Awesome, possibly game-changing news in the land of Oz from our friends at Australian Business Traveller! Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin group of airlines are no stranger to in-flight technology, and now it looks like Virgin Australia is next in line for an upgrade. The airline is working on all kinds of in-flight entertainment options behind the scenes, but the one we’re most interested in is WiFi access.

Don’t start emailing friends and family while traveling down under just yet, as it sounds like the wireless capabilities might be used for things other than watching YouTube videos. Virgin Australia is actually planning to use the connectivity to pass along new entertainment options—like movies and music—rather than just Internet access. However, we have our doubts that they’ll be able to resist offering in-flight connectivity to one and all once the technology is on board. ]]> kjb 2011-09-07T08:38:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/11/74053/0534

There are plenty of Virgin brands within Richard Branson’s aviation world, from Virgin Atlantic to Virgin America to Virgin Blue; sometimes it’s hard to keep all of them straight. Virgin Blue is the domestic carrier that does its thing in and around Australia, but it looks like it’s getting a name upgrade to fall in line with the rest of the brands around the world.

The airline will be rebranded as Virgin Australia, not to be confused with the already existing long-haul Virgin carrier V Australia. The name change also involves a pending lawsuit requiring another virgin company in Australia—one that made bookmarks—to pick a different name. Already domain names and other advertising goodies have already changed hands, but if you travel over to virginaustralia.com.au it’s still blank. ]]> kjb 2011-04-11T11:06:33-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/11/10/744/52804

The best part of visiting Australia might just be found at the airport, that is if the folks at Virgin get their dreams to come true. Virgin Atlantic is thinking about building their first clubhouse down under, and it won’t just be one of their traditional airport lounges. Not only would it be their newest, but it could be the best, with new technology and extra space needed, as it will be available for flyers aboard V Australia and Virgin Blue as well.

The Virgin Group is already working on a new place to score a Virgin Redhead before your flight for all three of its airlines in Los Angeles, so these super combo lounges might just be part of their future plans for their company and passenger comfort. Right now they’re committing to finishing things at LAX, but it sounds like the blueprints to their latest clubhouse might be sent to Sydney at some point in 2011. ]]> kjb 2010-11-10T09:30:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/10/1/12216/8374

Remember when, last year, Brit Ben Southall went down under to work the Best Job in the World? Well, Ben is gone now but that doesn't mean Tourism Queensland is laying back and taking break. Nope. They've just partnered up with Foursquare to attract tourists via a new badge and a flight discount.

The "Shine Seeker" badge can be earned when a Foursquare user follows Queensland on foursquare and then checks into five of the 100 recommended spots (that have pretty great tips) on their page. Users who unlock the badge before December 31, 2010 are then automatically entered in a contest to win one of two trips to Cairns. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-10-01T13:34:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/9/27/83052/5964

Thanks to a little bit of an electronic glitch, travelers looking to jet around aboard Virgin Blue are now stuck down under. Over the weekend, the reservation system for Virgin Blue crashed and burned, and as a result everything had to be done by hand. Obviously, this wasn’t the ideal situation, and the travel plans of many were put on hold as passengers entered the world of travel hell.

The airline was begging passengers to postpone travel if they could, and that non-essential trips—we consider all our trips essential—be postponed to today if possible. At least those stuck Sunday night were promised a hotel room for the evening, so there was no need to camp out in the terminal. ]]> kjb 2010-09-27T09:03:51-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/8/11/143738/214

It's the moment we've all been waiting for! Okay, so we haven't been waiting for it with bated breath, but we have been wondering when it would finally come about...

If you're a member of Virgin America's eleVAte frequent flyer miles program (membership is free), then you'll be able to earn points for your account from your travels on other Virgin-branded airlines. That's right, eleVAte isn't just for Virgin America any longer; flights on Virgin Atlantic, V Australia and Virgin Blue will count towards free flights as well. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-08-11T14:51:54-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/10/8412/51815

Who's ready to hang out with some hot Aussies onboard Virgin America? No, the still-rather-new domestic airline isn't flying over the Pacific yet, but instead bringing some of their fellow Virgins into a crew-exchange program, whereby Virgin Blue flight attendants can come work the friendly US skies while their Virgin America colleagues similarly head down to Oz.

The program mirrors one already in place between Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Blue, and the girls will be based in San Francisco, but flying throughout Virgin America's route network for one solid year. While the Americans do the same on Virgin Blue, the Aussie FAs will act as cultural ambassadors, making use of their alluring accents and enthusiasm for Australia to subliminally get you thinking about a trip to Oz. It's like a "walking, talking mini tourism campaign being waged across the skies of both countries," says Director of People for Virgin America, Christine Morehead. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-05-10T09:05:35-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/