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By Eve, March 1, 2012 12:36 pm

Today is the day that all pilots, crew and staff at Virgin Balloon Flights have been waiting for since the end of the 2011 flying season – it’s the first day of the 2012 hot air balloon ride flying season – hooray!

Up and down the UK our pilots and crew have been busy primping and preening their balloons and baskets over the last few months in preparation for what we hope will be a record year of balloon rides for Virgin Balloon Flights.

This season we have some lovely new pilots, balloons and exciting new launch sites to add to our already impressive collection. Take a look at our spectacular Dogmersfield launch site in Hampshire for example which launches from the stunningly beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. If there’s an aviation enthusiast in your family then a balloon ride from Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk is the perfect launch site to choose.

With Mother’s Day hot on our heels and the Diamond Jubilee to celebrate this year we’re hoping to see lots of new faces in our baskets.

So instead of looking up at our big red balloons flying gracefully through the skies and dreaming of what a fabulous view its passengers must have – come and join us up here for a very special journey you’ll remember forever.

See you soon!

Balloon Ride Prices | Balloon Ride Video | The Ballooning Experience | Balloon Launch Locations

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By Eve, February 2, 2012 1:32 pm

Valentine’s Day seems to creep up on us ever quicker each year no sooner than the turkey’s are breathing a sigh of relief after Christmas.  As romantic gifts go, the Taj Mahal in India is surely one of the most impressive and beautiful gifts anyone could give, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife.

Here at Virgin Balloon Flights we’re a romantic bunch too and love nothing better than an opportunity to shower loved ones with gifts of all shapes and sizes.

Our gifts start from as little as a fiver and right now you can save up to 30% off our hot air balloon rides!

Of course hot air ballooning, like Valentine’s Day, is a thing of history and tradition, particularly the Champagne toast at the end of each and every one of our airborne adventures.

Here’s a few unique and romantic gifts available now from Virgin Balloon Flights that’ll keep you out of the supermarket seasonal aisle and well and truly in your loved one’s good books…

Get FREE Montezuma’s Chocolate Truffles with all national balloon ride vouchers this Valentine’s Day or how about our gorgeous Sparkling Half Bottle & Chocolates Gift Hamper now reduced to £24.99?

We’ve seen lots of engagements take place in our balloon baskets, read how Lee popped the question to Carly in one of our balloons over Bath last year and Mani from Leeds thought proposing at 1,200ft on a romantic balloon ride over York was even better than the Eiffel Tower.

Girls it’s a leap year this year so there’s no excuse to wait for the question to be popped, get down on one knee and see how it feels to ask “will you marry me?” You can fly from just £89pp and get FREE instant delivery too – perfect! Fly from £89!

See what a hot air balloon ride is really like

Choose your hot air balloon launch site

Our hot air balloon pilots

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By Eve, December 13, 2011 5:23 pm

With only one more shopping weekend left before Christmas don’t let your stockings be sad!

For just £89 you can give one of the most unforgettable and unique Christmas presents around – a hot air balloon ride from the largest passenger carrying balloon company in the world! We’ll even throw in a gorgeous box of chocs FREE with our national vouchers!

Watch their face light up when they realise that they’ve been given a Champagne balloon ride experience.

With over 100 launch sites to choose from all over England, Scotland and Wales they’ll be spoilt for choice as to where to start their airborne adventure.

Left it late? Doesn’t matter – you can get our balloon ride vouchers instantly with our Email Vouchers right up until the very last minute.

You can make this amazing gift even more spectacular by adding a bottle of Champers or a Champagne flute too from our gorgeous Gifts.

Save up to 40% on Regional Vouchers – buy from £89

FREE Chocolates with National Vouchers

Gorgeous Gifts from £5

See Christmas Delivery options

See what the experience is like

See our flight locations

Happy Christmas!

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By Eve, December 12, 2011 5:18 pm

The number of hot air ballooning photos shared with us this season was higher than ever.  Not only did we see lots and lots but the standard and quality of those images was fantastic too.  So a huge thank you to everyone who shared their amazing images with us!

Receiving a massive 21.5% of overall votes to secure pole position in the Virgin Balloon Flights Annual Photo Competition 2011 was the breath-takingly atmospheric image taken over Longstanton in Cambridgeshire by Sam Tolley.

Sam Tolley's winning image: 1-10 Misty Morning

‘Misty Morning’ also won best in category securing a huge 29.4% of all the votes in Category 1 – Views from the Basket. Well done Sam; you’ve won a £125 Virgin Experience Days Gift Card for your category and overall win!

Sam shared ‘Misty Morning’ with us on the Virgin Balloon Flights Facebook page on 15th October 2011 and we thought it was pretty amazing back then – looks like we weren’t the only ones to think so.

The photo was taken on a morning flight departing from our Cambridge Golf Club (Longstanton) launch site as Sam was looking in an easterly direction whilst about a third of the way through his flight.

You can purchase a flight voucher to fly from Longstanton and appreciate these amazing views that Sam so spectacularly captured, from as little as £89! You can even receive 20% off a round of golf on us!

