Brothers Mrinal and Vikram Seth, aka Bounce Bhangra, have been announced as the first recipients of Virgin Atlantic’s new initiative, Airplause, which rewards those who made the nation smile during lockdown with flights to worldwide destinations. The brothers were surprised at Heathrow Airport by fellow dancer, Aston Merrygold, as they were giving Virgin Atlantic cabin crew a Bounce Bhangra fitness class.

The Seth brothers became a viral sensation when they adapted to lockdown life by moving their popular Bounce Bhangra classes online, generating thousands of new fans and making national headlines. Mrinal and Vikram provided a burst of energy and positivity for people during the pandemic, by keeping spirits lifted and hearts pumping with weekly Bounce Bhangra classes.

Bounce Bhangra swapped their virtual Bhangra classes for a workout with Virgin Atlantic cabin crew before being surprised by a special guest. Mrinal and Vikram were greeted mid-class by singer and dancing extraordinaire, Aston Merrygold, who was disguised as one of the airline’s pilots. Known for his impressive dance moves, Aston couldn’t resist getting involved in the class and learning the brothers’ best Bhangra moves: https://youtu.be/jJfvNOOPfAQ

As part of its new Airplause initiative, Virgin Atlantic is calling on the nation to nominate a friend, relative or neighbour to earn flights to top destinations such as the Caribbean, India, Israel or the USA – either for a much-deserved holiday or to visit friends and relatives – as soon as it’s safe to hit the skies. Airplause will reward those who made others smile in an otherwise tough year.

Aston Merrygold said, “The past year has been tough for many and it’s important that we take the time to recognise those who made it a little brighter. Mrinal and Vikram are the definition of worthy Airplause winners. When the pandemic forced them to pause their classes, they saw an opportunity to take them online and use them as a force for good, keeping thousands of people elevated and energised. I am so happy to be involved in recognising them and can’t wait to hear who the nation chooses as the next winner!”

Mrinal and Vikram Seth said, “When Aston Merrygold backflipped onto the tarmac to tell us we’d won Upper Class flights, we were amazed! We were already having a great time doing our class with the awesome cabin crew but Aston getting involved was the icing on the cake. We can’t wait to use our flights to travel on a much-needed sunny holiday. We’re thinking about hanging up our dancing shoes for a bit and having a well-deserved beach break in Antigua!”

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic said, “The past year has been a real challenge for so many, but we all know someone who made lockdown a little easier and we’re delighted to celebrate them through the launch of our Airplause campaign.

“As restrictions gradually start to ease and global travel resumes at scale, we’re ready to whisk customers away to some amazing destinations. Whether you’re headed for a sunshine break in the Caribbean, thrill-seeking in the theme parks of Orlando or visiting friends and family overseas, our customers can rest assured they will fly safe and well as we return to the skies.”

To ensure the health and safety of customers and crew, Virgin Atlantic is implementing additional measures to offer peace of mind in the airport and when taking to the skies. These include enhanced and thorough cleaning practices at check in, boarding gates and onboard including the use of electrostatic spraying of high-grade disinfectant in all cabins and lavatories before every flight, ensuring no surface is left untouched.  Safe distancing will also be adhered to wherever possible, and mask wearing will be required throughout the journey. All customers will be provided with a personal Health Pack for their health and safety, which will contain three medical grade face masks to be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand gel.

To nominate someone who brought joy in lockdown or smiled through their PPE during tough times, head to https://virg.in/Airplause. They could be jetting off to one of Virgin Atlantic’s most popular destinations including the Caribbean, Israel, India or the USA.