Virgin America Launches New Service to Los Cabos and Cancun

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America today announces it will serve San Jose del Cabo International Airport (SJD) and Cancun International Airport (CUN) with nonstop flights from California starting this winter.* Nonstop flights launch from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to SJD as of December 16, 2010, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to CUN as of January 19, 2011, and from SFO-CUN as of January 20, 2011. To celebrate the new routes, the airline today launches a spicy three-day fare sale -- with fares from $109** coast-to-coast and $129** to Mexico.  On top of these hot fares, tech-forward flyers in need of a Mexican getaway can score a two-for-one ticket offer*** by checking in on Loopt Star, the location-based social mapping network, at SFO, LAX or select taco trucks in San Francisco and Los Angeles from 11:00am-3:00pm PT today.  Proceeds from every taco purchased will benefit the City of San Francisco's Animal Care and Control Chihuahua rescue efforts.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100831/AQ57254)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100831/AQ57254)

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

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

"We're pleased to bring our service to these world-class Mexican destinations and to offer travelers a better value and a unique flight experience," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush.  "We think flyers deserve to start their Mexican getaways as soon as they board their flight.  And with low fares, touch-screen entertainment, beautiful cabins and a host of other features aimed at bringing the fun back to flying, we think travelers will agree that Virgin America is the perfect way to start their Mexican vacation a few hours early."

In June 2010, the airline announced its intent to launch flights to Mexico by seeking authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin flying the routes as of this winter.  DOT granted the airline authority to begin operations on the routes earlier this month.  The airline has announced the start of Mexico service pending the necessary Mexican government approvals.  With the launch of the Mexico routes, Virgin America will serve three international destinations in its growing network.  

"We are pleased to welcome Virgin America to Los Cabos.  The decision to serve San Jose del Cabo is a testament to our destination's strong tourism economy and commitment to provide each visitor with an unmatched vacation experience," said Gonzalo Franyutti De La Parra, President of the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Virgin America's fares to Mexico start from $129** in Main Cabin for SFO-SJD, SFO-CUN and LAX-CUN.  Other spicy hot fares start from $39** on LAX-SFO, SFO-Las Vegas (LAS) and SFO-San Diego (SAN) flights -- and from $109** for LAX-Washington Dulles (IAD) and SFO-Fort Lauderdale (FLL).  Tickets are on sale today on Virgin America's Web site (www.virginamerica.com) and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877.359.8474).****

In addition, the airline is celebrating the new routes by giving a special offer to those who check-in on Loopt Star today.  By checking in at SFO, LAX or one of Virgin America's mobile taco truck locations between 11:00am and 3:00pm PT today with the free Loopt Star App on their iPhone, members of the public can score a $1 two-for-one taco deal along with a two-for-one ticket offer*** on Virgin America's new flights to Mexico.  

• In Los Angeles, the public can look for Virgin America's in-flight teammates in uniform at the Border Grill taco truck at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard.  
• In San Francisco, the airline's in-flight teammates and some SF ACC Chihuahua friends will be posted at hometown taco truck favorite, Los Compadres, at 100 Folsom Street.  

Guests checking in on Loopt Star at SFO and LAX will also receive the special ticket offer.  To be eligible, one must check-in using the Loopt Star iPhone app, which is available at the Apple iTunes store or at loopt.com /looptstar.

Proceeds from every taco sold today, will support the San Francisco Animal Care and Control's (SF ACC) animal rescue programs -- including its Chihuahua rescue efforts.  In January, Virgin America teamed up with SF ACC to fly Chihuahuas to New York so the dogs could be adopted into new homes.  The overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California continues to force animal shelters on the West Coast to look to shelters on the East Coast for help.  

"With Loopt Star, consumers get to tap interactive rewards wherever they may be," said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of Loopt. "Teaming up with an innovative travel brand like Virgin America on one of its new city launches, is a fun way to deliver instant rewards to its loyal and increasingly mobile customer base.  Virgin America flyers tend to be more likely to be using a mobile device and tapping social networks -- even at 35,000 feet."

The airline's Mexico flight schedule is as follows:

Known for its design-driven and fun flight experience, Virgin America has been growing and winning over travelers since its August 2007 launch.  The airline offers mood-lit cabins, the most advanced touch-screen in-flight entertainment platform in the North American skies and custom-designed leather seats.  Virgin America has swept the major travel awards, including "Best Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 and 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and for the past three consecutive years in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.  Virgin America's live satellite television and WiFi are not available on the aircraft after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

In July 2010, Virgin America announced plans to order 40 new aircraft.  Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Orlando (starting October 6, 2010), Dallas-Fort Worth (starting December 2010), Los Cabos (starting December 16, 2010) and Cancun (starting January 19, 2011).