Runner Up Winners

Huge congratulations also go to our category winners who each win a £25 Virgin Experience Days Gift Card!

Category 1 – Views from the Basket Winner = Misty Morning by Sam Tolley

Category 2 – People and Balloons Winner = Inside the Balloon by John Wells

2-2 Inside the Balloon by John Wells

Category 3 – Images of Balloons Winner = In Essex by Danyelle Motley

3-3 In Essex by Danyelle Motley

Category 4 – The Mechanics of Ballooning Winner = Inflating the Balloon by Helen Lehan

4-3 Inflating the Balloon by Helen Lehan

Each flying season (March – November) we hold a Photo Competition so if you have any ballooning images (of Virgin balloons) that you would like to share, you can find out more here.

Well done to everyone who took part this season and we very much look forward to next year’s competition submissions.

To find out more about hot air ballooning with Virgin Balloon Flights including what to look forward to on the day of your flight visit our website virginballoonflights.co.uk.

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By Eve, December 6, 2011 11:30 am

We’ve had so many amazing, beautiful and inspirational images shared with us this year that the competition is really tough – so we need your help in deciding who the winners should be!

Below is a small selection of gorgeous images.

There are four categories, the winning entry in each category wins a runner-up prize and the overall winner wins a fantastic Virgin Experience Days Gift Card for £100!

Some of the fantastic entries…

1-6 So Nice Up There

1-1 Perfect Reflection

2-2 Inside the Balloon

If you are flying with us next year then don’t forget to share your photos with us.

 

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By Eve, November 17, 2011 4:55 pm

The 16^th November 2011 saw the first ever global Virgin Social Marathon, a groundbreaking event that took place around the world bringing together all sorts of digital types from Virgin offices near and far all working together for a day-long event at the Facebook office in London. Starting in Australia, then over to the UK and South Africa and finally ending in LA, California at Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson and Virgin Unite’s event Rock the Kasbah.

The aim of the day was to reach out to our fans and followers across all of our social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ with the theme and hashtag #FirstTimes. A fun packed and fast-typing day, we started posting and tweeting in the UK at around 6am and continued through until almost midnight.

With Mini Draws of lots of Virgin goodies up for grabs plus a Grand Prize including 2 hot air balloon rides, an Aston Martin experience day, a 1 year membership to Virgin Active, a Virgin London Marathon place and a Virgin Media TiVo box to name but a few, getting all of our social media fans entering and playing with the brand new app Virgin First Times was great fun.

In keeping with the theme #FirstTimes and to mark the the launch of the new app, we asked some of our colleagues here in the Virgin Balloon Flights office to share their ballooning first times with us.

“Describe your first balloon ride in three words?”

“What did you think of your first balloon ride?”

First Timers

We also wanted to know what our colleagues have been up to for the first time lately – here are some of their firsts:-

“Became a Dad” – Alex F, “Produced work for my very first public exhibition” – Ben H “Saw Bruno Mars in concert”- Sophie E “Bought my first home with my fiancé” – Caz S “Attended a Management Board meeting” – Ryan L “Skydive!” 10,000ft of pure nerves” – Liz M “Planning a Vegas wedding. Won a comp to go to SA with @RichardBranson” – Kirsty M

If you fancy flying in a balloon for the first time, please visit our Experience page where you can learn all about what’s involved on a Virgin Balloon Flights ballooning adventure.

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By Eve, November 16, 2011 4:58 pm

Today heralds the first ever global Virgin Social Marathon, a groundbreaking event that takes place around the world bringing together digital Virgin types near and far all working together for a day-long event at Facebook’s office in London. Starting in Sydney, Australia, then handing over to the UK and ending in Los Angeles, California at Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson and Virgin Unite’s event Rock the Kasbah, the social media marathon is a unique and exciting experience.

In celebration of the launch of the brilliant new Virgin Facebook app Virgin First Times, we asked some of our pilots to share their ballooning first times with us.

Martin Collinson

“My first balloon flight was in a crispy old blue balloon that had been flying for many years. I went along as a passenger with the infamous balloonist Kim Hull conducting a training flight with another chap. It was a beautiful morning floating across the fields and woods of north Hampshire, the dew still dripping from the leaves of the trees.  Blissfully unaware of the concentration required to actually fly the balloon, I leant over the side admiring the scenery.  It was a smooth and relaxing experience. In one word I’d describe it as serene. Some #FirstTimes for me recently; mobilised as a Military Observation and Liaison Officer to complete a 6 month operational tour on the United Nations Green Line in Cyprus.”

Dave Sutcliffe
Remembering his first times… “We were out on a Saturday night in pub with a work pal and got asked what we were doing in morning. So we got up at 7am (a November morning) and were greeted with a hard frost. Headed to Escrick Park south of York in a pick-up truck to be greeted upon arrival by what looked like a hairy Viking (Hugh Wright) which was very appropriate as he was flying the Yorvik Viking Centre balloon. I got involved getting the balloon ready, Hugh inflated it and Ian told me to get in. He had arranged for me to fly and he would follow and retrieve. I didn’t have any time to worry about it. The view was fantastic and after a little while we landed in a field. I was asked to swap places and can go and pick them up. So off they went and I tried to work out how to follow a balloon by myself. I set off then I got a shock as I heard Hugh talking to me in the truck. Worked out how it worked (years before mobiles) and was told which way to go. Found them in the end and went for breakfast. It was a great morning with lots of firsts that day. Pick-up truck ride. Balloon flight, towing a trailer and retrieving and made a friend for life.

