Virgin America, StubHub and Hudson New York Team Up for Cyber Monday to Ticket the Ultimate Sports Fan Tailgate: A Private, Mile-High Ride to the Big Game in New Jersey in 2014
Flyers Also Score a Deal to Cheer About With Up to 20% off* Flights Nationwide on the Carrier with Live Televised Games on Every Flight
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Virgin America is teaming up with StubHub and Hudson New York to offer the ultimate tailgate: a private ride for 40 fantasy football friends on a new, mood-lit Virgin America Airbus A320-Family aircraft to the biggest game of the year on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Virgin America-StubHub-Hudson New York Cyber Monday "Big Game Plane" deal will score one super football fan the chance to travel to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with their team onboard a new Virgin America Airbus A320 commercial jet appropriately named 'jersey girl.' For a purchase price of $250,000, in addition to enjoying Virgin America's award-winning service, sleek design, fleetwide WiFi and live TV at every seatback – including sports programming on ESPN, FOX and more - the purchaser and team will enjoy a red carpet send-off from Los Angeles or San Francisco*, seats near the 20-yard line at the big game on Sunday, access to StubHub's pre-game party for its customers and fans and a three-night stay at Hudson, one of New York's premiere boutique hotels. The full details of this offer can be viewed at: www.StubHub.com/big-game-plane. Images of a branded "jersey girl" plane can also be found at: www.virginamerica.com/vx/photos.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131202/AQ25698)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)
For all those who don't score the Big Game Plane deal, the airline today launches a special "Game Plane" discount offer**: those who book today will receive up to 20 percent off of already low Cyber Monday Main Cabin fares** (restrictions apply). To get the special offer, members of the public can visit www.virginamerica.com and use the promocode "GAMEPLANE" through 11:59pm PT tonight for travel between December 18, 2013 and March 6, 2014**.
"Virgin America really is the sports fan's airline of choice with an unmatched combination of live sports channels available for free at every seat via our Red platform and fleetwide WiFi – to build your fantasy football team – not to mention one of the best beer selections in the domestic skies," said Luanne Calvert, Chief Marketing Officer at Virgin America. "So naturally, we thought it would be fun to take it to the next level and work with partners like StubHub and Hudson New York to create the ultimate sports fan getaway package and sell it on StubHub.com for Cyber Monday. We also thought it would be a fun way to celebrate our upcoming one-year anniversary of service to Newark."
Last spring, Virgin America launched service to EWR with three daily conveniently timed nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Virgin America's Newark service increased competition and has driven lower fares and better service. Prior to entering the EWR market – one of the nation's top business travel markets – the San Francisco-EWR route was served only by a single airline and the Los Angeles-Newark route was served by no low-fare carriers. Since Virgin America's launch of EWR sales, fares on the routes have dropped by as much as 40 percent and flyers have more service competition – with better service.
While onboard, the "players" will be treated to a mile-high tailgate fête that will include traditional sports fare like California micro-brews: Anchor Steam and 21st Amendment Back in Black while they enjoy the airline's live TV. Upon arrival on the East Coast, the lineup will enjoy a three-night stay at the stylish Hudson in midtown and access to The Subzero Experience, StubHub's pre-game party for its customers and fans, before hitting the big game on Sunday.
"We love Virgin America and their approach to providing the best customer experience, which is very similar to the way we put the fan experience above all else at StubHub," said StubHub's Chief Marketing Officer Ray Elias. "StubHub is also an extraordinary holiday gift, and this package is a great way to promote our gift offerings. I have to believe that this is one of the coolest Cyber Monday sales available by anyone in 2013!"
"Virgin America has been an amazing partner of ours since 2010 and we are excited to collaborate with them once again to provide a dynamic once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Big Game," said Kim Walker, Co-Chief Marketing Officer, Morgans Hotel Group.
The "Big Game Plane" package* includes a roundtrip charter flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Newark, complete with full bar, catering, flight crew, complimentary access to the Virgin America Loft at LAX (if traveling from LAX on outbound), 25 hotel rooms, 40 tickets to Stub Hub's pre-game party and 40 tickets to the big game – with a purchase price of $250,000. To view the offer, visit: www.stubhub.com/big-game-plane Images of the 'jersey girl' aircraft, can be downloaded here: www.virginamerica.com/vx/photos
Known for its inventive service and beautifully designed cabins, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch, including being named "Best Domestic Airline" in both Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past six years. Virgin America'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.
