Virgin America Feels The Love: Airline Celebrates Its Touch Down At Dallas' Love Field
Airline Marks New Service with Uber "Downtown Express" Inaugural Flight and an In-Flight Performance by Grammy Award-Winning Country Star
Only Airline to Offer Premium Cabin Service to Downtown Dallas Travelers, Unveils New First Class VIP Check-in Experience
Airline Shares the Love with Free Uber Rides*, 50% off First Class and Main Cabin Select DAL Flights** and 20% off Main Cabin Seats Nationwide***
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the low-fare, upscale airline, today celebrates the launch of its new nonstop flights from Dallas Love Field (DAL) with a special inaugural flight, the unveiling of its new Dallas home and some Texas-sized deals for travelers. As of today, Virgin America launches three daily nonstop flights from DAL to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and starting on October 28th, four daily nonstop flights from DAL to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). With a loyal following of business travelers, the airline recently announced plans to add a fourth daily trip from DAL to DCA, SFO and LAX as of April 2015. The airline will be the only carrier at Love Field to offer three classes of service in these markets – including a First Class cabin and a Main Cabin Select premium economy service – as well as fleetwide WiFi, power outlets at every seat, a full-service food menu, confirmed seating and personal seatback entertainment for every guest. The airline today unveils its unique Love Field gate space and a First Class VIP check-in lounge that mirrors the sleek look and feel of the carrier's aircraft cabins and is the only dedicated VIP check-in area of its kind at Love Field.
Virgin America is kicking off its new flights by sharing the love with flyers – with 50 percent off Dallas Love Field fares in First Class and Main Cabin Select **. To further celebrate its Dallas expansion, the airline is also today offering 20 percent off Main Cabin seats on flights nationwide***.
"The lifting of the Wright Amendment is a historic day for aviation – and one that will bring more flights and more choice to Dallas travelers. Thanks to the support of the traveling public and the City, we're proud to have the opportunity to bring fresh competition to Love Field and to be a part of that story," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "Virgin America is now offering business-friendly nonstop flights from both coasts to the airport closest to downtown Dallas – a significant expansion of our network and a move that makes this world-class facility our third-largest airport. Our Company is looking forward to growing our roots here– and our teammates, including 70 new faces at Love Field, can't wait to show our award-winning service to more Dallas travelers."
Virgin America today opens its doors on a stylish new home at Love Field that reflects the airline's signature design. The airline's First Class VIP check-in lounge is located adjacent to its new Love Field ticket counters, and will give First Class guests and Elevate Gold members an upgraded experience from the moment they arrive at the airport's convenient downtown location – complete with a dedicated Virgin America VIP concierge to assist with their travel needs. The space extends the airline's cabin experience into the airport with design elements that include modern furniture pieces selected in collaboration with the Dallas-based design group Corgan – including Cassina Tre Pezzi lounge chairs, an Eames chair and ottoman and Foscaraini "Twiggy" floor lighting. The Love Lounge is also enclosed by a LED-lit divider wall by Molo Design. The airline's ticket counter will offer user-friendly and modern white kiosk check-in tables with touch-screen panels and a concierge desk look-and-feel. Virgin America's new gates also received the "Virgin" treatment, highlighting the brand's British roots with a classic red London phone booth and art photography capturing moments in Virgin brand history through the decades – from Virgin Records to Virgin Galactic.
"We're pleased to welcome Virgin America to Love Field and to see them increase their presence in Dallas. Virgin is known for its unique service and their new flights will serve our growing base of Dallas business travelers, as Love Field's proximity to the metropolitan area makes it a convenient choice for travelers heading to the West and East Coasts," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.
Virgin America is marking its last flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and first flight into its new home at Dallas Love Field today with the "ultimate Uber ride," a "Downtown Express" flight available to Uber customers as the ultimate on-demand pick-up for those who want to beat the cross-town traffic and check out the Virgin America experience on the way to the airport most convenient to downtown Dallas. The flight will be hosted by Virgin Group Founder, Sir Richard Branson, and include a live acoustic performance by Grammy Award-winning country music star, Kacey Musgraves. Upon arrival at the airline's new home at DAL, flight guests, including Dallas city leaders, will be greeted with a champagne toast and the airline will be giving away Uber rides* to 300 lucky travelers at Dallas' Love Field. The festivities at the airport will be followed by a star-studded red carpet evening fete at House of Blues Dallas. A "moodlit" Uber vehicle that recreates the airline's moodlighting hits the streets of Dallas today – and locals who catch a ride in the Virgin America-branded wheels will score an invitation to the airline's evening bash.
