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News: get yourself a Virgin Atlantic salt and pepper sets, HfP party at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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News in brief:

Get yourself a Virgin Atlantic salt and pepper set!

One of the highlights of flying Virgin Atlantic Upper Class is getting your very own Wilbur and Orville salt and pepper set.

These are genuinely cult items. I remember taking a pair when I flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class in the late 1990’s, and very few trends in the aviation industry survive that long. That said, the quality has dropped – my set is metal whilst they are now made out of plastic.

The reason I am mentioning this today is that Virgin Red is letting you buy a set of Wilbur and Orville salt and pepper shakers. They cost just 800 or 900 Virgin Points depending on whether you want black or silver.

This is surprisingly good value and it’s an ideal stocking filler for any aviation enthusiast, or yourself.

If you have not yet registered for Virgin Red, you can download the app here and link it to your Flying Club account. You will then be able to order your Wilbur and Orville set via the ‘Spend’ menu. You cannot order them from the Virgin Flying Club site.

Wilbur and Orville Virgin Atlantic salt pepper set

Head for Points party at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix …..

Judging by emails I received yesterday, there is an unofficial weekend-long HfP party taking place at the W Abu Dhabi Yas Island hotel this weekend during the Grand Prix.

W Abu Dhabi Yas Island is the hotel which is built directly across the racetrack, see below. This makes it an astonishing place to stay during the Grand Prix weekend.

We have always mentioned Abu Dhabi grand prix redemptions on HfP when they became available. So far six rooms-worth of HfP readers, with a total of 11 people, have met up in the hotel.

I have some photos but I won’t run them as I don’t have the express permission of everyone. It’s possible that a few are claiming to be working from home …..! I hope you all have a great weekend.

The hotel website is here if you want to try your luck with a Marriott Bonvoy redemption for next year at some point.

PS. One of the readers sent this photo from the balcony of his suite:

W Yas Island suite
Category

Marriott Bonvoy, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (64)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Grant H says:
    11 Dec11 December 05:56

    I know Harry T is there, enjoy the weekend folks- hope the F1 is equally entertaining.

  • Nick says:
    11 Dec11 December 06:22

    It’s a shame that the salt & pepper shaker’s are plastic, otherwise I’d have said that they’re clearly now selling the family silver!

    • Novelty-Socks says:
      11 Dec11 December 09:16

      I liberated a pair from my first Upper Class flight a few years ago and was so disappointed they’re made of flimsy plastic!

      • Lady London says:
        11 Dec11 December 12:43

        That’s why I didn’t nick mine. I kind of think I was expected to. Now I regret it.

  • Tom says:
    11 Dec11 December 06:37

    Over the road at the Crowne Plaza 🙂
    It’s strange how much more at ease I feel knowing everyone around me either tested negative within a certain time period or is vaccinated.

    I couldn’t enter the YAS Mall without proving I was vaccinated or negatively tested, they are strict over here far more so than the U.K.

    • Olivia says:
      11 Dec11 December 06:39

      Come and say hello!

    • Harry T says:
      11 Dec11 December 06:50

      They are much more strict in Abu Dhabi than Dubai – we popped to Dubai for a few nights before heading to Abu Dhabi. Seem to need Al Hosn for everything in AUH.

    • Magarathea says:
      11 Dec11 December 11:26

      I was in Abu Dhabi 2 weeks ago and I got into the Yas Mall with my vaccine certificate and my fit to fly certificate in order to get a PCR test at the Yas Clinic in the mall. Used paper copies of the PCR test result and vaccine certificate to get into anything thereafter. I could not get the Al Hosn app to work for me despite registering with ICA etc. Have the HFP Abu team managed to get the Al Hosn app to work?

  • Olivia says:
    11 Dec11 December 06:38

    Enjoy all at the W Abu Dhabi HfP party – we’re across the road in the Yas Plaza Crowne Plaza, but again thanks to HfP and the wonderful bendy card!

  • Andrew says:
    11 Dec11 December 07:08

    When flying EK business class from LHR, are you free to also visit the QF lounge?

  • Andrew says:
    11 Dec11 December 07:16

    Seems only only the black premium economy salt and peppers are left

  • Martin says:
    11 Dec11 December 07:17

    Should be at Yas Marina now but failed my COVID fit to fly test – absolutely guyted

  • Anna says:
    11 Dec11 December 07:40

    We were yesterday last night in the restaurant at the Doubletree Chester, it looked a lot warmer in Abu Dhabi!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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