Virgin America Asks Chicagoans to Take the 'Flight for Chicago' Facebook Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the new airline that is anything but ordinary, today launches a social media-driven digital marketing campaign that invites flyers in its newest market to take the "Flight for Chicago Challenge."  In February, the award-winning airline launched sales to its newest market of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), with daily nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting on May 25, 2011.  With legacy airlines representing 98 percent of domestic departures at ORD, Virgin America is injecting some much-needed competition into the ORD-West Coast routes with its unique low-fare flights.  The "Flight for Chicago" Facebook Challenge asks Chicagoans to help the new airline "put the smack-down on ordinary air travel" and fight for a good cause at the same time.* Those who submit an approved Facebook photo or video by May 11, 2011, showing how they "rise above the ordinary" and are not "featherweight flyers" receive a two-for-one offer** on Virgin America's fresh new Chicago flights.  The airline will donate $5 per entry to Stand Up To Cancer.***  The top five video submissions and top five photo submissions,  as determined by voting and judging,  will go on to become "contenders" to decide who will be the title holder of the Chicago skies, with the airline inviting them to fly on its competition to California and back to Chicago on one of Virgin America's inaugural flights.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

"Until now, travelers flying from O'Hare to SFO or LAX had little choice.  We think flyers deserve more – not only low fares, but a flight experience they may actually enjoy instead of the off-chance they may get to upgrade from poor to average on a legacy airline.  When guests step on to one of our new planes, they see that in every class of service – everyone has a great seat, their own seatback entertainment, friendly service and status – right out of the gate," said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. "We believe our service will be a breath of fresh air in the market and we're even inviting Chicagoans to fly with us and the competition and then asking them to decide the victor. The Flight for Chicago campaign is a playful, tongue-in-cheek way to introduce flyers to our service and invite them to join the fight for a better flight."  

Known for its mood-lit, beautifully designed cabins, touch-screen entertainment and low-fare service, Virgin America has been shaking up the status quo in domestic flying since its 2007 launch – and winning over consumers and travel awards along the way.  The top ten "Flight for Chicago" contenders will score a one-way flight from ORD to LAX or SFO on any competing domestic airline and a "victory lap home" on one of Virgin America's May inaugural flights from California to Chicago.*  Contenders will also receive environmentally-responsible roundtrip ground transportation from Embarque, a three-night stay at the Clift San Francisco or Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel and a video-enabled no-contract Virgin Mobile USA LG Optimus V with a $40 Top-Up card to document their experience.  Voting is open to everyone, and those who vote will also receive a 20 percent off discount promo code**** on Virgin America flights. The "Flight for Chicago" challenge is live from April 20, 2011 – May 11, 2011 on the airline's Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/virginamerica

Virgin America was voted the "Best Domestic Airline" in both Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's  World's Best Awards for the past three consecutive years.  The airline's new Airbus A320 Family aircraft feature beautifully designed mood-lit cabins, standard power outlets near every seat and comfortable leather seating. The Red™ in-flight entertainment platform offers every guest their own seat-back touch-screen with 30 on-demand films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 3000 MP3 catalog and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or meal right from their seatback any time during a flight.  In May 2009, the airline became the first to offer Gogo™ WiFi on every flight – via its partnership with the Illinois-based Aircell.   In addition to a Main Cabin that offers every traveler a personal touch-screen entertainment platform, power outlets and custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers.  Virgin America's Main Cabin Select option offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to the Red system's countless media options, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding.

Virgin America begins scheduled service to ORD from LAX and SFO on May 25, 2011.  Virgin America's tickets to ORD are on sale today on the airline's Web site (www.virginamerica.com) and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN. ***** The airline's daily nonstop ORD schedule is as follows:

Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Departs 8:45am, Arrives 11:00am
Departs 7:15pm, Arrives 9:35pm

Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (ORD)
Departs 12:05pm, Arrives 6:10pm
Departs 5:55pm, Arrives 11:45pm

Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO)
Departs 7am, Arrives 9:30am
Departs 12:05pm, Arrives 4:35pm
Departs 5:35pm, Arrives 8:10pm

San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD)
Departs 6:55am, Arrives 1:05pm
Departs 10:25am, Arrives 4:40pm
Departs 4:35pm, Arrives 10:45pm

Connecting flights will also be available from ORD to Virgin America's San Diego, Seattle and Las Vegas destinations.

In February of this year, Virgin America announced its intent to serve ORD with a generous Groupon offer that gave flyers the chance to purchase a Groupon good for a roundtrip purchase on Virgin America's new ORD routes.  The offer for travel on the tech-forward new airline is the first Featured Deal that Groupon has launched solely for air travel.  The deal sold out in mere minutes.

The "Flight for Chicago Challenge" was designed and built by the New Jersey-based design and advertising agency, One Trick Pony. The agency produces branded and interactive media for a number of other Virgin groups, including Virgin Mobile USA, Virgin Mobile FreeFest, Virgin Unite, and Virgin Hotels.

