• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » News » Virgin Atlantic Lounge Masseuses Sue Airline
NewsVirgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Lounge Masseuses Sue Airline

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 8, 2011 Leave a Comment

In typical tabloid fashion, we read about the plight of two Virgin Atlantic lounge masseuses:

Beauty therapists Jayne Evans, 40, and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, each developed chronic muscular strain – including pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists – after giving intensive shiatsu massages at the airline’s Terminal 3 “Clubhouse” lounge at Heathrow.

Their barrister, Theodore Huckle, told the High Court that both women were “devastated” at being forced to abandon their careers as a result of their injuries.

Muscular aches and pains mean the women cannot carry out a range of household tasks including peeling carrots or “taking the Sunday roast out of the oven”, the court heard.

Something about this story–beyond The Telegraph’s reporting style–rubs me the wrong way. While I am sympathetic to their plight, I am not convinced that a lawsuit is the appropriate remedy for the (well, let’s face it) natural effects of your chosen career.

Virgin Atlantic do not dispute liability for the two women’s injuries, but are contesting the amount of compensation due to them and the extent of their injuries.

Their symptoms, the court was told, were caused by working overlong shifts, and by using shiatsu pressure-point techniques “with heavy pressure and at fast pace”.

Most of their customers – who were always clothed so no could be lubricating oils used – were men who required heavier hand and finger pressure “involving particular strain on the thumbs”.

Mrs Evans “became distressed and was sent home” after a particularly strenuous session in October 2005 in which a “large male client” asked her to massage even harder than usual.

Well, you see a lot of large male clients in airport lounges–the sedentary lifestyle of the perpetual road warrior is not conducive to trim waistlines–and I find it curious that they are blaming Virgin Atlantic for forcing them to overexert their thumbs.

If I were Richard Branson,  I would immediately eliminate the massage amenity in my Clubhouse lounges–apparently, they are more pain than they are worth.

I suppose my speculation is moot because Virgin has already claimed responsibility and is just working on a settlement amount, but as heartless as this sounds, "If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

Having been in work situations where breaks are few and far between, I can understand the feeling of frustration Ms. Evans and Hindmarth must have felt when it was tea time and there was a line of people waiting for a massage, but unless Virgin was forcing them to work prolonged hours without rest, then I cannot cast the blame on Virgin.

Am I missing anything?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Hyatt Unveils Second Quarter Promotion – Up to 60K Gold Passport Points
Next Article Texas Lawmakers Attempt to Ban TSA Full Body Scanners

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Air India Crash Survivor

    The Miracle Of 11A: Sole Survivor Of Air India Crash Shares His Story

    June 12, 2025
  • Air India 787 Crash

    Over 200 Killed In Air India 787 Crash In Ahmedabad

    June 12, 2025
  • airlines selling passenger data

    Airlines Sold Passenger Data To Border Patrol, Then Tried To Hide It

    June 11, 2025

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Travel Blogger Kicked Off American Airlines
    Travel Blogger Kicked Off American Airlines Flight By Power-Tripping Flight Attendant June 12, 2025
  • Air India Crash Survivor
    The Miracle Of 11A: Sole Survivor Of Air India Crash Shares His Story June 12, 2025
  • Air India 787 Crash
    Over 200 Killed In Air India 787 Crash In Ahmedabad June 12, 2025
  • Cathay Pacific The Deck Lounge Review
    Review: Cathay Pacific The Deck Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 11, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025
  • a group of people in blue uniforms
    United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter May 28, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.