TOUCHDOWN! Virgin Atlantic Airways Launches Talent Search to Find the Ultimate Football Fan to Serve as the Airline's Red Hot Reporter for the NFL International Series

SOUTH NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the 2011 NFL International Series game, Virgin Atlantic Airways has launched a virtual talent search to identify the ultimate football fan, who will serve as the airline's Red Hot Reporter covering the game live from Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, October 23.  

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The winner and a guest will receive a VIP trip to London for the game, including round trip Premium Economy airfare on Virgin Atlantic Airways and hotel accommodations for the duration of their stay.  While in London, the Virgin Atlantic Red Hot Reporter will serve as the airline's ambassador to the game chronicling the trip via Twitter and Facebook. Highlights of this ultimate gridiron experience include attending team practices and press conferences, NFL events in Trafalgar Square as well as a pregame sideline experience.  For the game, the reporter will sit in the Virgin Atlantic suite at Wembley.

NFL fans 21 and older can enter by tweeting @VirginAtlantic using the hashtag #RedHotReporter.  The Red Hot Reporter talent search runs through October 10, at which time Virgin Atlantic will select the NFL fan with the strongest social media presence. All terms and conditions are available at: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150348894199453.

"The NFL International Series offers the perfect opportunity to align our brand with one of the most recognizable sporting entities in the world," said Chris Rossi, Senior Vice President, North America at Virgin Atlantic.  "This is the third year that we have partnered with the NFL, allowing both brands to further expand their reach on both sides of the Atlantic. We look forward to this year's match-up and are excited to host our guests at the game, including our Red Hot Reporter."  

The Buccaneers and Bears will depart on chartered Virgin Atlantic flights from Tampa Bay, Florida, and from Chicago, respectively, arriving at London's Heathrow airport for the short journey to Wembley Stadium.  The planes will feature Virgin Atlantic's award-winning cabins, including Upper Class and Premium Economy seating, ensuring that coaches and players arrive well-rested in advance of the game.  During the flights, the teams will enjoy customized menus tailored to fit the players' diets and will be able to relax with inflight entertainment that includes personal screens featuring a media library with more than 300 hours of on-demand audio and video.  

"We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Virgin Atlantic as we prepare for the fifth International Series game in London," said Chris Parsons, NFL Vice-President of International.  "Virgin Atlantic has consistently provided an excellent level of service for our traveling teams and we are excited to be enhancing the partnership to include new initiatives this year."

In addition to flying both teams to London, Virgin Atlantic will extend the agreement with a range of sponsorship activities in the UK.  This will include reaching U.S. and UK American football fans at the NFL's public fan rally at Trafalgar Square as well as hosting a hospitality event for key customers and guests at Wembley Stadium in true Virgin fashion.

Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club loyalty program is offering its members the chance to experience the game and London by entering a sweepstakes to win roundtrip airfare, two nights hotel stay at St. Martin's Lane and game day seats in the Virgin suite. Plus the winners will be able to attend a pre-game tailgate party.

For additional information on Virgin Atlantic Airways, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com and for details on the 2011 NFL International Series, visit www.nfl.com/international.

About Virgin Atlantic Airways

Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, was founded in 1984, and currently has 38 aircraft in its fleet. Virgin Atlantic offers service from 10 U.S. cities to London and onto a range of long-haul destinations worldwide. From its main base at London Heathrow and Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic services destinations as far apart as Las Vegas, Tokyo, Delhi, Boston and Shanghai. 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. Pioneering many air travel innovations, Virgin Atlantic received a number of 2010 travel trade awards including for the third consecutive year, Travel Weekly's "Best International Airline," Global Traveler's "Best Airline for Premium Economy Class," Business Traveler's "Best Premium Economy Class in the World" and for the first time, "Best Airport Clubs/Lounges." To book travel, please contact 800-862-8621. For additional information, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com.

SOURCE Virgin Atlantic