Virgin America Elevate - Finally, a bonus for founding members?

Thanks, VX! Is this the first bonus for founding members? I just got this e-mail:

Thank you. Thanks for believing in a scrappy, optimistic upstart determined to make flying good again. Together we’ve done quite nicely, and the other airlines are starting to take notice.

And so, for your loyalty and for being one of the Founding Members, we offer 20% off your next flight. Just book by June 30 for travel June 10 through June 30 and August 26 through November 11. Follow these simple steps:

1. Click the Grab a seat button below.
2. Enter your flight details.
3. Apply your promo code ******** and click the search button.* This one-time use promo code is meant just for you, so use it judiciously.

And remember, no matter how cool and popular we get, we won’t forget you.

I received the same offer as a credit card holder.

i got a promo code because i'm a vx credit card holder too. i don't think i'm a founding member though. sorry to burst your bubble? never fear - you are still special. :)

I got it as a founding member, too. It was a nice gesture.

i got a promo code because i'm a vx credit card holder too. i don't think i'm a founding member though. sorry to burst your bubble? never fear - you are still special. :)

Gosh darnit, I am still special! :D My mom tells me that, so it must be true.

It was a nice gesture though, whether it went to credit cardholders and founding members both. I'll probably use it or at least let a friend use it.

I got this as well (as a Founding Member).

Hmm 20% off of already inflated fares with a crappy FF program. No thanks. I had high hopes for VX but every time I try and fly them they are significantly more expensive than the legacy carriers and as much as I love their in flight service it isn't worth paying a premium for.

Hmm 20% off of already inflated fares with a crappy FF program. No thanks. I had high hopes for VX but every time I try and fly them they are significantly more expensive than the legacy carriers and as much as I love their in flight service it isn't worth paying a premium for.


Inflated fares? :eek: Transcons are around $109 each way and shorter flights are $49-59 each way...

The only reason VX would be more expensive than a legacy is if the legacy slashed their prices to try compete.

Inflated fares? :eek: Transcons are around $109 each way and shorter flights are $49-59 each way...

The only reason VX would be more expensive than a legacy is if the legacy slashed their prices to try compete.

Hmmm, maybe I was a little too curt in my response. I tend to book a lot of my travel at short notice and I always check VX first because I really like their product.

Some examples, last minute trip to Seattle booked on AS for $110 a/i r/t - same flights on VX were upwards of $300. I have a NY trip coming up this weekend, booked on UA for $214 a/i r/t and VX wanted over $600 (and I upgraded on UA's pS to biz for a few e500s). SFO-BOS on 8/7/09 returning on 8/9/09, booked on UA for $349, VX wants $619.21!

VX seems to be aimed at the travellers who can book their travel with plenty of notice, sadly I don't fit that profile.

I have a lot of admiration for SRB and the Virgin Brand but I just don't seem to be able to luck out with these sub $100 fares. :(

The fact that VX is booking travel at more expensive prices is likely a GOOD thing for them (if not so good for a customer)- it means their demand is high enough to ask for the higher price (that, or their fares are being set very badly, which I think unlikely- though you might check back and see).

I've had walkup fares (< 3 days) of $49/59 going SEA-SFO/LAX in the past on VX. :eek: You can't possibly make money on a flight where you have a walkup fare of $110 round-trip going SEA-SFO. That barely covers the fuel it takes to GET pax to Seattle, let alone the other costs (landing rights, crew costs, and so on).

FWIW, I usually price compare VX with AS on SEA-SFO, SEA-LAS and SEA-LAX. VX is rarely out of whack with them on those routes.

The fact that VX is booking travel at more expensive prices is likely a GOOD thing for them (if not so good for a customer)- it means their demand is high enough to ask for the higher price (that, or their fares are being set very badly, which I think unlikely).

I've had walkup fares (< 3 days) of $49/59 going SEA-SFO/LAX in the past on VX. :eek: You can't possibly make money on a flight where you have a walkup fare of $110 round-trip going SEA-SFO. That barely covers the fuel it takes to GET pax to Seattle, let alone the other costs (landing rights, crew costs, and so on).

