of their flights.
Conveniently, by curing them of their phobia, Virgin will also create a whole bunch of potential customers. Perhaps they will choose to fly with Virgin in future? Out of gratitude for the altruistic service provided, of course. And just in case they have a relapse while on holiday? Well, not to worry, Virgin have published a book version—also called Flying Without Fear—that attempts to ease their anxieties while doubling as worthy holiday reading material.
(Photo: flyingwithoutfear.info)
Posted May 23, 2008 by Joyce Wan
Think of Kenya and what springs to mind? Groups of majestic Maasai warriors clad in ceremonial garb? Glimpses of zebras and rhinos while on safari in a Land Rover? Or perhaps groups of elephants poised elegantly against a magnificent orange-red sunset?
Well, it seems that for the creative minds at Virgin Atlantic, the first image that sprang—or maybe rampaged—into their minds when someone mentioned Kenya was ... the annual migration of wildebeest. This will form the centrepiece of Virgin’s expensive new advertising campaign, due to be plastered all over London’s Tube stations in the near future. The £250 000 ad blitz is aimed at attracting customers back into the African nation after the recent election crisis.
Presumably, Virgin’s vision is that customers will be inspired to stampede toward its planes like feral wildebeest after viewing the ads. What next? Perhaps a can of sardines to represent the packed conditions on some carriers’ economy class? Or maybe a picture of cows in a shed to represent (duh!) cattle class?
(Photo: outdoorphoto.co.za)
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