Virgin America Best U.S. Airline In Condé Nast Traveler's Business Travel Poll

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America today took the top honors for "Best Premium Class" among domestic airlines in Condé Nast Traveler's 2012 Business Travel Poll.  The annual independent survey of the magazine's business travelers ranked Virgin America as the top U.S. airline for Premium Class service for the fifth consecutive year, as reported in the October issue of Condé Nast Traveler – on newsstands now.  An independent firm asked over 46,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers identified as business travelers to rate hotels, airports and airlines on a variety of criteria.  Final scores (out of 100) represent the percentage of readers who rated a hotel, airport, or airline "excellent" or "very good." Virgin America's unique flight experience was ranked number one among all domestic carriers, with an overall score of 87.9.  For full survey results visit: www.cntraveler.com/travel-tips/business-travel/polls/2012/best-business-travel-hotels-airlines.

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

To thank its loyal business flyers, the airline today launches a "Jet Back to Business" fare sale – with Main Cabin fares from $59* from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and from $127* from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to LAX (restrictions, taxes and fees apply).  "Jet Back to Business" fare sale tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm CDT on October 3, 2012.  Travel must occur between October 22, 2012 and February 13, 2013.  Tickets are on sale now on Virgin America's Web site (www.virginamerica.com) and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877.359.8474).**For a full list of "Jet Back to Business" fares,' visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/booking/fare-sale. In addition, Elevate® frequent flyers who register now through October 31, 2012,  can earn 50 percent bonus points*** per $1 spent on the base fare for qualifying flights booked and flown in the airline's award-winning Main Cabin Select or First Class service before the end of the year.  All bonus points earned will also count towards Elevate Silver or Elevate Gold Status. For more on "Jet Back to Business" Bonus rewards, visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/booking/bonuspoints

With outstanding service, beautiful design and a host of high-tech amenities, Virgin America has built a loyal business flyer following since its 2007 launch.  The airline offers business travelers an "office in the sky" with fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal entertainment at every seat – including live TV like CNBC and CNN.  In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seats with a deeper pitch, the carrier's premium Main Cabin Select service offers guests 38" of seat pitch – about 6 inches more legroom than Main Cabin, unlimited complimentary cocktails and snacks from the airline's award-winning menu, an all-access pass to in-flight media content (including free movies and premium TV like HBO and Showtime), priority security access/boarding, dedicated overhead bin space and one free checked bag.  Virgin America's First Class features international-grade amenities and plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers.  The airline's Red™ in-flight entertainment platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, a 4,000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. Virgin America's latest advertising campaign offers a digital experience that brings the airline's unique cabins to life – through the eyes of a few of its most frequent travelers:  http://experiencevirginamerica.com.

This summer, Virgin America launched a suite of enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program – including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels that offer perks such as:  priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; points earning bonuses; free checked bag allowances; enhanced digital/social rewards; private discounts; an expanded advance purchase upgrade window for the airline's exclusive eight-seat First Class; complimentary space-available upgrades to the carrier's premium Main Cabin Select service; and complimentary access to the best seat assignments within Main Cabin. 

Virgin America has won a list of industry best-in-class awards since its 2007 launch, including "Best Domestic Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler's 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Readers' Choice Awards.  In just over five years flying, the airline has expanded to 19 airport destinations and has created 2,600 new jobs. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National (DCA). 

