Virgin America Teams Up With The American Heart Association For Heart Health Month

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America and the American Heart Association (AHA) today announce they are joining forces for Heart Health Month. February has been dedicated 'America Heart Month' to help raise awareness of heart disease and stroke and to provide tips to stay "heart healthy" for your loved ones. To spotlight and support the AHA's work in the area of heart health, the airline has launched a "Follow Your Heart" fare sale with fares from $49* one way (taxes and fees included with restrictions applying) - with $10 from each ticket sold donated to the AHA.** Tickets are on sale now at www.virginamerica.com and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN*** and must be purchased by 11:59 pm CT on February 4th.  This month, flyers onboard Virgin America can learn more Heart Health Month – and can choose to donate to the cause right from the airline's touch screen Red® entertainment platform at every seatback.  In addition, many of Virgin America's in-flight teammates are helping to further support the cause by wearing the airline's red dress uniform and Red Dress pins to show their support for heart health awareness. 

"We're proud to collaborate with an organization that does such vital work in building healthier lives," said David Cush, President & CEO of Virgin America and Chair of the American Heart Association's San Francisco Heart Ball this year. "The American Heart Association is a tremendous community resource, and we are pleased to get our Teammates involved in the cause and to give our guests the opportunity to support the AHA's heart health mission as well."

In addition to donating $10** for every ticket booked today, Virgin America is also taking Heart Health Month to the skies. During the month of February, Virgin America flyers will see a PSA from the American Heart Association's life is why™ campaign on the airline's Red in-flight entertainment platform, and guests will have the option to donate directly onboard via credit card swipe through the Red Make a Difference giving feature. Additionally, many Virgin America in-flight teammates will show their support and help raise awareness by wearing their red dresses and Red Dress pins throughout the month. The Red Dress has long been a symbol for raising awareness about heart disease among women. The signature Virgin America red dress and red shoes were launched in 2012 as a way for In-flight teammates to show their support for the American Heart Association, and the optional uniform option quickly became one of the most popular uniform pieces for teammates. The following year, the red dress was officially made a permanent teammate uniform option.  Virgin America teammates have also participated in the AHA Heart Walk every year since 2009 – and have raised nearly $70,000 for the organization.

"Virgin America has always been an advocate for the American Heart Association and we thank them for their continued support," said Bernie Dennis, Chairman of the American Heart Association. "Not only is Virgin America helping us on the ground with donating money from ticket sales, but the airline is also helping out from 35,000 feet by providing an in-flight donation option on its entertainment platform. It is relationships like this that really help us in our mission to build healthier lives."  

Additionally, Cush will be chairing the American Heart Association's San Francisco Heart Ball on March 5, 2015. Virgin America's President and CEO set a goal to raise $1.3 Million to help the American Heart Association accomplish their mission of building healthier lives and many Virgin companies have come onboard to contribute exciting live auction packages for the Ball.

Attendees will be able to bid on items like naming one of Virgin America's new planes; a trip for two to travel in Upper Class onboard Virgin Atlantic Airways to one of Sir Richard Branson's stunning retreats – Ulusaba, South Africa – one of the properties in the Virgin Limited Edition Collection; or a trip for two to travel in Virgin America's First Class cabin to the ultra-exclusive launch party for Virgin Hotels Chicago, the brand's first property. Full descriptions of the live auction packages are available here.

Since its launch in August 2007, Virgin America has won a list of industry best-in-class awards for its topnotch service and fun, tech-savvy amenities like fleetwide WiFi and power outlets near every seat as well as personal entertainment via the airline's Red™ in-flight entertainment platform that offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, a 3,000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight.

The airline continues to expand its network across the country with flights to Austin, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas Love Field, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Newark, New York (JFK and LGA), Orlando, Palm Springs (seasonal), Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA).

Photos of Virgin America's unique aircraft can be found here and broadcast quality b-roll can be found here. 

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's Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past seven consecutive years. For more: www.virginamerica.com

About the American Heart Association: The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from cardiovascular disease and stroke – America's leading killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or join us, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or any of our offices around the country, or visit heart.org.

*Terms and Conditions:Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm CT on Wednesday, February 4, 2015.  For AUS-SFO, DAL-LAX/SFO/DCA/LGA, JFK-FLL, LAS-SFO, SEA-LAX/SFO, PDX-SFO, LAS-LAX, SFO-LAX, PSP-SFO, and SAN-SFO, all main cabin fares require a 14-day advance purchase and travel must occur between February 17, 2015 and May 20, 2015.  Travel for JFK-FLL must complete by April 25, 2015.  For all other markets, all main cabin fares require a 21-day advance purchase and travel must occur between February 24, 2015 and May 20, 2015.  Travel for BOS-LAS must complete by April 11, 2015.  Lowest sale fares are available only on certain itineraries.  Lowest sale fares are only valid for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.  Blackout dates include March 26, 2015 - March 29, 2015 and April 3, 2015 - April 6, 2015.  Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. For 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 $100 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. 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.

**American Heart Association Donation: Virgin America will donate $10 for each ticket sold during the "Follow Your Heart" fare sale to the American Heart Association, with a minimum donation of $25,000 and up to a maximum of $50,000.

***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

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SOURCE Virgin America

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