Alan Cumming turns red – literally. Based in the red glow of a Virgin Atlantic Lounge at Zoom, he sits down with me to celebrate his partnership with the airline. The actor, the writer, Emmy -winning “traitor” hostand self -proclaimed lovers of long distance flights have lent their unthinkable voice to “Relax and unwind with Alan Cumming“A soothing bedtime story designed to help travelers to facilitate a restful journey.
The collaboration marks the large opening of Virgin Atlantic’s new wellness-focused clubhouse (ie lounge) on salmon, where guests can unwind in spaces like zen it, enjoy nourishing pieces or sip cocktails before their red eye flights to London and thereafter.
Cumming, who loves a “spa day in heaven”, shares its excitement over the partnership, his personal TravelAnd why he never says no to a bloody Mary before the flight.
PS: How did your partnership come with Virgin Atlantic?
Alan Cumming: The idea of getting myself in a place where I will enjoy my flight most is something I really relate to. And I love a virgin lounge. Actually, many years ago I wrote a novel and there is a chapter in it – it’s actually called “Virgin Upper Class Lounge”, and things happen in the Virgin Upper Class Lounge in the London Heathrow.
I travel all the time, and I think it is very important to be in the right frame of mind for it. So this idea to enter this room, this lounge and the whole place is so focused on getting you in the zone, it’s completely up on my street.
PS: You are hosted for the superpopular show “traitor.” Traitor, believers – good behavior, bad behavior. Is there something that really annoys you, as far as Flight Pet peeves?
AC: Well, I don’t like rude in any way. I mean, I don’t like when people walk barefoot. I think it’s a bit obnoxious. To take off your shoes – it’s good if you keep your socks on or use the free socks. I’ve seen someone cut the nails once. I don’t like to be asked that selfies on airplane-it would be a no for me.
Everyone is there to have a nice time just to get to a place and have such a nice time to get where you have to go as possible. So chill out. But I judge people in a way: If you are rude to waiters, you are just a horrible person. And so I think it’s the same kind of behavior on a plane if you are rude to the air hosts, I mean for God’s sake.
I must also say that you can usually say on aircraft how well and how valued and how happy people are valued by their company and how happy they are at work. And I always like Virgin, everyone is so friendly and happy and really happy to be there. I have always known it about Virgin, that the whole company’s ethos is kind of kind and fun and happy. It makes a difference, I think.
PS: When you travel with people, is there anything special you are looking for in a travel buddy?
AC: I like to be adaptable. I don’t want to climb hills every day or jump out of plane. But also, I don’t really like lying by a pool. I like it a little, but I’d rather do something.
I think it is really important to be with someone who will not stick to the rules, stick to the preconceived view. It’s about just being spontaneous. That’s what you need in the trip. And even someone who is not a still. I think it is really annoying to go on vacation with people who are complaining.
With my friends I go on vacation with, we have one thing called “Holiday Hate.” When you go with a group of friends there is always someone you all just despise at the end of the week. It’s just kind of inevitable. It’s just one of these things. There must always be someone who is the least popular for various reasons. And it’s actually pretty good to have a “Holiday Hate.” You don’t really hate them, they’re just the one who is, yes, annoying. It’s like, there is one thing on movie sets where you always call it a “set crush.” It gives you something to talk about. It gets you excited: “Oh, your crush comes over. Oh my God.” It’s always good to have a “Holiday Hate.”
PS: Tell us about your Packaging style. Are you just a forwarding?
AC: I go in waves. Sometimes I just think, “Oh, fuck it”, and just take huge amounts of cases. But right now, because I have traveled so much and I fly another overnight tonight and I just came from Brussels, that’s when I’m just on. And me Roll up everything. My mother-in-law, unfortunately no longer with us, used to be a flight host in the 50s, and then she had this job to do demonstrations in malls where she would explain to people how to best pack a case. And she got me on this, that you roll up everything. It can get so much more in, it actually works. So I’m a roll.
PS: Is there anything you consistently do when you get on a plane?
AC: Well, in the lounge I always have a bloody Mary. I’ve been doing it for several years. It’s a kind of ritual. No matter what time of day it is, I have a bloody Mary. It’s kind of obliging now, purely medical. Someone told me today that your taste buds on the plane are reduced, so that is actually why people like them on a plane. And actually apparently the food is more salt on the plane because taste buds are boring! So I have a bloody Mary in the lounge on the plane.
I think, what should I do? Should I read? Should I work? Should I read the script? Should I look at my e -mail messages? I make a small plan and I have a pile with my book, iPad, phone, and then I watch the movies and decide which movies. I am one of those where I use the favorites (on the screen). It’s fun when you fly as much as I do and you are a little loyal to some airlines, then you are only every month you just die for the month to change, so they have new (movies) that come on.
And of course I don’t do any of it. Maybe I read a little. As soon as dinner comes and the wine starts to float, I just look at something and fall asleep. On one level, it is not the most healthy environment to be in: You clean through the air in a metal box with the speed of anything and with fun recycled air. So cut a little slack. Of course, you drink a lot of water, hydrate, put creams on, continue to put the cream on your face. I’m about a facial spray. But also have some drinks. You are in a very unnatural mind and mood-changing atmosphere, you might as well have a glass of wine.
PS: You have to live it up a bit.
AC: Year and years ago I was on a virgin flight and I went to LA to make a junk and my friend pretended to be my assistant so she could accompany me, and we had this rule. We said, “You can’t say no – for reason.” If someone said something similar “Do you want this?” You have to say yes. Enjoy all things. You should try it. It’s actually a really good rule.
PS: You come from Scotland. Is there anything you think is overlooked when it comes to traveling there or just exploring there?
AC: I’m one Really big fan of trainAnd I actually only did one documenter series about Royal Scotsman Train, which is a lavish Orient Express -team vibe without the murder. I love the idea to go through this beautiful landscape, but on a train.
When you take a little longer, you can experience the journey itself in the journey itself rather than just coming to the destination. And Scotland, it’s a small country, but it takes a long time to get to places because of all the mountains and all the fun small roads. So the train is a really good way to see it. It also gets you in the mood and slows you down in a way – a bit like this lounge Zens you out.
I also love a ferry. I used to have this site called It’s A Sickness, which is about obsession. One of the things I was obsessed with was these Caledonian Macbrayne ferries. They have this huge network of ferries that go to all islands and you can get a pass and just jump on them and go to all these different islands. It’s magical – slow trips. And if there are quick trips, try and still slow down when you can.
PS: Speaking of that I don’t know if you’ve heard the term “Raw dogging“A flight?
AC: Raw Dogging?
PS: Essentially it is when someone just gets on a plane and likes without joining without doing anything. What do you think about it? Would you ever do it?
AC: Total. I do it – raw dogging, whatever it means. I advocate it. And I actually advocate to plan to do things and then not do them. That’s what I say: Sometimes you think, it’s the only time I’ve come to myself next week, and it’s on a plane that is 37,000 feet. It’s tragic, but it’s often true to me, and I think I just have to go for it: Don’t do anything.
Samantha Leal Is a lifestyle writer, editor and editorial consultant who writes about beauty, wellness, travel, drinks and more – basically all the good things in life. She has had editorial roles on The Knot, Latina Magazine, Marie Claire and Well + Good, and she is written for PS, Bustle, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Glamor, Travel + Leisure, Byrdie, Stylecaster, Zoe Report and more.
