British Airways announces highlights from its VIP Mardi Gras party flight to New Orleans

British Airways announces highliths from its VIP Mardi Gras party flight to New Orleans

LONDON, 2017-Mar-02 — /Travel PR News/ — British Airways’ VIP charter flight to New Orleans with 180 guests who have enjoyed the Mardi Gras party flight with live performances from Nicole Scherzinger and jazz artist YolanDa Brown, is heading home tomorrow.

Jodie Kidd joined the star-studded flight, along with Made in Chelsea stars Oliver Proudlove and Georgia Toffolo and models Danielle Peazer and Emma Louise Connolly.

The flight also showcased the talents of Cherise Adams-Burnett, 21, from Luton, 25-year-old Jamie Brownfield, from Powys in Wales, and 21-year-old Londoner Quinn Oulton, who won the airline’s busking competition that was judged by Grammy winning singer, songwriter and pianist, Jon Cleary, and double MOBO award-winning saxophonist, YolanDa Brown.

View and download the video here: https://youtu.be/LxY__9qK7jg

Or view it on Nicole Scherzinger’s facebook here.

The VIP charter, which was compered by Jazz FM DJ, Nigel Williams, took place ahead of the airline’s official launch to New Orleans on March 27.

The city, also known as ‘The Big Easy’, is famous for jazz, the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Creole cuisine and its annual Mardi Gras celebration.

Nicole Scherzinger, said: “Wow! We certainly got the party started up there! There was an amazing atmosphere on the flight and everyone really threw themselves into the party spirit. What a great way to kick off Mardi Gras!”

As well as the live in-flight entertainment, guests were treated to a New Orleans inspired Creole menu and shaken and stirred signature cocktails from award-winning Shoreditch drinking den, NOLA.

Saxophonist YolanDa Brown, said: “New Orleans is known for its jazz roots – even the airport is named after Louis Armstrong – so the flight was an amazing way to launch into Mardi Gras.”

Packages for the sold-out VIP trip of a lifetime were sold exclusively through eBay, and included direct return flights, three nights’ accommodation, transfers and Mardi Gras grandstand parade tickets. Ten per cent of all auction bookings went towards Flying Start– the airline’s charity partnership with Comic Relief.

The airline will begin serving New Orleans with its new Boeing 787-8s from March 27, 2017 with four flights a week from Heathrow. It will be the only airline flying direct between Europe and the Louisiana city.

The route will be operated by a three-class Boeing 787-8, with return fares in World Traveller (economy) starting from £543, £935 in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and £1,755 in Club World (business class).

The charter arrived in time for Mardis Gras weekend.  The return flight will leave New Orleans at 11.25pm on February 27 and arrive in to Heathrow at 2.10pm the following day.

Jazz FM will be hosting a live programme from Mardi Gras, which will be available through their website.

For those wanting to join the party year-round British Airways Holidays offers five night holidays to New Orleans from £799pp. To book visit: www.ba.com/neworleans

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Notes to editors:

For images visit: http://mediacentre.britishairways.com/imagelibrary/categories

For more information email press.office@ba.com