Photos of Virgin America's unique aircraft: http://www.virginamerica.com/about/airline-photos/virgin-america-pictures.html
Broadcast quality video b-roll can also be downloaded at: http://www.virginamerica.com/about/airline-company.html

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 was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 'Readers' Choice' Awards  and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 'World's Best' Awards.  The airline's base of operations is SFO's sleek new Terminal 2. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat.  For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com

*Fare Sale Terms and Conditions: All Main Cabin fares are one-way and require a 21-day advance purchase. Travel must occur between October 22, 2012 and February 13, 2013. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm CDT October 3, 2012. Lowest sale fares are available only on certain itineraries and are not valid for travel on Fridays and Sundays.  2012 blackout dates are: 11/12, 11/15 through 11/26, 12/14, 12/15, 12/21 through 12/23, 12/26 and 12/30. 2013 blackout dates are: 1/2, 1/5, 1/6, 1/18, 1/21. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $100 redeposit fee per guest. Guests who no-show without a change or cancellation prior to the scheduled departure time will forfeit the amount of this fare. In addition, any future flights booked in the same reservation will also be canceled and the fare will be forfeited. Tickets purchased from Virgin America through our reservation call center will cost an additional $20 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. 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 up to ten pieces of checked baggage, up to 50 pounds each, per ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee for each piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds 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 

*** Elevate First Class and Main Cabin Select 50% Bonus Points Offer:  The typical earn for Elevate members is 5 points per $1 spent on the base fare – in this promotion, you will earn 50% bonus points per $1 spent on the base fare for qualifying flights booked and flown in Main Cabin Select or First Class. To qualify for this offer, Guests must a) be enrolled in Elevate prior to registering for this promotion, b) register for the promotion between October 2, 2012 and October 31, 2012 and c) register for the promotion prior to their travel date to be eligible to earn the bonus points. Elevate members must correctly add their Elevate number to their reservation prior to their travel date. Registration ends on October 31, 2012. In order to qualify for this offer, your booking must be made in a qualifying revenue booking class in either First Class (J, C, D Fare Classes) or Main Cabin Select (W, Q, Z Fare Classes) for flights flown between October 2, 2012 and December 31, 2012. Qualifying Flights can be made to any Virgin America destination. Only tickets that are ticketed on a Virgin America prefix ('VX') and operated on Virgin America will qualify for this offer subject to these terms. Any changes or cancellations might result in disqualification from the offer. Complimentary upgrades made by Virgin America, or paid upgrades to First Class or Main Cabin Select do not qualify for this offer. All travel not normally eligible for earning reward points, including Reward bookings, are excluded from this offer. The 50% bonus points will be awarded in addition to the normal Elevate points earned at a rate of 5 points per $1 spent on the base fare for a total of 7.5 points per $1 spent on the base fare for qualifying flights. Go to www.virginamerica.com/elevate to view the standard Elevate points earning rules. 50% bonus points will be awarded to the qualifying member's Elevate account after a qualifying flight is flown. Elevate members who meet the registration, booking and travel requirements will receive 50% bonus points for all qualifying flights during this time. (For instance, if a member has 2 roundtrips, then they will earn 50% bonus points for both roundtrips.) Qualifying Elevate members will receive their points for qualifying flights in 2 steps: After the qualifying flight is flown, they will receive the normal 5 points per $1 spent on the base fare in their Elevate account. Within 4-6 weeks after the flight being flown, they will then receive the 50% additional bonus points per $1 spent on the base fare in their Elevate account. Bonus Elevate points earned in this offer will also qualify towards Elevate Gold or Elevate Silver status. Bonus points earned for flights flown between October 22, 2012 and December 31, 2012 will be included in the member's 2012 Membership Qualification Year status points balance. Bonus Elevate points cannot be transferred between accounts and will only be earned if the member has entered their Elevate membership number in their booking. If the member has chosen to earn points with a partner airline loyalty program, no bonus points will be earned on your travel with Virgin America. All Elevate program terms and conditions apply. Points required to redeem an Elevate travel reward on Virgin America will be publicly available on a seat and flight-specific basis and are subject to change. Domestic reward bookings are subject to a security fee of $2.50 per segment, payable by credit card or Virgin America credit file. The Passenger Facility Charge and Segment Fees are waived for domestic reward bookings. For international reward bookings, Virgin America guests are responsible for the taxes and fees incurred from international travel. These taxes and fees are subject to change at the discretion of each country's government and also vary from country to country depending on the origin and destination.

SOURCE Virgin America

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