The cows have come home: Virgin Atlantic's clubhouse at London's Gatwick Airport will be closed until the end of November for renovation, including adding a brand new Cowshed Spa for its passengers.

"Cowshed Spa" sounds like an oxymoron, like that other British invention Shabby Chic, but the premium spa brand was named for the original purpose of the building that houses its first location, at the Babington Hotel in Somerset county. (There are no cows there now.) Its six locations in England include one in the London Heathrow clubhouse, where passengers can get treatments like hot stone facials and full-body salt scrubs. Cowshed is also the official spa of the SoHo House in , or so we hear because we can't get in. ]]> egw 2009-09-01T12:20:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/30/22836/3588

A couple years ago, we were all able to live our greatest dream of wearing repurposed airline seat covers, thanks to Worn Again, which turned worn-out covers from Virgin Atlantic planes into bags and accessories.

This year, they've taken the collaboration several steps further by branching out from Virgin to include Eurostar, and hiring UK designer Christopher Raeburn to create the products. And for the first time, all of the products are completely made in the UK.]]> JetSetCD 2009-08-31T11:39:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/25/9251/24550

Planes, trains and automobiles, indeed! Today, Virgin Atlantic announced that they've struck a deal to partner up with the Eurostar train, making it possible to book a seamless journey on both international flights and high-speed European rail.

For example, book a flight to London-Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic and you'll have the option to also book and reserve a seat on a Eurostar train from London to Brussels or Paris. No more separate ticketing necessary; hop your flight then hop a train through the Channel Tunnel. Of course it eliminates the need for the connecting flight to the same European capitals, but taking the train is often preferred. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-08-25T09:37:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/8/125012/4472

In what was probably both the best and worst assignment of a journalist's career, the Times UK looked at in-flight meal service this weekend, and aside from tasting a slew of flash-frozen meals, they actually came out of it stomachache-free and with a winner.

First, however, they discuss approaches to the cuisine for major airlines like Singapore, who still believe flying to a special occasion and thus the "economy dining experience is specifically constructed to suggest dinner in a posh restaurant," and Virgin Atlantic, who go the opposite route with comfort food, or "the sort of wholesome naughtiness you might eat curled up on the sofa with a good film." ]]> JetSetCD 2009-07-08T15:29:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/23/102229/556

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to party with a billionaire, or at least a bevy of foxy flight attendants? If so, last night's Virgin Atlantic 25th Anniversary Bash was it: the travel party of the year with a flight simulator, celebrity appearances, booty shaking on the dancefloor, and red martinis garnished with rose petals.

Held on a rooftop in Tribeca, Richard Branson's "only party this year" kicked off with his descending from the second floor on the arms of four VA flight attendants, who all then danced to Deniece Williams singing her 1984 hit "Let's Hear It For the Boy." Those who weren't immediately dancing, as people boogied nonstop from 9pm until midnight, either headed up to the roofdeck to talk travel or amused themselves with all the classic games—giant Connect Four, anyone? ]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-23T13:24:31-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/22/94436/6204

In case you haven't already taken a gander at our on-the-scene picture of Richard Branson and supermodel Kate Moss going for a wingwalk at London-Heathrow, it's Virgin Atlantic's 25th Anniversary today. And, as it proper on these sorts of momentous airline occasions, VA is passing on the fun with a 24-hour fare sale.

Only available for booking today, for travel between June 26 and December 20, Virgin has reduced its one-way economy fares as low as $181 and premium economy for $364. Of course those rates are most easily found on the Newark to London route during fall, but New York and London in autumn is far better than summer, so why not? With taxes and fees, this brings the VA roundtrip to a total of $526, which we easily found for dates throughout October and November.

Now is the time to gather your buddies together and discuss doing do a British pub crawl in fall, or ring up your significant other or best friend and shout into the phone: "let's go to London!" Because seriously, a carrier as cool as Virgin doesn't drop to these lows everyday—more like every 25 years. Book now on VirginAtlantic.com.

Related Stories:
· 25th Anniversary Deal [VA]
· Virgin Atlantic 25th Anniversary Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: vidiot]]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-22T09:59:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/22/54726/7066

Sir Richard Branson and Kate Moss just did a photo shoot on the wing of VA's Lady Penelope here at Heathrow. The two were later joined on the wing by Branson Next, Sam and Holly. Kate Moss? She is British right? Guess that explains her appearance on the wing.

Today is Virgin Atlantic's 25th birthday and the celebration, which is now ongoing in London goes trans-atlantic later this morning. While the 1984 inaugural VS1 flew from Gatwick to Newark, today's birthday flight will go from LHR to EWR.

Branson just announced that Virgin Atlantic has placed an order for $2.1 billion worth of Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Delivery of 5 planes will be in 2011, while the second 5 will arrive in 2012. These planes are 10% more fuel efficient than todays and will all have USB ports and power sockets as well as email capabilities.

New Virgin Atlantic destinations were also just announced: Beijing, Vancouver and Cancun were mentioned by Sir Richard at his LHR presser today. Furthermore, Branson noted that it is "likely inefficient big carriers will disappear, and in a sense they should. In a forest, when some big trees die new saplings can get going." The VA founder went on to lament that upstarts like his Virgin America can not get additional slots at JFK because of legacy carrier squatting at NYC's biggest airport. ]]> markj 2009-06-22T06:33:33-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/