"We are excited to take part in this historic day for transportation competition in Dallas," said General Manager for Uber Dallas, Leandre Johns. "Business and leisure travelers alike deserve fresh choices - like Virgin America and Uber. Competition brings higher quality and lower cost options, which benefits residents and visitors to Dallas."
Last month, Virgin America asked flyers to "share what they love" in support of a good cause with a digital promotion that pledged $5 for every social share to the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Dallas-Fort Worth schools' first- ever music program. As a result, Virgin America is contributing $25,000**** today to the brand new music and rhythm program for underserved kindergarteners and first grade students in Dallas. KIPP students will be among those welcoming the airline's first DAL flight.
Virgin America's service is tailored to the modern business traveler, making it a perfect fit for Dallas-based and Dallas-destined travelers choosing to fly from Love Field's central location. The airline has been named the "Best Domestic Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for the past six consecutive years and in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past seven consecutive years. The airline was also named Travel + Leisure's "Best Domestic Airline for Food" this year. In April, the airline was ranked as the top U.S. carrier in the Airline Quality Rating, an annual study measuring on-time rates, guest satisfaction and other key metrics conducted by Wichita State and Embry-Riddle University. With mood-lit cabins, fleetwide WiFi, custom-designed leather seating, power outlets, personal touch-screen entertainment platforms, confirmed seating and new, quieter aircraft with three classes of service, Virgin America has attracted a loyal following of business travelers for its "office in the sky" amenities. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class cabin offers plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier's Main Cabin Select service offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding. The Red™ in-flight entertainment platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with more than 20 films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, a 3,000 song library and an on-demand menu, which allows flyers to order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. Virgin America's airport lounge – The Loft – is located at LAX and its Elevate frequent flyer program offers no black-outs or restrictions on rewards seats with three levels of status including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver. Virgin America's current 'Feel the Earn' offer gives Elevate members the ability to earn three times the points on First Class bookings, two times the points on Main Cabin Select, and up to an additional 25,000 bonus points for all flights in all cabins. In addition to the 'Feel the Earn' promotion, the airline is offering new Elevate members 7,500 bonus points once they take their first flight, plus an extra 500 points for signing up. Terms and conditions apply. For more: http://www.sharethelovedallas.com/
Since its 2007 launch, Virgin America has created more than 2,800 jobs and expanded its network to include Austin, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas Love Field, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Newark, New York (JFK), Orlando, Palm Springs (seasonal), Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA). Services from New York's LaGuardia Airport will begin on October 28, 2014.
Photos of Virgin America's "Downtown Express" plane and the airline's unique aircraft cabins can be found at: https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/about-our-airline/photos/dallas-love-field-photo-page.html
The airline's broadcast quality b-roll can be downloaded at: https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/about-our-airline/photos.html
Virgin America will also be reporting live from the festivities at Dallas Love Field today via its blog, Flyer Feed.
ABOUT VIRGIN AMERICA
Known for its mood-lit cabins, three beautifully designed classes of service and innovative fleetwide amenities — like touch-screen personal entertainment, WiFi and power outlets at every seat, Virgin America has built a loyal following of flyers and earned a host of awards since launching in 2007 — including being named both the "Best U.S. Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for the past six consecutive years and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards for the past seven consecutive years. For more: www.virginamerica.com
ABOUT UBER
Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our mobile app, we make cities more accessible, open uppossibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in over 200 cities today, Uber's rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. www.uber.com
ABOUT KACEY MUSGRAVES
Texas-native and Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Kacey Musgraves released her Mercury Records Nashville debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, in the spring of 2013 to massive critical acclaim and recognition. The album, which she co-produced with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart making her the first solo female in five years to open at No. 1 with a rookie release, and just seventh in the 22-year Nielson SoundScan era. The gold-certified album includes her top 10, platinum-selling single "Merry Go 'Round," "Blowin' Smoke," gold-certified "Follow Your Arrow," and "Keep It To Yourself." She's received CMT Music Award and Teen Choice Award nominations, and has taken home the award for "New Artist of the Year" at 2013's CMA Awards. Musgraves also won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song ("Merry Go 'Round") and Best Country Album (Same Trailer Different Park) and this past April took home the ACM Award for Album of the Year (Same Trailer Different Park). She has performed on "CMT CROSSROADS: Katy Perry & Kacey Musgraves," "Today Show," "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "2013 CMT Music Awards," "2013 Billboard Music Awards" and the "56th Annual Grammy Awards." Musgraves recently wrapped up her opening spot on Katy Perry's Prismatic World Tour and will kick off her headlining tour, Same Tour Different Trailer, at the end of September.