In just over six years of flying, the airline has expanded to 23 airport destinations and has created 2,600 new jobs. Virgin America currently flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs (seasonal), Philadelphia, Portland, San Jose, Austin and Anchorage (seasonal).
Short promotional video of sports fan watching Virgin America's live TV can be found here.
Photos of Virgin America's unique aircraft can be seen here.
Broadcast quality video b-roll can also be downloaded here.
About StubHub: StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, enables fans to buy and sell tickets to tens of thousands of sports, concert, theater and other live entertainment events. StubHub reinvented the ticket resale market in 2000 and continues to lead it through innovative tools and services. The company's unique online marketplace, dedicated solely to tickets, provides fans the choice to buy or sell their tickets in a safe, convenient and highly reliable environment. All transactions are processed and delivered by StubHub and backed by the company's FanProtect Guarantee™. StubHub Labs is a division of StubHub, providing cross platform innovation to deliver the most comprehensive end-to-end user experience. Company partners include the San Francisco Giants and University of Texas, along with over 60 teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and NCAA, complemented with companies such as ESPN, AEG, Tickets.com, and Paciolan. StubHub is also the official naming rights partner of StubHub Center, a 125-acre major league sports venue in Southern California, home to MLS' LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. For all of StubHub's technology news, please visit their new technology blog here. Fans can follow StubHub at stubhub.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
About Virgin America: Headquartered in California, Virgin America, which celebrated its sixth year of operations in August, offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel and has swept the industry awards. Most recently, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2013 'World's Best' Awards,' an award the carrier has won every year since 2008. In May, Virgin America was voted "Best Airline" by Consumer Reports Magazine. In April, Virgin America topped the 2012 Airline Quality Rating, a joint research project conducted annually by faculty at Wichita State University and Purdue University that analyzes airline data as reported by the DOT. Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the CondéNast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 'Readers' Choice' Awards. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport (SFO)'s sleek and sustainable Terminal 2. Virgin America offers Gogo™ WiFi on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies via the touch-screen Red™ platform, and provides power outlets near every seat. Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has created 2,600 new jobs and now flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs (seasonal), Philadelphia, Portland, San Jose, Austin and Anchorage (seasonal). For more information: www.virginamerica.com
About Morgans Hotel Group: Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) is widely credited as the creator of the first "boutique" hotel and a continuing leader of the hotel industry's boutique sector. Morgans Hotel Group operates Delano in South Beach, Mondrian in Los Angeles, South Beach and New York, Hudson in New York, Morgans and Royalton in New York, Shore Club in South Beach, Clift in San Francisco and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. Morgans Hotel Group has ownership interests or owns several of these hotels. Morgans Hotel Group has other property transactions in various stages of development, including Delano properties in Las Vegas, Nevada; Cesme, Turkey; Moscow, Russia; and Cartagena, Colombia; Mondrian properties in London, England; Istanbul, Turkey; Doha, Qatar and Baha Mar in Nassau, The Bahamas; and a Hudson in London, England. Morgans Hotel Group also owns a 90% controlling interest in The Light Group, a leading lifestyle food and beverage company. For more information please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.
Super Bowl is a registered trademark of the NFL and is used here for factual purposes only. Neither StubHub, Virgin America, Morgans Hotel Group, nor their affiliates is affiliated with the Super Bowl.
*Terms and Conditions for "Big Game Plane" Package: This offer ends at 11:59pm PT on December 9, 2013. See full details here: www.stubhub.com/big-game-plane-terms
**Terms and Conditions of Sale: This offer ends at 11:59pm PT on December 2, 2013. This offer is valid only for nonstop or connecting travel; offer is not valid for any multi-city itineraries. Travel must occur between December 18, 2013 and March 6, 2014. Promo code is valid for non-refundable Main Cabin tickets only. Promo code is valid for a 20% discount off the base fare for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and a 10% discount off the base fare for travel on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Blackout dates are Dec 20 – Dec 25, Dec 27 – Dec 31, 2013, Jan 2 – Jan 6, Jan 17, Jan 20, Feb 14 and Feb 17, 2014. 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 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.90 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 $17.20 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 www.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. 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 $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Tickets purchased through Virgin America's reservation call center will cost an additional $20 per itinerary guest; 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. For non-refundable Main Cabin, Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds for $25 for each ticketed. 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.
SOURCE Virgin America
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