Virgin America Elevate - Chicago Announced

Service to begin in May.

and a $70 off RT flight from Groupon
http://www.groupon.com/deals/virgin-america-chicago

(hats off to Chris McGinnis)

Here's the email I got:

"Ethan,

It’s official: we’re taking our mood-lit flights to the Midwest. Starting May 25, you can fly Virgin America style to Chicago. That means a ride to Chi-town with leather seats, WiFi, on-demand food and drinks, live TV, and movies to make the miles in between a little more magnificent. Book your lakeside getaway now; fly after May 25. Grab a seat by February 21 for a breezy fare."

Hurray! VX to ORD is very much a good thing- ORD and DFW are much better candidates for getting high-value customers than YYZ and CUN...

Here the official PR came in today:

http://virginamerica.com/press-release/2011/virgin-america-breezes-into-chicago-ohare.html

Yeeeesss!! Finally VX is coming to ORD and I can't wait to see how it goes.

Woo hoo! Even if I never set foot on VX on this route, the competition will keep UA honest. ^^^

Woo hoo! Even if I never set foot on VX on this route, the competition will keep UA honest. ^^^

There goes some more tougher competitions against AA/UA/NK/VX. If the routes should be done extremely very well. It will eventually to added 3rd flight for ORD-LAX. If there is enough more profitability routes and those routes will be very successful.

w00h00! :D^

Now, to find an excuse for a trip to the US.

w00h00! :D^

Now, to find an excuse for a trip to the US.

Yep, I agree. I can't wait to see VX will inaugurated service SFO/LAX-ORD. Lets wait to see if there is enough more capacity growth. If those routes should be done extremely very well. That will take the advantage of next new routes announced.

So ... I am on the May 25 SFO to ORD inaugural :D
Anybody else with me ?

I am really happy to see this, since I have to make several trips to ORD during the year. As expected, UA is already reacting by offering double EQM's and award mileage through August. I hope VX will be able to compete and keep the routes open.

So ... I am on the May 25 SFO to ORD inaugural :D
Anybody else with me ?

I just get off the ORD-SFO flight today, they had the promotion this morning where flying out on VX inaugural flight with 2 nights hotel + transportation and buy you a return flight on any legacy airlines (UA/AA) of your choice. UA just confirmed my upgrade to first^

Woo hoo! Even if I never set foot on VX on this route, the competition will keep UA honest. ^^^

So how do you expect VX to keep UA/CO honest in this market if you do not fly them?

Hence the ugly side of aviation capitalism: Everyone wants someone else to "do the work" of lowering fares and upping service standards, yet when it comes time to make a purchase, they continue using the legacy carrier which wasn't doing them a favor to begin with.

Use it or lose it. If UA/CO manage to choke off the new competitor leveraging their size and scale, we can come back and blame the likes of you.

I am really happy to see this, since I have to make several trips to ORD during the year. As expected, UA is already reacting by offering double EQM's and award mileage through August. I hope VX will be able to compete and keep the routes open.



That all depends on you. People have to buy in and reward the firm offering the improved level of service. How ethical is it for folks to enjoy the competitive forces VX is bringing to the market, yet continue patronizing the carriers that enjoy a cozy duopoly with high fares and reduced levels of service?

I just get off the ORD-SFO flight today, they had the promotion this morning where flying out on VX inaugural flight with 2 nights hotel + transportation and buy you a return flight on any legacy airlines (UA/AA) of your choice. UA just confirmed my upgrade to first^

Nice, kid! Congratulations for your upgraded into F class.

That all depends on you. People have to buy in and reward the firm offering the improved level of service. How ethical is it for folks to enjoy the competitive forces VX is bringing to the market, yet continue patronizing the carriers that enjoy a cozy duopoly with high fares and reduced levels of service?

Since I fly UA and VX, I generally fly the airline which is going to be most convenient for the times I need to arrive and depart. It's not a matter of ethics, imo, but more a matter of convenience and devotion to elite status and ff miles, which the legacy carriers use to keep their customer base flying with them.

Flew the new route this week SFO to ORD. A few comments:

- I find the lack of complementary headphones on a flight this long to be pretty annoying, especially when each bag costs $25 in Y.
- F cabin was entirely empty. I think the $299 Y to F cost per segment is probably too high to entice the casual upgrader. VX should consider reducing this fee to promote last minute upgrades and to fill the F cabin.
- Service was hit or miss with two FA's for the entire plane.
- This is probably my sixth VX flight. But my second time in Y, on other flights I had upgraded to F. I was surprised that the gogo wifi was $12.95 and any movies and on demand television came with such high prices. I also found the Dish Network video quality to be very poor. Channel selection was unimpressive.

Overall I'm still a big VX fan - minus Elevate - but I was pretty unimpressed with this "long haul" flight. My only other long haul was SFO to MCO, but I had upgraded to F and it was a redeye, so most of the above "issues" I didn't experience.

Just my 2 cents....

- I find the lack of complementary headphones on a flight this long to be pretty annoying, especially when each bag costs $25 in Y.

My only other long haul was SFO to MCO, but I had upgraded to F and it was a redeye, so most of the above "issues" I didn't experience.


I'm surprised about the headphone comment as to my knowledge no one provides complimentary headphones in Y. Not even B6.

$25!! Now i know this has got to be a error.

Are you sure the flight was to MCO? They have no redeyes to MCO. The only route in Florida that has an overnight is FLL.

I'm surprised about the headphone comment as to my knowledge no one provides complimentary headphones in Y. Not even B6.

$25!! Now i know this has got to be a error.

Are you sure the flight was to MCO? They have no redeyes to MCO. The only route in Florida that has an overnight is FLL.

Re MCO you are right! It was FLL, my error.

But... Bags to ORD were 25 a piece for main cabin. No mistakes there.

I'm surprised about the headphone comment as to my knowledge no one provides complimentary headphones in Y. Not even B6.

Even UA has complimentary headphones in Y, sometimes nicer-looking than the ones VX sells. But I always bring my own high-quality earbuds. On AA and US, it's a moot point as they usually have no IFE on non-premium domestic routes.

I'm toying with the idea of trying out VX for a trip ORD-SFO at the beginning of September - right now, it's $259+ on Virgin and $269+ on UA for the dates I'm looking at. I'll probably be checking a bag (with some camping gear thats prohibited in carry-on), so that actually makes UA a little cheaper once the bag fees are added in. OTOH, the only UA outbound available the day I want to leave is the 9 pm flight, which is really inconvenient. What would you do?

UA Pros
(Slim) chance of an upgrade on the 752
Earns EQM
Free Bags

VX Pros
Find out what all the fuss is about
More convenient departure time


I have VS Flying Club Silver, comped from a family member with Gold status. Is that worth anything in this case? I tried looking on the website, but kept getting turned around in the different Virgin brands. Will I get lounge access? Or a free checked bag? I know the flight will earn miles on my VS account, but those aren't nearly as important to me as UA EQM to requalify for next year

Are you sure the flight was to MCO? They have no redeyes to MCO. The only route in Florida that has an overnight is FLL.

No, there is no redeye flight to MCO. Only where VX is still flying on redeyes flight for which the cities is JFK, BOS, IAD, FLL and no one anything else.