Virgin Atlantic Airways Spa in the Sky
As she kneaded the knots out of my shoulders, the masseuse whispered, “we are approaching London.” Jet lag melted away. Getting a massage aboard Virgin Atlantic makes time fly.
Richard Branson, founder and chairman of the charismatic airline, has put fun and relaxation into crossing the Atlantic. While other airlines trimmed in-flight services, Virgin’s Upper Class went beyond sleeper seats. Forget food trolleys and limp salads; you choose when and what to eat. Then a British beauty therapist will offer you either a stress-busting face and scalp massage or shoulder and arm massage. Upper Class is your ticket to a whole new way of travel.
Relaxation starts before takeoff. Before boarding, Virgin Clubhouse receptionists offer two-piece snooze suits along with refreshments, hot food, and sandwiches. Our arrival details were checked while we waited; Upper Class passengers get complimentary limo service to hotels and residences. Another option gets you into central London on a chauffeured motorcycle.
Arriving at Heathrow, you can shower while a valet steams the creases from your clothing and presses your shirts. But the special touch is having your clothes hung onboard while you relax in the snooze suit, then delivered to you on landing. And the cashmere-like outfit doubled as pajamas during my trip, a free souvenir.
London departures are a different experience. Once through the stress of security checks, the Virgin Clubhouse in Terminal 3 offers a virtual spa. Moisturizing facials are a pre-flight perk for men and women. Skincare, hair grooming, manicures, and massage are complimentary, as well as a hot breakfast featuring a buffet of high-fiber cereals. You can shower, get your shoes shined, and dine in the Library where daily papers are stacked or upstairs in a glass-walled conservatory with expansive views for meditation. There is even a music room with leather sofas, and a games area for young travelers.
Spa in the sky took off in 1989, taking wellness to new heights for Upper Class passengers. Jane Breeden, who heads Virgin’s team of inflight therapists, says the complimentary services are so popular that space for massage was built into Virgin’s new planes. The Airbus A340-600 that we boarded at London Heathrow Airport for a mid-day flight to Washington’s Dulles International Airport, had an alcove for the massage chair, where you sit for a fifteen-minute treatment. Due to recent security restrictions, manicures are no longer available onboard, but you can snag an appointment at the Heathrow clubhouse.
Going beyond inflight spa services, Virgin Atlantic ensures Upper Class passengers arrive at their destination relaxed and refreshed. No wonder it’s called a heavenly experience.
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Virgin Atlantic Airways flights link New York (Newark and JFK), Washington, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with London/Heathrow; between Las Vegas, Orlando, and Miami to London/Gatwick Airport. Pacific departures from London’s Heathrow also offer in-flight spa services on selective flights to Tokyo, Shanghai, Delhi, and Hong Kong. (800) 862-8621, www.virginatlantic.com
By Bernard Burt
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