Here comes Lady Branson in red

Branson has to do this as he lost a bizarre bet in December 2009 with AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes over whether the latter’s Team Lotus, of which he is also co-principal, could outperform Branson’s Marussia Virgin Racing in the 2010 F1 season.

The condition of the bet is the loser would serve as flight attendant on each other’s airline – Fernandes on a Virgin’s flight and Branson’s in an AirAsia X’s flight.

The rest, they say, is history. At the F1 season finale at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in November last year Fernandes’ Team Lotus came out 11th while Virgin came out 12th (Read story of the bet here).

As the world was getting ready to see Branson take on the role of an AirAsia crew for a day a twist in the tale came when, as the story went, he ruptured a ligament after colliding into a teenager on the ski slopes in Switzerland.

But now the wait is over and the day of reckoning for Branson has finally arrived. On 1 May, on board AirAsia X flight D708 from London to Kuala Lumpur, the Virgin’s head honcho will strut down the aisle to serve coffee, tea and chicken rice to Fernandes and 250 guests.

To celebrate this special 13-hour flight there will be entertainment galore, on ground and in the air, as well as a charity cocktail evening in Kuala Lumpur.

UK’s DJs Jarren C and Dan Healy will be spinning away at the pre-departure event at Stansted.

On board guests will be spellbound by street magician Dynamo, There will also be a four-piece band, “Eddie & The Robbers”, and performing with it will be Eddie Jordan who has put many drivers on the world stage including Michael Schumacher. Joining in the fun are actor and comedian James Corden and stars from BBC’s “Gavin & Stacey” and “Horne & Corden.”

If you can’t make it to the flight but still want to rub shoulders with Fernandes and Branson, then you can attend the special Charity Cocktail Party in Kuala Lumpur on May 2 with tickets priced at £350. One of the highlights will be an auction of collectors’ items, which include personal items of Fernandes and Branson.

Pictured right: Fernandes with his AirAsia crew

All proceeds from the sale of the air tickets and auction will be channelled towards beneficiaries to be determined and announced by AirAsia & Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, at a later date.

An exuberant Fernandes said, “We’ve come a full circle, Richard and I. Who would’ve thought my mentor will be serving as a flight attendant on AirAsia? I’ve got my razor ready, and I can’t wait to shave his hairy legs! Jokes aside, how we got to this charity flight is a testament that we can achieve anything if we are fuelled by passion, grit, determination and never take no for an answer.”

Tickets are on sale online at AirAsiaGo.com from now until 07:00hrs (GMT +8) on 24 April. There are three charity package options, with 160 tickets on sale. Flight tickets are priced at £4,500, while flights and accommodation packages start from £5,200 for single accommodation and £5,000 for twin sharing.

• Photos courtesy of AirAsia