Virgin Atlantic Introduces a New Dedicated Online Destination for US Travel Agent Community - "VS Confidential" built as a one-stop educational and engagement tool for travel agents offering interactive product tours, agent resources, and more-

SOUTH NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, announced today the launch of VS Confidential (www.VSconfidential.com), a new website designed exclusively for travel agents and travel professionals. The online portal is a one-stop destination that equips the US travel trade community with everything they need to know about flying Virgin Atlantic from the US and weaves together guided tours of the airline's various cabins and Clubhouses, destination and gateway information, passenger information, agent resources, loyalty program facts as well as the latest in company news.

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"The travel agent community has always been a critical partner in our business and any go-to-market strategy for us relies on that partnership with its extensive reach and influence among both business and leisure travelers. Now more than ever, travelers are looking to their trusted agents to advise them on not only the best way to get from the US to London and beyond comfortably and efficiently, but how to do it as economically as possible", said Chris Rossi, Senior VP of North America, Virgin Atlantic.

"As a result, we designed VS Confidential with the agent in mind - whether they're new to Virgin Atlantic or a long-term partner - and built a dedicated site that educates and empowers them, provides updates on our products and services, keeps them current on company, policy and operational news, and provides all the typical FAQs an agent might ever need to know. This site allows us a more in-depth communication with this very important audience and we think it will increase our bookings."

VS Confidential's home page opens up by inviting travel agents to register, or log in if they've previously registered, and with the help of Olivia, a member of the Virgin Atlantic cabin crew, visitors may begin by taking a tour of the cabins and Clubhouses. Each cabin and the Clubhouses have their own tour, narrated by Olivia, and feature answers to commonly asked questions as well as fact sheets and a picture gallery.

Other components of the site include:

• Destination and Gateway Information: a comprehensive overview and route map of Virgin Atlantic's direct flights from the US to our long-haul destinations, interline and codeshare flights and specific destination information
• Passenger Information: a resource to guide travel agents on the airline's baggage policy, visa requirements, traveling with children and/or pets, airline security, health information and special assistance
• Agent Resources: a hub for answering all ticket-related questions (refunds, group bookings, fare types), fact sheets on Virgin Atlantic's cabins, Clubhouses and fleet, and details on Upper Class transfers
• Loyalty Program Information: the whys and wheres behind Flying Club and FlyingCo
• News: all the latest developments, promotions and more to keep travel agents in the know
• You and Us: a section on Virgin Atlantic's history, latest initiatives and a link to keeping travel agent registration details up to date
  
  

To support the launch of VS Confidential, Virgin Atlantic is rolling out a new advertising campaign across several key travel trade outlets, including monthly and weekly print publications, online banners, targeted email programs, and various webinars and interactive tools. The campaign is officially set to launch this week and will run into 2010.

Virgin Atlantic flies to London and beyond and celebrated its 25th birthday this June. Over 65 million passengers have chosen to travel with Virgin Atlantic since its launch in 1984. The airline now flies to 30 destinations around the world, from its main bases at London Heathrow and London Gatwick, using a modern, young fleet of Airbus A340 and Boeing 747 aircraft.

For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office at (203) 750-2570 or visit www.virginatlantic.com

About Virgin Atlantic Airways

Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, was founded in 1984 and is celebrating its 25th Birthday throughout 2009 with a series of surprises and delights. Virgin Atlantic offers service from 10 U.S. cities to London and onto a range of long-haul destinations worldwide. From its main base in London Heathrow and Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic services destinations as far apart as Las Vegas, Tokyo, Delhi, Boston and Shanghai. Sir Richard Branson is the President of Virgin Atlantic; Steve Ridgway is the Chief Executive. Even with Virgin Atlantic's continued growth, the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation, ensuring flying Virgin Atlantic is always an event.