*Terms and Conditions for Uber ride offer: $50 off 1 ride: Unique promo code, that, when applied and used by (1) Uber user, will garner up to $50 their next ride, in any requested vehicle type. Code must be applied to users account prior to trip request. Valid for redemption through June 1, 2015 in the US only. New Uber users are invited to sign-up for their account today at uber.com/go/VXLOVE.
** Terms and Conditions for 50 Percent Discount Offer (Promocode: LARGE50). This offer ends on October 14, 2014 at 11:59pm PT. This offer is valid only for nonstop or connecting travel to/from DAL only; offer is not valid for any other routes or multi-city itineraries. Travel requires a 7 day advance purchase and must occur between October 20, 2014 and December 17, 2014. Promo code is valid for Main Cabin Select and First Class tickets only. Promo code is valid for a 50% discount off the base fare for travel Monday through Saturday only. Promo code is not valid on Main Cabin fares. Blackout dates for 2014 are as follows: November 7th, 10th, and 21st – 30th; December 1st. 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. Base fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of $5.60 per one-way trip or stopover, and a Federal Segment Tax of $4.00 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. A stopover is a break in travel of more than 4 hours between 2 flights. 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 up to 2 guests only. Offer is not transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers. Promotion code is not eligible for Elevate point redemption bookings. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. If travel is changed or cancelled, promo code discount will become invalid. For Main Cabin Select, travel solely between points in the Western Region (LAS/LAX/PDX/PSP/PVR/SAN/SEA/SFO/SJD only) changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. For all other itineraries, changes or cancellations can be made for a $150 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. For First Class, changes or cancellations can be made without a fee; an increase in fare will be collected if applicable. Any remaining balance will be placed in a guest's travel bank, good for travel on Virgin America for one year from date of issue. 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. . For Main Cabin Select, Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds free of charge for each ticketed guest. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25. For First Class, Virgin America will accept two (2) pieces of checked baggage up to 50 pounds free of charge for each ticketed guest. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the third (3) to the tenth (10) is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.
*** Terms and Conditions for 20 Percent Discount Offer (Promocode: LOVE20): This offer ends on October 14, 2014 at 11:59pm PT. This offer is valid only for nonstop or connecting travel; offer is not valid for any multi-city itineraries. Travel requires a 7 day advance purchase and must occur between October 20, 2014 and December 17, 2014. Promo code is valid for Main Cabin tickets only. Promo code is valid for a 2% discount off the base fare. Promo code is not valid for travel on Fridays or Sundays. Blackout dates for 2014 are as follows: November 7th, 10th, and 21st – 30th; December 1st. 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. Base fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.60 per one way trip, where each one-way trip may include a connection or stopover between two domestic flights not exceeding 4 hours, and a Federal Segment Tax of $4.00 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. For service to/from Mexico, base fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, the U.S. APHIS fee of $5, the U.S. Customs processing fee of $5.50, a U.S. International Arrival/Departure Tax of $17.50 each way and additional taxes/fees of up to $70, including: Mexico International Departure Tax and Mexico Tourism Tax. 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 up to 2 guests. 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. If travel is changed or cancelled, promo code discount will become invalid. For travel solely between points in the Western Region (LAS/LAX/PDX/PSP/PVR/SAN/SEA/SFO/SJC/SJD only) changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. For all other itineraries, changes or cancellations can be made for a $150 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Any remaining balance will be placed in a guest's travel bank, good for travel on Virgin America for one year from date of issue. Promo code cannot be used on Elevate points reward bookings. 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.
****Donation to KIPP DFW: Virgin America is donating $25,000 (both cash and in-kind) to the Knowledge is Power Program Dallas-Fort Worth, in support of their new music program.
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SOURCE Virgin America
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