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Save/ShareToday, a new discount airline, Virgin America, began selling tickets at its website. New York to San Francisco fares start at $278 round-trip. Flights start August 8.
This is good news for travelers flying across country because Virgin America is expected to undercut the fares offered by other airlines to win passengers on key routes. For example, the inaugural trans-continental route (between San Francisco International airport and JFK airport) starts Aug. 8 with $138 one-way fares, compared with JetBlue's recent offer of $209 one-way fares (out of nearby Oakland airport to JFK).
Virgin America's hub is in San Francisco, with nonstop flights to New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. (To see the full combination of routes from various cities, check out Virgin America's current route map.) Virgin America will serve as many as 10 cities within a year of operation, and up to 30 cities within five years
Virgin America will raise the bar on the level of service expected in economy class. (Remember, British parent company Virgin Atlantic is the airline that invented seatback entertainment systems, which currently offer 54 channels of entertainment.)
In a great perk, every seat will have an electric 110-volt outlet, so you can power your laptop or other electronic device for long transcontinental flights. Each coach seat will boast 32 inches of legroom (which is an inch or two more than the industry standard for economy-class), and the "reclining pivot is forward and up an inch to spare the knees of the passenger behind you." And did I mention that the seats are leather?
The 9-inch seatback touchscreens will allow you entertainment options including 25 on-demand movies for $8 a pop; free live satellite TV channels such as ESPN (and its four sister channels), CNN, FX, Independent Film Channel, and the Food Channel; free interactive Google maps; and an ability to order your in-flight meal electronically. You can even use your seatback system to swipe your credit card to make any on-board purchases (primarily food). You'll also be able to send instant messages to fellow passengers who agree to receive them. (You'll have complete control over who can send you messages, in case you're worried about textual harassment.)
Tickets are for sale through VirginAmerica.com and Orbitz.
[Update 7/22: JetBlue and Southwest are lowering their prices to compete with Virgin America.
Related: YouTube has a two-minute video of how Virgin America's seatback TVs work.)
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Having power outlets on all seats is great. When will the airline begin offering Internet access for its passengers as well?
Posted By Lewis Edge on July 23, 2007, 6:47 AM
Can't wait for them to start having some Dallas flights! Sounds like some wonderful perks~
Posted By valeri on July 23, 2007, 9:11 AM
Does Virgin America plan to depart from LAX to the east coast?
What about to Boston Logan ?
Posted By Leni Posner on July 23, 2007, 11:06 AM
Hoping they add Boston soon. Product looks good--but it really would be nice if you had even a 6 hour window to hold a reservation before having to ticket.
Posted By Paul Kowal on July 23, 2007, 11:15 AM
Can miles be earned and combined with the regular Virgin Airlines? This is and will be my favorite airline ever!
Posted By Wanda Tormos on July 23, 2007, 1:58 PM
I love flying Virgin Atlantic. The customer service is first rate. I can't wait to fly this new offspring airline.
Posted By Robin Hartsell on July 23, 2007, 2:29 PM
Yes, Leni,
Virgin America plans to have routes between L.A and NYC, L.A. and D.C., and L.A. and SFO. No immediate plans to include Boston, though the airline plans to expand rapidly and has bought enough planes to do just that.
Thanks for your comment,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on July 23, 2007, 3:27 PM
Dear Wanda,
Thanks for posting your message about Virgin America to our blog.
To answer your question, no Virgin America's frequent flier program, called elevate, is not allied with Virgin Atlantic's or Virgin Blue (the Australian airline)'s frequent flier programs. But that may happen in the future.
The Virgin America program is based on dollars spent rather than miles flown, which is one unusual aspect.
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on July 23, 2007, 3:36 PM
Dear Sean,
Thanks for your message. That's encouraging to learn. Aside from watching
DVDs there aren't many reasons, other than Web access and answering email,
that I would want to plug my laptop computer into an airplane's electric
outlet. As a laptop/portable computer-using road warrior and international
traveler for more than twenty five years, it has been interesting to see the
transition for hotels from having their phones hard-wired to the wall, to
offering modem data ports to now offering free in-room Wi-Fi and wired
Internet access. Eventually, I believe that most of us will look back at
how "quaint" it was that people had to be plugged in.
Sincerely,
Lewis
Posted By Lewis Edge on July 23, 2007, 3:55 PM
Will there be any service from Phoenix Sky Haebor airport?
