Fantastic Virgin Atlantic UK ad

Feb
3

Fantastic Virgin Atlantic UK ad

Filed under: Entertainment, UK Stuff; Tagged as: 80s, british airways, madonna, miners strike, old mobile phone, uk, video arcade, virgin, virgin atlantic
What can I say, this ad blows the competition away – which is is exact message and that it has been doing so for 25 years.

It uses a nice simple device:

Great looking ladies in high-contrast stand out red uniforms strolling down the mall with their “James Bond” hero styled pilot.

Heads turning everywhere.

Great backing track.

What helps make this ad great and delivers home its message that Virgin Atlantic is “still red hot” is its play on the nostalgia factor. It uses many devices popular in the UK in the 80s:
- The Miners’ Strike
- Asteroids video arcade machine
- Our Price (Later virgin rebranded “V Shop” in early 200s before vanishing.)
- Police wearing helmets and other dress styles and hairstyles from the 80s
- Madonna lookalike in “Desperately Seeking Susan” garb
- Wimpy (They still exist, but they are rare)
- “Brick” Mobile/Cell phones
- Music from “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood as the backing track
Watch out for the humorous “Who do they think they are?” moment from two ogling unglamourous stewardesses in boring gray uniform. (Now what airline could they be representing? lol)

Does the ad still work well outside of the UK where some of the UK-specific references wouldn’t be appreciated?

[youtube]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oL1uud6Fy6M[/youtube]
88 Comments

88 responses to “Fantastic Virgin Atlantic UK ad”

squaralemon January 26th, 2009 at 15:54

[..YouTube..] yh i see ya nice geeking :] lol gr8 ad
benjaminjean1984 January 26th, 2009 at 19:20

[..YouTube..] awsome ad-think its really a retro 1984—love hovis ad too, similar mind set.
michywishywoo January 27th, 2009 at 03:20

[..YouTube..] Odd thing is that I am Cabin Crew and Virgin in the 80′s did only recriuit based on looks. Late 80′s was blondes and early 90′s was brunettes. They are not taking the piss out of BA, but I think themselves! Would you rather have fit CC or survive a crash???? You decide…….
xtillsx January 27th, 2009 at 11:19

[..YouTube..] That makes your penis famous by association hahaha
APRLCR January 27th, 2009 at 16:54

[..YouTube..] Absolutely love this advert………. its brilliant!!!!!
B757204 January 28th, 2009 at 11:18

[..YouTube..] Amazing advert!
puffytos January 28th, 2009 at 15:31

[..YouTube..] On Virgin you’d survive the crash and have fit “CC” helping you in the process…
0megakill January 28th, 2009 at 18:24

[..YouTube..] love it!!! girls this is the advert!
truth264 January 29th, 2009 at 12:16

[..YouTube..] This is another reason why i wana b a pilot! fingers crossed 4 me ppl ! lol
stephych08 January 29th, 2009 at 14:49

[..YouTube..] was u in this advert?5*xxx
matty6188 January 29th, 2009 at 18:46

[..YouTube..] love the music anyone no who made this song
tom0kiely January 29th, 2009 at 18:52

[..YouTube..] The music is Relax by Frankie goes to Hollywood. The funky sound is really thanks to The Blockheads that jazzed up the material when working on the song as session musicians.
ShoeiBoy January 30th, 2009 at 05:03

[..YouTube..] I’d rather have fit cabin crew.Law of averages says I’ll never be in a plane crash, and sexy cabin crew are the only thing which makes flying long haul bearable. Branson’s not daft, he knows what’s what.
ChrisCapulet January 30th, 2009 at 11:51

[..YouTube..] Hey I caught you there Eric geeking around Cheers for uploading the advert and thanks for those who said what the song is Saved me asking the Q :]
mackenzie2881 January 31st, 2009 at 08:12

[..YouTube..] Everything fits. Perfect.
cgbc1 January 31st, 2009 at 08:36

[..YouTube..] Red hot advert, just like teh airline
Channel494 January 31st, 2009 at 09:40

[..YouTube..] frankie goes to hollywoodthe song is entitled “relax”
av8james January 31st, 2009 at 16:27

