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Virgin gets Australia race-ready with Hat Valet

In a flurry of shoe shine and hair spray, Virgin Australia relaunches a service that will have every traveller looking their best during the carnival season.

In a flurry of shoe shine and hair spray, Virgin Australia relaunches a service that will have every traveller looking their best during the carnival season.

Virgin Australia is celebrating one of Australia’s most popular sporting events by launching a number of unique and personalised services for guests travelling from Sydney to Melbourne in time for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.

As travellers head south for the “race that stops a nation”, the airline has announced porters will again be on standby ahead of Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup to offer eligible guests a personalised Hat Valet service, ensuring premium handling of the most important part of any race day outfit.

A range of pre-flight pampering options will also be offered including professional blow-dries and hair styling, make-up kits by ModelCo as well as a dedicated shoe-shining service, all designed ensure guests arrive in Melbourne race-ready.

The unique services will be exclusively available in Virgin Australia’s flagship Sydney Lounge and via Australia’s first premium kerbside entry, for the thousands of expected travellers heading to the racing capital of Australia.

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Dannii Minogue checking in to check-out Virgin’s Hat Valet.

“Enhancing the customer experience to the benefit of our high value guests is an important focus for the airline,” Virgin Australia Group Executive Danielle Keighery said.

“We are delighted to be bringing the Hat Valet back as we know how important the premium handling of important fashion items can be to our guests when travelling to important events and functions. The dedicated styling services will also ensure our customers are looking their best upon arrival into Melbourne.”

Channel 7 X-Factor Judge, Designer and Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer, Dannii Minogue has already taken the service for a spin.

“Racing headwear is one of the most valuable pieces of any race day outfit, and the Hat Valet and unique styling services offered by Virgin Australia are a fantastic way to support fashion-savvy race goers as they make their way to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival,” she said.
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A bubbly Minogue with a glass of bubbles, getting pampered at Virgin’s Hat Valet.

The services will be exclusively offered in the premium kerbside entrance of Virgin Australia’s Sydney domestic lounge to all Business Class guests, Velocity Platinum, Gold and Lounge members. They will be available from 31 October 2014.

The Hat valet schedule is available on the airline’s website.

What is your tactic to getting race-ready off of a flight?