As Stand Up to Cancer's (SU2C) Official Domestic Airline partner, Virgin America has pledged to support SU2C's mission through a multi-year partnership aimed at driving awareness and funding for accelerated cancer research to save lives.  On Virgin America, travelers are able to join the SU2C movement at 35,000 feet via the Red™ entertainment platform.  Virgin America guests can visit the Shop "Make a Difference" section on the Red platform, choose a donation, swipe a credit card and join the fight to bring an end to cancer – right from their seatback touch-screen.  100% of the funds raised both through the Flight for Chicago Challenge and onboard go directly to collaborative cancer research and efforts designed to speed groundbreaking treatments to patients.  The Virgin America-SU2C partnership kicked off in September 2010, just as SU2C returned to primetime television for a star-studded show simultaneously aired on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and many cable networks.  The show combined entertainment with an appeal to build public support for cancer research and included an appearance by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin America's teammates.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun and Chicago (starting May 25, 2011).

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel.  Virgin America is a U.S. owned and operated airline that has created 2000 jobs and welcomed more than 11 million guests since its August 2007 launch.  In January 2011, Virgin America announced plans to triple its fleet size by 2019 with an order for 60 new Airbus A320 Family aircraft – including the first order for the new eco-efficient Airbus A320neo.  On April 14, 2011, the airline opened its new home as an anchor tenant at SFO's new beautiful and sustainable Terminal 2.  

About Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) was established by leaders from the film and media industries who utilize the resources of those businesses in unique ways to get the public involved in supporting a new model of cancer research. The group produced two major televised events, in 2008 and 2010, that raised funds for teams of scientists collaborating on research that will get new therapies to patients quickly in order to save lives now. More than 100 celebrities participated in each program, conveying how cancer connects us all, and telling the stories both of people who survived the disease, as well as those taken by it. All of the major U.S. TV networks donated airtime for the broadcasts, which ran in more than 195 countries and raised millions of dollars for research.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 21 years or older who did not purchase any equipment for purposes of entering the Contest. Ends: 5/12/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including prize description, visit http://www.facebook.com/virginamerica.  Void where prohibited.

** This offer ends at 11:59pm PDT on May 31, 2011. Travel must be to/from Chicago (ORD) on non-stop or connecting itineraries; multi-city itineraries are invalid. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. One time use promo code is valid for non-refundable Main Cabin tickets only in fare classes S, L, M, U, E, H, B, or V. Travel must occur between May 25, 2011 and October 27, 2011. Blackout dates are May 27, May 30, July 1, July 4, July 5, September 2, and September 5, 2011. Promo code may be used only towards newly booked travel and may not be applied to prior bookings. Promo code discount will be deducted off of base fare. Promo code may not be redeemed for cash. Promo code may only be used for bookings made on virginamerica.com and is only valid on itineraries of 2 only. Offer is not transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Tickets require advance purchase of 7 days. If travel is changed or cancelled, promo code discount will become invalid. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee if changes are made on Virgin America's website or a $100 fee through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Tickets purchased through Virgin America's reservation call center will cost an additional $20 per guest per itinerary; this amount is non refundable if travel is changed or cancelled. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket.  Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $25 for each ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

*** Virgin America will donate $5 per submission to Stand Up To Cancer for the first 500 entrants.

**** This offer ends at 11:59pm PDT on May 31, 2011. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. For international travel, fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, the U.S. APHIS fee of $5, and the U.S. International Arrival/Departure tax of $16.10 each way. For service to/from Mexico, fares do not include additional taxes/fees of up to $60, including: Mexico International Departure Tax and Mexico Tourism Tax. One time use promo code is valid for non-refundable Main Cabin tickets only in fare classes S, L, M, U, E, H, B, or V. Travel must occur between May 25, 2011 and June 15, 2011 or September 6, 2011 and October 27, 2011. Blackout dates are May 27 and May 31, 2011. Promo code may be used only towards newly booked travel and may not be applied to prior bookings. Promo code discount will be deducted off of base fare. Promo code may not be redeemed for cash. Promo code may only be used for bookings made on virginamerica.com and is only valid on itineraries of 2 or less. Offer is not transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Tickets require advance purchase of 7 days. If travel is changed or cancelled, promo code discount will become invalid. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee if changes are made on Virgin America's website or a $100 fee through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Tickets purchased through Virgin America's reservation call center will cost an additional $20 per guest per itinerary; this amount is non refundable if travel is changed or cancelled. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket.  Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $25 for each ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. and free of charge for each ticketed guest traveling to/from Mexico. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

*****Any guest calling within the United States has access to a complimentary telecommunication relay service by dialing 711. For more information, go to: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/telecomm.asp.

SOURCE Virgin America

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