[..YouTube..] This ad sums up virgin totally, cool, clean sexy and sophisticated. Shame they don’t have “Virgin Europe”
maximusthegreat1988 February 1st, 2009 at 10:01

[..YouTube..] Fit!!
marshmellowmuffins February 1st, 2009 at 13:21

[..YouTube..] haha very good he has a massive phone
xxeeyorexxcrazyxx February 2nd, 2009 at 04:15

[..YouTube..] I love the advert Soooo different to anything i’ve ever seen on the television before!lovee it!
bethxxlildevil February 2nd, 2009 at 13:03

[..YouTube..] jacs init :L
akerbie February 2nd, 2009 at 15:32

[..YouTube..] One of the best adverts of this decade.
ephemeralprotagonist February 2nd, 2009 at 16:22

[..YouTube..] Have you ever been on a virgin?
ryandavies333 February 3rd, 2009 at 08:00

[..YouTube..] haha no co-pilot then hahaha
dummyspitter February 4th, 2009 at 12:14

[..YouTube..] oh yeah she was hot
biglev88 February 5th, 2009 at 07:24

[..YouTube..] Great advert
AuctionHall February 6th, 2009 at 14:40

[..YouTube..] one of the best adds, our price records those where the days, check out the genuine price tag on the LP
AQueerStrawberry February 7th, 2009 at 14:12

[..YouTube..] I like this ad. I think it’s the music. I wish I knew what the song was haha.
g7vak February 8th, 2009 at 12:31

[..YouTube..] MNI TNX YR QSL M1CXN DE G7VAK AR
bechelet11 February 9th, 2009 at 14:58

[..YouTube..] i thought it was by my mate said it wasntthanks
pigsontoast February 10th, 2009 at 16:20

[..YouTube..] Grrrreat shoes!
Chingophia February 11th, 2009 at 14:05

[..YouTube..] erm… there are no words; this is the intrusmental
emziij09 February 12th, 2009 at 11:27

[..YouTube..] i love the song in the background – Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood…ive looked everywhere on youtube…but where can i get this background music from?! x
sneezyyyy February 12th, 2009 at 12:33

[..YouTube..] i LOVE this advert !!!!this one and the cadbury’s chocolat ones are just great !! and i normally hate adverts !
stg6rambobond February 12th, 2009 at 13:46

[..YouTube..] song ????????????????????????????
J444ESR February 12th, 2009 at 15:57

[..YouTube..] Franky goes to hollywood -relax
tallandhandsome29 February 12th, 2009 at 16:04

[..YouTube..] Fantastic. Just fantastic. Music, shoes, hair……..
megzybcfc01 February 14th, 2009 at 07:37

[..YouTube..] Best advert ever!!!!!fat guy at da wimpy is so funny!! lol!!!where was dat filmed????
deanybabeh February 14th, 2009 at 15:35

[..YouTube..] hate the cadburys advert, its freaky lol
SDdot1 February 15th, 2009 at 10:54

[..YouTube..] this advert and the new hovis advert is graet
ellisqpr86 February 15th, 2009 at 11:36

[..YouTube..] Love this advert.that brunette girl at the back is just sheer perfection
bluewomble88 February 16th, 2009 at 03:44

[..YouTube..] Don’t be so stupid, the first mobile call wasn’t made until nearly 1980 and THAT was in “controlled” conditions. Mobiles for public use came through around 1983-4ish
pablothesexxyone February 16th, 2009 at 12:35

[..YouTube..] this is such a good advert =)LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!
thefaceoftom February 18th, 2009 at 05:44

[..YouTube..] playig astroids!
BSTconnor February 18th, 2009 at 08:53

[..YouTube..] i no the bruenet girl
racingfan2k10 February 19th, 2009 at 04:23

[..YouTube..] me and my dad wud be the police officers lol!
Sum4dood February 22nd, 2009 at 02:34

[..YouTube..] how big is the pole up ur arse?
Sum4dood February 22nd, 2009 at 02:36

[..YouTube..] i was referring to bluewomble88 btw
bluewomble88 February 22nd, 2009 at 02:42

[..YouTube..] Almost as big as the cock up yours!

88 responses to “Fantastic Virgin Atlantic UK ad”

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