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By Kirsty, September 28, 2010 4:04 pm

19 year old Catherine Barber and her three brothers from York
chipped in to treat their mum Ann, 62,  to a surprise birthday gift, a balloon ride with Virgin Balloon Flights launching from York Racecourse. Catherine was lucky enough to be a hop-in passenger and took to the skies for the birthday celebrations too!

“I managed to book the flight for her actual birthday and she didn’t have a clue about it! I picked her up from my brother’s house with my dad and told her we were going out for tea, when we approached York Racecourse I gave her the red envelope with the tickets inside” said Catherine.

Although the pair of vouchers the siblings had purchased were for Mum, Ann and Dad Chris,54, pilot Martin Collinson invited Catherine to jump on board as someone else had not shown up for their flight.

“I only bought the vouchers and booked the flights 3 weeks beforehand, it was so fortunate that there was a flight on my Mum’s birthday AND that I managed to get on it too! My Mum has already raved about it to everyone, so she definitely wants to try and go up again.

Overall it was an amazing experience to spend time in the sky looking across my beautiful home city with the people I love the most!”

Happy birthday to Ann from everyone here at Virgin Balloon Flights.

You too can surprise that special someone with a Virgin hot air balloon ride; more information on how to take to the skies with us is available here.

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By Kirsty, September 16, 2010 4:59 pm

Some would say it is far too early to be thinking about the dreaded ‘C’ word just yet, but with  advent calendars lining the shelves of our favourite local supermarkets, here at Virgin Balloon Flights we simply can’t help but feel a little bit of festive cheer!

Our hot air balloon rides are the perfect Christmas gift for that someone special and much better than socks or a tie (or so we think!). With launch sites in over 100 locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales, an airborne adventure is no further than a stone’s throw away from your home and an enchanting experience of a lifetime.

We have lots for you to choose from including regional vouchers to fly in specific areas allowing you to see a county of your choice like never before, or gift package flights including items such as Sir Richard Branson’s autobiography or an Italian made, engraved, crystal Champagne flute.

This adventurous Virgin Balloon Flights Christmas gift for him or for her includes a three to four hour experience with around an hour in the air in an iconic red Virgin Balloon. Your experience will commence with passenger greeting, registration and pilot safety briefing before you are invited to help with inflation of the balloon in preparation for lift off.

You will then glide in the sky for around an hour before landing and reflecting on your flight with a glass of Champagne. You will also receive a personalised certificate signed by your pilot and endorsed by Sir Richard himself. What’s more, your voucher has 12 months validity and arrives in a luxury voucher wallet with souvenir brochure. What more could they ask for.

Christmas lists at the ready; we’ll see you in the sky!

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By Eve, June 9, 2010 11:40 am

No one loves surprises more than us. When someone gives you a gift and you have no idea what it is, it makes opening it really, really exciting.

Our hot air balloon rides make perfect gifts especially at this time of year when Father’s Day is just around the corner.

Customers who buy our balloon vouchers as a gift often ask if it’ll be obvious what they are when they arrive in the post so as to keep the balloon ride secret until the big day.

Whether it’s a birthday present, an engagement gift or an anniversary surprise Virgin Balloon Flights have taken several steps to help you keep your secret safe. Here’s how:

1. Our balloon ride vouchers and packages come in plain packaging with absolutely no branding so no one will ever know what joy awaits them – they are even marked Private & Confidential
2. When you order online you’ll be asked how you would like to receive your vouchers – choose Post Only if you share your computer or email account with the gift recipient
3. Select our Express Delivery option if you need to know exactly when your tickets will arrive, this costs £6 and you’ll receive a text and email to advise delivery time to the hour! Learn about the best delivery option for you

Virgin Balloon Flights Voucher, Wallet and Souvenir Brochure

Helpful Tips to Ensure the Perfect Gift Experience

1. Select Post Only option on our website so no email confirmations are sent which may be seen by prying eyes
2. You can buy a voucher and book a flight for your loved one if you know when they can fly, the most efficient way to do this is to get tickets by email and post by choosing the Email and Post option in your shopping basket, minding your Inbox if you do
3. If you book the flight as well for your loved one remember if you want to keep the flight quiet until the very last moment you’ll have to call our flight line beforehand to check if the flight is going ahead
4. Have timing and routes to the launch site planned beforehand, don’t forget we may launch from a back up site so make sure you know where these are too – all info will be on your booking confirmation
5. Check what days and times your gift recipient can fly as this’ll affect the type of voucher you buy for them
6. Use your SnapFish voucher to print up to 40 free digital prints of your loved one’s airborne adventure and/ or see the pilot for a commemorative photo of everyone on the balloon ride taken mid-flight as the perfect memento
7. Remember to tear off the little perforated tab in the right hand corner of your vouchers if you want the face value to be kept schtum from your gift recipient

The only thing we can’t help you with is keeping your secret shush until the big day. Don’t let the cat out of the bag and enjoy the look of excitement on your loved one’s face when the surprise unravels.

There's nothing quite like a ride in a big red balloon as the perfect gift