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. owned, controlled and operated airline.  It is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America employs over 1600 people. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport.  Virgin America offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies via the Red™ platform.  In addition to a 30-film library including foreign language films and Hollywood blockbusters, Red offers live TV, games, seat–to–seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, Google maps, the world's first seatback digital Shop platform and more. In three years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 and 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards.  For photos and more: www.virginamerica.com

About Loopt: Loopt is the leading location-based mobile social mapping company. Loopt produces a suite of mobile applications including Loopt, Loopt Star, Loopt Pulse for iPad and Loopt Mix, to allow users to discover the world around them. Loopt products use location on mobile phones, iPad and iPod touch devices to help their users find and enjoy the friends, places, and events around them right now. Loopt Star is a mobile rewards game that lets consumers check in to compete with friends and win real-world rewards from retailers and organizations. Loopt Star offers businesses, like Virgin America, a virtual loyalty card, allowing them to connect directly with their customers when they're out and about. The Loopt services have more than 4 million registered users and partnerships with every major U.S. mobile phone carrier.  See loopt.com for details. Loopt was designed with privacy considerations at its core and offers a variety of effective and intuitive privacy controls. Find Loopt on twitter.com/loopt and facebook.com/loopt

* Mexico service is subject to Mexican government approval.

**Terms and Conditions for Spicy Systemwide Fare Sale: All Main Cabin fares are one-way, based on travel originating from the US, and require a 7-day advance purchase. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Fare sale starts 5:00pm PDT August 30, 2010. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm PDT September 2, 2010. For SFO-SJD service, travel must occur between December 16, 2010 and March 16, 2011. For LAX-CUN service, travel must occur between January 19, 2011 and March 16, 2011.  For SFO-CUN service, travel must occur between January 20, 2011 and March 16, 2011.  For LAX-DFW service, travel must occur between December 1, 2010 and February 15, 2011.  For SFO-DFW service, travel must occur between December 6, 2010 and February 15, 2011. For all other service, travel must occur between September 6, 2010 and November 17, 2010. For SJD and DFW service, blackout dates are December 17-18, 2010; December 23,-24, 2010; December 26, 2010; December 30, 2010; January 2- 3, 2011; February 18, 21, 2011. Service to/from Orlando (MCO) begins October 6, 2010. Higher domestic U.S. sale fares are available for travel on Fridays and Sunday. 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 $75 fee if changes are made on Virgin America's website (www.virginamerica.com) or a $100 fee through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $75 redeposit fee. Guests who no-show without a change or cancel 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 $15 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. 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 or the U.S. APHIS fee of $5. For service to/from Toronto, fares do not include additional taxes/fees of up to $50, including: Airport Improvement Fee, Canadian Security Fee, Goods and Services Tax, and Harmonized Sales Tax. Bookings made at a Canadian point of purchase are subject to a $16.10 International Arrival/Departure tax, 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. 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 Canada, and for 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.

***Terms and Conditions for Two-for-One Offer:  While supplies last.  This offer ends and promo code must be used by 11:59pm PDT on September 30, 2010. For SFO-SJD service, travel must occur between December 16, 2010 and May 4, 2011. For LAX-CUN service, travel must occur between January 19, 2011 and May 4, 2011.  For SFO-CUN service, travel must occur between January 20, 2011 and May 4, 2011. One time use promo code is valid for travel to/from Mexico only and is valid for non-refundable Main Cabin fares only and excludes fully refundable Main Cabin, instant upgrade to Main Cabin Select, Main Cabin Select and First Class fares. Blackout dates are December 17, 18, 23, 24, 26, 30, 2010, January 2, 3, 2011, and February 18, 21, 2011. Promo code may only be used for bookings made on virginamerica.com and is only valid on itineraries of 2 guests traveling together on a single reservation. This offer is valid for nonstop and connecting flights only. Decreasing the number of guests, splitting the itinerary or changing names will be subject to change or cancel fees and may result in the loss of the discount. 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. 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. 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 $15 per guest per itinerary; this amount is non refundable if travel is changed or cancelled. 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 service to and from Mexico, fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, APHIS fee of $5, U.S. International Arrival/Departure tax of $16.10 each way, and additional taxes/fees of up to $60, including: Mexico International Departure Tax and Mexico Tourism Tax. Fares may include a surcharge. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares are not applicable to check-through connecting flights for city pairs where direct flights are offered. Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds free of charge for each ticketed guest flying 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. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice.

****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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