I'm standing by a swimming pool, watching a topless Sir Richard Branson pose for photographs. Just moments earlier, the billionaire owner of Virgin Group emerged from the water, shivering and dripping from head to toe. The 74-year-old waded into the pool at his Las Vegas hotel fully clothed to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 40th birthday.
It's a surreal sight in a city renowned for such things. I've come to Vegas for a whirlwind three-day trip after Sir Richard's airline reintroduced a direct flight from Manchester Airport to the US city last month. Flight VS85, an A350-1000 jet, will operate three times weekly over the summer months and is the only direct flight from the North West of England to the West Coast of the United States.
READ MORE: Police officer filmed in Manchester Airport incident under criminal investigation for assault In just over ten hours, you can find yourself transported from the runway of Manchester Airport to the sights and sounds of Las Vegas Boulevard. The flight is one of the longest I've ever been on but with an impressive array of the latest films, TV and games to keep me entertained, it passes in no time at all. In the capable hands of Virgin's experienced cabin crew, we're treated to a constant flow of drinks, meals and snacks as we soar across the Atlantic in style.
Flying over the vast expanse of the Mojave Desert on the descent to Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas's iconic skyline comes into view. There's a hum of anticipation among .