Agreed. Now if they would only sort out their FF program then I'd be willing to pay the premium to fly VX, I love their product. I'm glad they are doing well and I hope they continue to expand and really give the legacies a run for their money. The competition is great for this market and might prompt the legacies to sort out their in flight service but as I'm a whore for miles for now I'm sticking with AS/UA/NW/DL, reluctantly.

Now if they would only sort out their FF program then I'd be willing to pay the premium to fly VX, I love their product.

Realistically, I don't think you should hold your breath. I think the WN/VX/B6 style of programs (where benefits are much more closely aligned with spend) are the wave of the future. If anyone's going to "fix" their FF programs, it's going to be the legacies. UA has sort of done this with Global Services, and I see this catching on across the industry.

Realistically, I don't think you should hold your breath. I think the WN/VX/B6 style of programs (where benefits are much more closely aligned with spend) are the wave of the future. If anyone's going to "fix" their FF programs, it's going to be the legacies. UA has sort of done this with Global Services, and I see this catching on across the industry.

I'm not, trust me. :) I would just be glad for earn/burn rights on VS & VA as I have a ton of orphaned miles in VS that I'd love to top up for an award flight in UC.

Oh well, I'm sure the Eskimo Tail is glad of my continued patronage!

The fact that VX is booking travel at more expensive prices is likely a GOOD thing for them (if not so good for a customer)- it means their demand is high enough to ask for the higher price (that, or their fares are being set very badly, which I think unlikely- though you might check back and see).



This is the right answer. The word is out and (at least in places like BOS and SFO) people are fed up with UA and AA. Looking out several weeks, you will see that VX is indeed more expensive than UA and AA on certain weekends. Click on seatmaps for certain Friday/Saturday/Sunday flights and you'll see two or three empty seats, whereas on flights operated by AA and UA you'll see dozens of empty seats.

I would happily pay up to $100-$150 over an AA/ UA economy tikcet to fly VX. It is completely night and day between VX and AA/UA, and people have begun to realise this. Why fly on one of AA/ UA's dumpy 757s with no AVOD/ Internet/ Power and often surly staff when you can fly on VX?

Well, I'm flying AA redeye LAX-JFK, but that's because a) the VX redeye leaves too early, and b) AA gave me a $300 voucher and 15,000 FF miles, so I figure I will burn them and try to upgrade to J. I plan on reporting back, since I'll be able to compare some aspects of VX F and AA three-class...

Right now, my West Coast return from NYC is booked as an evening flight LGA-MDW-LAS-(layover)-SEA on WN (yes, I know, but coach is coach, AS status doesn't help much on upgrades going NYC-LAS, and connecting through MDW on a 737 beats ORD or flying RJs to connect). I am debating an extra night in NYC and then taking the VX direct flight JFK-LAS vs. extra time in LAS, though. Unfortunately the 20% off coupon won't work for that- but I've used coupons for some SEA-SFO and SEA-LAS trips that are just dirt cheap this way...

I haven't received my coupon email yet :(

I am a "founding member" (signed up August 13, 2007), but currently live in Australia. ...Though I still receive the occasional promo email.

Hopefully it comes through soon as it looks like I will be back in the US around July/August and plan to book some VX flights (w00h00 for the VA/VX interline/codeshare).

I'm heading to LAS on VX shortly, and I'm looking forward to it. I love the attitude of the people I've dealt with on my few prior VX trips. I booked a while back and the fare was within reason. I took AA to LAS in April, and the dreaded SFO-LAX-LAS connection nearly fell apart due to SFO flow control. The last flight LAX-LAS leaves pretty early these days.

I had this trip all booked/paid when work asked if I could be in NYC Sunday through Friday. I could not make a VX fare work out, even though SFO-LAS-JFK-SFO is certainly a routing that VX serves. The fare was just considerably higher than I could get with AA, and I'll almost surely get upgraded to J for no charge (Sunday is confirmed already).

I did have to change the VX return LAS-SFO to the first flight on Sunday, or else arrive in NY at midnight on Sunday with a 6 am wakeup time on Monday morning. Sigh. So much for resting up a bit.