Cyber Monday shopping for the typical self-ascribed geek usually includes finding the best deals on computers, video games and other high-tech gadgetry. But one lucky—and well-to-do—“nerd” bought a one-of-a-kind special yesterday when purchasing a special chartered Virgin America flight for $49,000.

Virgin America partnered with Gilt City—an online deal Web site—to offer a “nerdbird for hire” charter flight on a Virgin America Airbus A320 from San Francisco to the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The private roundtrip flight will take the buyer and 135 friends between the two cities, and they will all receive tickets to the CES. The flight will depart on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 9.

The flight sold out in “minutes,” according to Virgin America spokeswoman Abby Lunardini, and more than 180 offers were submitted. Everyone on board the flight will also receive year-long elite frequent flier status with Virgin America, and the buyer will be able to place the logo of his or her choice alongside the plane’s Virgin America logo for one month.

“It was not a huge surprise for us that there was so much interest, as we often get request from local Silicon Valley companies and entrepreneurs who want to charter one of our Wi-Fi-enabled planes to CES,” Lunardini said in an email to Today in the Sky.

[Image via Christopher Parypa/Shutterstock]

Samantha Lile

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.

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