Overall it was a, in three words, life changing experience.

More recently I have started cycling longish distances for the first time.”

Mark Simmons AKA “Nobby”

“My first flight was in April 1989 from the Thunder & Colt factory (now the Lindstrand factory) in Oswestry as a passenger in a new balloon’s first flight. It was piloted by Lars Eric Moores (quite a well known balloonist who started one of the first ride operations in Turkey). I was visiting the factory with Peter Mason whom I had just started working for as a full-time ground crew for his new Financial Times Special Shape balloon.

I don’t remember much about the flight as I hadn’t given the possibility of becoming a pilot myself any thought. I do remember the feeling when we touched down of “this is what I want to do with my life”. I loved it, although I did spend most of the 45 min flight looking through the lens of a video camera. My next flight a month later in Ireland was in a can shaped balloon which was very exciting!

In three words ballooning is absolutely bl**dy brilliant!

For the first time this year I met UK soul queen Beverly Knight at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. I also flew my 2000 hour!”

Neal Parry

“My first flight was back in 1993, in someone else’s balloon, in Jan 2006, in a bright striped balloon.  I was flying 16 excited, happy pax, under supervision of the chief pilot, as usual when gaining a new (Kenyan) licence.  We inflated in the dark, to catch sunrise from the air, over the Mara river, with its wallowing hippos, and crocs, and then onto the plain, where wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, big cats, and scores of other species roam free.

It was STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL!”

Visit Virgin First Times to share your first times with us.

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By Eve, October 27, 2011 1:05 pm

Internet entrepreneur Jeanie and colleague Jackie were whisked high above the skies of Kent on their Wadhurst flight last month with pilot Damon Bridger.

Famous for her bright pink hairdo and savvy shopper website Mad About Bargains, Jeanie was originally scheduled to launch from the spectacular Bristol International Balloon Fiesta along with Jackie back in June after winning a competition hosted by Virgin Balloon Flights.  With gusty winds proving challenging for all pilots that day their original flight had to wait, not long though and within a matter of weeks they were experiencing what it is like to see beautiful Britain from above in a Virgin hot air balloon. We asked Jeanie what she made of her balloon ride and if geography and company were no object, where and with whom she would most like to fly:-

“It has been on my bucket list for some time and I enjoyed every minute.

I would love to do a balloon flight over somewhere really spectacular like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls (if possible) and I think the most interesting person to do the flight with would of course be Sir Richard Branson (and I am not just saying that). I have run various businesses since I was very young and I think he is a fascinating person.

Thank you again for the fantastic prize. It is something we will both always remember.”

– Jeanie, Founder, Mad About Bargains

After landing and enjoying the traditional Champagne toast that accompanies all of our flights, Jackie said:

“We had the most amazing experience and would like to thank you and everyone at Virgin Balloons again! We loved the Champagne, the whole experience was really lovely, they made everyone feel special.” – Jackie, Mad About Bargains

To see for yourself what a ballooning experience is all about visit our brand new Experience page to see videos, experience a 360° virtual tour from the air, view our gallery, read our pilot profiles and to read some of our passenger testimonials.

To enjoy a hot air balloon ride from just £89 from Kent or any other county within the UK visit our locations page to see which launch sites are available near you.

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By Eve, October 6, 2011 3:23 pm

Customer Service is always number one in the Virgin Balloon Flights office however this week it is even more in the spotlight as we celebrate National Customer Service Week 2011.

This week typically gives everyone in the office a chance to think about how they achieve customer service excellence in everything they do both today and tomorrow.

Working as a team is always vital here at Virgin Balloon Flights and Customer Service Week gives each individual a chance to pass on ideas and learning through various activities, challenges and group activities aimed at enhancing teamwork, collaboration and communication.

This year our team have been busy doing quizzes that get them thinking outside the box, building bridges in a team, creating various challenges for each other and things for a bit of fun like ‘Pyjama Day’ where one ‘lucky’ customer service representative was given the challenge of visiting a local garage to enquire about purchasing a vehicle, in her pyjamas – to see if what a customer is wearing affects what level of service is given, well it got a few smiles anyway which is always good in our book!

National Customer Service Week 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Our customer service representatives handle all hot air balloon ride bookings for every single one of our 100+ launch sites throughout the UK – we are based in Shropshire which is nice and central as our launch sites are spread right from Scotland down to Cornwall and everywhere in between.

With the launch of our brand new website www.virginballoonflights.co.uk on October 1st 2011 Customer Service Week couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time as there has been lots to communicate to customers about the many improvements our new system brings.

If you’d like to talk to our friendly customer service team about an existing Virgin Balloon Flight or to enquire about becoming an airborne adventurer just give us a call or visit our new website.