Posted By Selma Ost on July 23, 2007, 4:19 PM
Do you know if florida, fll mia will be included in future routes?
Posted By ldstarr on July 23, 2007, 4:29 PM
I agree! This sounds like a fabulous airline start-up. I can't wait until they branch out to other segments of the country. I'd board them in a heartbeat if they were flying from, or near, my home city.
Come to Columbus, Ohio, Phoenix, or even Orlando, Florida, Virgin America-- I fly out of all these areas!!
Smile.
Posted By Zey Tavia on July 23, 2007, 4:51 PM
Way to go Virgin .. Finally a Classy discount airline hits mainland usa ..
Posted By Joey Stewart on July 23, 2007, 4:51 PM
Update:
Virgin America has not yet announced its scheduled routes for elsewhere in the country. I hope that MIA and PHX and CMH are included!
Best,
Sean
(Blog editor)
Posted By Blog Editor on July 23, 2007, 4:56 PM
What about Atlanta (ATL), Milwaukee (MKE), the Twin Cities (MSP), and Chicago (ORD, MDW, and/or RFD)?
Posted By andy on July 23, 2007, 5:22 PM
I had a hard time booking my ticket via the internet, but finally did so, after prices increased $40 on my return flight. Couldn't get the seats booked and sign up for eleVAte at the same time, so one of us has a seat on the first leg, the other doesn't, and no seats are selected on the way back. Trip is scheduled for August 10 - 12, SFO to LAX. It will be interesting to see if the customer service at the airport and in flight is better than the website.
Posted By Michele on July 23, 2007, 6:04 PM
will the new airline travel out of memphis or little rock
Posted By carol linette bradsher on July 23, 2007, 6:35 PM
It plainly states in the article, and in Sean's follow up comments that the airline will fly out of NYC, LA, DC, and SFO. Other routes have not been decided yet. Got it?? Not Miami, Phoenix, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Memphis, or Little Rock.
They may add more in the future, but for now it's only those 4...read the article please!
Posted By Amanda on July 23, 2007, 6:58 PM
We traveled Air New Zealand to New Zealand last year. I loved the seat back screens. I watched three current movies on the way to Auckland and four on the way back. They also had games, TV shows, music, etc. So Virgin America isn't the first to use this concept. Perhaps a bit more refined and up graded since ANZ came out with theirs.
Posted By N. A. Gomez on July 23, 2007, 9:45 PM
Pleeeeeeeeeease make MCO (Orlando) one of yur destinations soon. We need more Virgin Americas and Jet Blues in our busy and good airport. How about nearby Sanford which has less expensive fees for you?
You will succeed immediatey and hopefully maintain your reputation and class of service that raises above all other carriers.
Posted By chuck linker on July 23, 2007, 11:11 PM
Hi, there,
Thanks for your comment. It's true that Air New Zealand has cool seatback TVs. Thanks for letting our readers know! Actually, the first airline to introduce any seatback TVs at all was Virgin Atlantic--the parent company of Virgin America, many years ago.
Best,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on July 24, 2007, 9:35 AM
Dear Michele,
Thanks for sharing your story. Let us know how the flight goes!
You may have experienced a problem because Virgin America's website was attacked by computers trying to sabotage the company's first day. Many people who couldn't use the website turned to the phone lines, which were also jammed. Hopefully customer service improves later. Investigators are looking into who might have been responsible.
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Blog Editor on July 24, 2007, 9:43 AM
We need you in either Phl or Ewr to the West Coast. Every new airline departs from JFK and our clients refuse to drive there. HELP!
Posted By lois hall on July 24, 2007, 2:29 PM
WOULD APPRECIATE HELP IN GETTING OUT OF KENTUCKY IN THE SUMMER, CAN YOU STOP IN LOOAVULL FOR FIVE MINUTES AND FIFTY PEOPLE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK jUNE THRU SEPTEMBER?
Posted By DOUGLAS on July 27, 2007, 1:29 AM
Here's another vote for MIA. I live in Miami and my family is in SF and LA. Virgin America would be ideal. Imagine - a domestic flight featuring comfort and service. Dare to dream.
Posted By Katrina on August 8, 2007, 9:56 PM
ditto to those wishing for Boston flights--or any other New England city. Airline looks fantastic!
Posted By helen on August 9, 2007, 9:11 PM