We met as first Virgin Atlantic cabin crew 40 years ago – and are still flying high
A couple fell in love 40 years above the clouds while working as Virgin’s cabin crew on its first trans-Atlantic route.
The love story of Malcolm and Jacqui King-McKinnon, from Heswall, Wirral, is an epic meet-cute.
Both were working on Sir Richard Branson’s new creation, Virgin Atlantic – intended to disrupt the business of flying at the time – unaware of each other at first.
But their lives changed forever when Malcolm saw Jacqui at the car park of London Gatwick, wearing the ‘iconic red Virgin Atlantic uniform as she was pulling her suitcase from the boot of her car.’
Before the first encounter on one of Virgin’s inaugural flights from Manchester in the UK to North America, Malcolm offered to help Jacqui with her luggage and the pair walked to the crew check-in.
He said ‘that was it, I was smitten.’
He also committed to taking every flight with her from then on, saying he managed to do ‘a bit of ‘tactical roster adjustment” to get on Jacqui’s next five-night Miami trip from London.
Malcolm, 64, who hails from Troon in Scotland, told Metro.co.uk: ‘It was love at first flight.’
Both knew ‘there was a spark,’ but Mally – as Jacqui calls him – took things slowly ‘as he was, and still is, a proper gentleman,’ she said.
Jacqui, who was born in the Wirral, explained how the pair made courting work despite the transient nature of their job, which they both still work in.
She said: ‘There were occasions where Mally would work on the early flight to Los Angeles and I would work on the second Los Angeles flight, later in the day. It meant we were able to spend quality time together during the layover, experiencing new places and having fun.’
At the start of their relationship, they were able to fly together ‘two or three time a month’ while Jacqui trained to become a flight service manager (FSM), Malcolm said.
‘Once Jacqui became an FSM, we couldn’t operate the same flights, as there can only be one FSM operating a flight at a time, and I was already an FSM,’ the dad-of-two said.
But recently, as a special treat for one retiring captain, the couple were allowed to fly together from their base at Manchester Airport to Barbados – the first time Malcolm and Jacqui flew together since 1997.
Over the years, the couple became parents to two daughters Niamh, now 20, and Freya, 18.
Having a ‘lifestyle that incorporates a job’ meant their crew and company bosses have also become a tightly-knit ‘Virgin family through and through,’ Malcolm said.
One of Malcolm’s standout memories was on the London to Newark route, which was the company’s only route from 1984 to 1986, operated by one aircraft – a Boeing 747 Classic 200 series.
The couple renewed their wedding vows in early June at the famous Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
To surprise them, Sir Richard took over from the Elvis impersonator to officiate the ceremony that coincided with Virgin’s 40-year anniversary.
Sir Richard reportedly got the idea for Virgin Atlantic after getting stuck at the airport in Puerto Rico.
In bid to get to the British Virgin Islands to see his girlfriend, he rallied other passengers together to charter a flight to the lush Caribbean archipelago for ‘$39 one way to BVI,’ according to Travel and Leisure.
When back in England, he called Boeing to ask to buy a second-hand 747.
Since he had founded Virgin Records, he told Boeing on the phone he was with ‘Virgin’ when they asked which company he was with, the outlet reports.
The company launched officially on June 22, 1984.
Sir Richard said after Malcolm and Jacqui’s ruby wedding anniversary: ‘Our incredible people are what makes Virgin Atlantic so special – they are mavericks, trailblazers, they are kind and fun.
‘Getting to celebrate two of those people who have been with us since day one was an honour.’
Virgin Atlantic has positioned itself as a champion of individuality in the industry.
In 2022, it allowed staff to wear gender neutral uniforms if they want to.
Previously, company policy was changed to include optional make-up and allowing visible tattoos for both crew and font line staff, and optional pronoun badges.
Passengers can now choose gender neutral markers U or X for their tickets along with non-gendered title Mx.
Virgin's uniform fashion over the years
The company’s uniforms have been created by designers since 1984.
The first uniform was designed by Arabella Pollen, followed by Elizabeth Emanuel in 1991, and John Rocha in 2004.
Launching in 2014, its latest scarlet uniforms are by legendary British designer Vivienne Westwood.
Here are all the women’s uniforms through the years.
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