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CHANGES TO INFLIGHT LAPTOP LEADS SERVICE - OCTOBER 2009

Whether you want to work or play whilst onboard, our in-seat power will keep your gadgets going. Passengers will need an onboard laptop adaptor pack - you may already have one, in which case don't forget to bring it. We offer the TeleAdapt Laptop Inflight Power Inverter, an inflight power pack that supports 99% of laptops, including Apple Macs and costs £69 when you pre-order with Virgin Atlantic.

This pack is already sold by a number of airlines and is a universal device that also supports other electrical items, such as CD players and digital cameras. It can also be plugged into the cigarette lighter of your car. For other gadgets, our Gaming Pack which we offer onboard supports a full range of iPods and the Sony PSP.

FAQ's about the TeleAdapt Laptop Inflight Power Inverter.

  • Inseat power is only available to laptops requiring a maximum of 70W of power.

  • Passengers are reminded that in the interests of cabin safety, inseat power must not be used as a charging facility.

  • We cannot guarantee that laptop power will be available on our flights in the Premium Economy cabin. A change of aircraft can be assigned at any time due to operational requirements.

From October 2009 we will no longer offer complimentary laptop adaptor leads onboard.

Find out which products are supported onboard until October 2009.


CHECK-IN PROCEDURE FOR ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS AT NEWARK AIRPORT

The airport authority at Newark International Airport requires that passengers check-in their electric wheelchair and use an airport wheelchair to get to the departure gate.

If use of an airport wheelchair is not possible, passengers must present themselves at the departure gate no later than 60 minutes prior to departure to allow for security screening and loading of the electric wheelchair.


PASSENGER NAME CORRECTION POLICY

For security reasons it is absolutely essential that the name on your booking, ticket and passport are exactly the same.

If not, you will be unable to board the flight. This also applies to marriage or maiden names; we can no longer allow passengers to travel by accepting marriage certificates or decree absolutes in conjunction with a passport.

Your booking and ticket must reflect your first and last names only. Middle names are not required.

If a mistake has been made, you can amend the name on your booking and ticket to reflect the correct spelling in your passport, up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. However you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.

To amend the name on your ticket please contact your travel agent, tour operator or our contact centre. There will be a charge of £30 to amend each name.


WINTER SCHEDULE CHANGES

Airbus A340-600
A small number of flights on certain dates will not be operating due to lower, out of season demand. We are in the process of contacting passengers or their travel agents who have already made bookings to advise them of the alternative arrangements. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this situation may cause.


INFORMATION ON MAURITIUS FLIGHTS

Please be advised that Virgin Atlantic will not be operating VS372/373 London Heathrow - Mauritius services between Sunday 26th April 2009 to 08th November 2009. Passengers will be rebooked on VS601/602 Johannesburg services on the same day with an onward connection to Mauritius.


FINGERPRINTING AT U.S AIRPORTS

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is upgrading from collecting 2 to collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors when they enter the United States. This change enhances security and facilitates legitimate travel by more accurately and efficiently establishing and verifying visitors’ identities.

Read more about the US fingerprinting scheme.


WIDER SELECTION OF FLIGHTS

We've made another enhancement to booking flights on this website. Now you can buy any flight from any departure points and pay for it with a credit card from any country*. So if you live in Romania and want to book a flight from Hong Kong to London, you can!

All you have to do is select your billing address country on the same page you fill in your passenger details.

* There are still a few departure points that remain restricted, these include flights departing from Nigeria, China (Shanghai only) and India. Credit cards with a Nigerian billing address are also currently restricted.


LATEST LIQUIDS, AEROSOLS AND GELS RESTRICTION (LAGS) FOR AUSTRALIA

Any Duty Free purchases made at London Heathrow and and Hong Kong airport, will not be allowed onboard your flight to Australia. Also, purchases made onboard and during your flight from London to Hong Kong, will not be allowed on board your flight to Australia.

However, Duty Free purchases are allowed onboard your flight from Hong Kong to Australia.

Passengers with international connections departing Sydney, can only purchase Duty Free liquids, gels and aerosols at Sydney airport departure lounge, after clearing security at the international transit point.

Passengers with domestic connections departing Sydney can purchase Duty Free liquids, gels and aerosols either inflight the Hong Kong - Sydney flight or after landing at Sydney airport.

Please note that purchases made at any other point will be confiscated in Hong Kong airport, at the secondary gate search.


EMAIL PHISHING SCAMS

It has been brought to our attention that passengers and members of the public have been receiving email communications that use the Virgin Atlantic Airways name and logo, or otherwise purport to be from Virgin Atlantic Airways. The emails ask for personal information and in some cases, money.

Virgin Atlantic Airways can confirm that it is not associated with these rogue communications in any way. They are fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information and in some cases, money.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS IF YOU RECEIVE ONE.


Virgin Atlantic Airways will never ask any of our passengers for personal information by email.


NEW PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR US

When travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) you must hold a valid, individual machine readable passport if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

New passport requirements now take effect for passports issued on or after 26 October 2005. US authorities will require all the above countries participating in the VWP to issue passports with a digital photo of the passport holder's face printed on the data page of the passport. Passengers wishing to travel on the VWP without digital photos issued after 26 October 2005 will require a visa to enter the US.

Since 1st August 2008 the US have offered an electronic alternative for those travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme. An electronic travel authority from the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) website should make your journey smoother both at check in and on arrival at US Customs. The ESTA scheme has now become mandatory as of 12 Jan 2009.

It is the passenger's responsibility to make their application and ensure they have a valid travel authority before they travel. This will make the check-in process much easier for them. Those nationalities not eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program will need to process a visa before travel.

You can obtain your ESTA free of charge by visiting the U.S. Government website. This must be done within 72 hours in advance of your journey. For FAQs about ESTA, please visit https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Further information on these requirements

Alternatively, for passengers who require a bespoke service, Virgin Atlantic has partnered with CIBT where for a set fee they will determine your eligibility and apply for an ESTA or a formal US visa on your behalf.

Visit CIBT now


USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ONBOARD

Some personal electronic devices haven't been allowed on our flights in the past. But now there has been a change.

To view these changes please see our PED use Onboard page.


NON-US PASSPORT HOLDERS BORN IN UNITED STATES

If you are a holder of a non-US passport and were born in the United States of America you need to be aware of a change in policy by the US Government. US law states that anyone born in the United States is considered to be a US citizen and if that person attempts to travel to the US on any document other than a US passport, they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality letter'. These letters can be obtained from US Embassies.

As the US Immigration Service will refuse entry to the US of any person born in the USA attempting to enter the US on a non-US passport without the loss of nationality letter, Virgin Atlantic is not able to carry such passengers unless they have the "letter". We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause to our passengers.


ADVANCE PASSENGER INFORMATION

If you are travelling to or from the US there will be some important additions to the information you will need to provide to us before you travel.




100ml containers of liquids can now be carried onboard

NEW POLICY ON LIQUIDS ONBOARD


From 4th March 2008, liquid restrictions from Hong Kong Airport to Austrailia have changed.

Read the new requirements before you fly


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