Q: Is Virgin America part of Virgin Atlantic?
A: No. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938 disallows substantial foreign ownership of domestic US carriers. Specifically, a foreigner (or foreigners) cannot own more than 25% of a domestic US carrier, and cannot control the operations of such an airline. Therefore, the Virgin Group (which owns Virgin Atlantic and much of the Virgin Empire) owns 25% of Virgin America. The rest of the airline is owned by private investors who are US citizens. Since Virgin America was created with the ideology of the Virgin Group, you will notice the same attention to detail, focus on "fun", and the "hipster" target market. They have, of course, licensed the Virgin name and logo.
Q: Does Virgin America have a frequent flyer program? Can I earn/use my points on/from other carriers?
A: Virgin America's frequent flyer program (called elevate) allows earning of points and redemption of points on Virgin America flights, Avis car rentals, and Budget car rentals. Points for air travel are earned at a rate of 5 points for every dollar spent. NOTE: Only dollars spent on the base fare are used in this calculation (not fees, taxes, nor purchase while in the air). Points for car rental are earned at the rate of 1 point for every dollar spent. Points are redeemed for air travel based on the available fares on the flight on which you would like to travel. Every seat which is available for purchase is also available for redemption. The current rate of "exchange" between points and dollars is around $0.0215 of value per point. For example, if the one-way fare is $62 the number of points required to redeem is 2,884. This exchange rate (which is actually a small fraction under .0215) is consistent across all fares systemwide. Once a ticket is booked via redemption, it is like any other ticket in that you can upgrade it, cancel it or change it at the same dollar cost as normal.
Q: Does Virgin America have a credit card that yields frequent flyer points?
A: Barclays and Virgin America have announced a credit card with the following features:
- 1 VX point per dollar spent
- 3 VX points per dollar spent on VX travel (in addition to the 5 VX points per dollar earned via elevate in general)
- 2,500 VX points on first purchase
- 0% APR and 1 point per dollar on first balance transfer (up to 2,500 bonus points)
Q: Where does Virgin America fly?
A: Virgin America has two hubs: LAX and SFO. From SFO, they fly to/from SEA, LAX, SAN, SNA, LAS, IAD, BOS, and JFK. From LAX,
they fly to SFO, IAD, JFK, BOS, and SEA. They also fly JFK to/from LAS. As of 11/18/2009, they will fly from their hubs to FLL.
Q: How is Virgin America different from the network carriers?
A: The major differences are: happy employees, a superior in-flight entertainment system (RED), on demand food, in-flight WiFi Internet, international style first class seating, service, and food (even on short haul flights), power outlets at every seat, and mood lighting
Q: What does the in-flight entertainment system (RED) do?
A: Here is a list (some features are for future use, and not implemented yet. Those features are so noted):
- Live television from Dish Network (Free)
- On demand movies (some movies cost money in coach, but some are free)
- On demand TV shows (Cost money in coach)
- Games, including some multi-player (some games cost money in coach, but some are free)
- Large music playlist (free)
- Seat-to-seat chat (free)
- Plane-wide chat room (free)
- TV chat (free, allows people watching the same channel to chat about the program)
- Daily newspapers on the screen (not implemented yet)
- Merchandise shopping
- Automatically remembering your playlist from your previous flight (not implemented yet)
- Internet access via seatback (not implemented yet)
Q: What is on demand food?
A: Using RED, you can scroll through pictures of the different types of food available for purchase, select what you want, swipe your credit card, and it will be delivered to your seat within 2 minutes. The current coach selection is available at
http://hungry.virginamerica.com
Q: What is the first class food like?
A: The online menu does not list the First Class food choices. For now, see this post by SkaterJasp:
New Menu
Q: Can you get a standby upgrade to first class?
A: Yes. If there are seats available 24 hours or less before departure, you can before check-in. The charge for upgrading depends on the flight distance: 849 miles or less is $50, 850-1499 miles is $100, and 1500 miles or more is $250. The best deal is SEA-SFO, which still falls within the $50 upgrade. Some have said that you can do it *during* online check-in (OLCI), but I have found that to never work. In fact, if you get through the first page of OLCI, the online upgrade seems to not work. As long as there is a seat, you can upgrade to it. To do it on the web page, go to the page where you can manage the reservation. There will be a checkbox that will allow you to check-in. Do not check it (yet), but note that it is there. If it is not there, you are not within the 24 hours (according to Virgin America's clock). Instead of checking that, press the button that says "change seats". When you mouse over one of the first class seats, it should tell you how much the upgrade will cost, and it should be the price above, instead of the fare difference. Go ahead and select the seat and enter payment information. After you are all done and your credit card has been processed, you can check-in.
Q: Does Virgin America have in-flight Internet?
A: Virgin America has had in-flight WiFi Internet since 11/22/2008. This means that you can use your laptop on the aircraft to surf the Internet, check your e-mail, use instant messenger, etc. You can even access your corporate VPN. Virgin America's in-flight Internet uses the AirCell technology, which is ground-based, and the coverage map is
here. The cost is currently around $10 for short haul and $13 for long haul. If you are using a PDA, the cost is only around $6. If you are on a red-eye, it is around $8. As of 5/18/2009, all flights are WiFi-Equipped. As of 5/21/2009, all mainline aircraft are WiFi equipped, making Virgin America the first US airline to have WiFi fleet-wide.
Q: What's with the mood lighting?
A: When you board the plane, you will immediately notice the purple/pinkish glow from the LED mood lighting. Apparently, some psychologist advised the airline on the colors that will soothe people during different phases of the flight.
Q: What TV channels can you watch on Red?
A:
Quote:
Channel 1: CNN
Channel 2: CNBC
Channel 3: Cartoon Network
Channel 4: MSNBC
Channel 5: USA
Channel 6: VH-1
Channel 7: Current TV*
Channel 8: Fox*
Channel 9: Bravo*
Channel 10: Sundance*
Channel 11: Sci-Fi*
Channel 12: Disney Channel*
Channel 13: MTV
Channel 14: Nickelodeon East
Channel 15: Fuse
Channel 16: ESPN
Channel 17: ESPN 2
Channel 18: ESPN Classic
Channel 19: ESPN News
Channel 20: Oxygen
Channel 21: FX
Channel 22: Comedy Central
Channel 23: BET
Channel 24: BBC America
|
* - Indicates that this channel is not live. It is cached on the aircraft server.
All channels are east coast feeds, where applicable.
Q: Does Virgin America have any interline agreements?
A: Currently, Virgin America has interline agreements with V Australia (VA) and South African Airways (SA)
Q: How is Virgin America different from JetBlue?
A: The major differences are: JetBlue has more legroom in coach, Jetblue's live TV is more reliable, Virgin America has a better in-flight entertainment system (when it works), and Virgin America has a first class cabin
Q: Does Virgin America have premium coach seats like JetBlue does?
A: Yes. Virgin America has what is called Main Cabin Select, which includes the bulkhead and exit row seats. These seats have much more legroom than the other coach seats (38" seat pitch), and when you purchase seats in this row, you get food and alcohol for free, priority boarding, dedicated luggage space, and free on demand movies, TV, and games. This program began on 11/3/2008. The cost varies depending on flight distance, and is not based on the coach fare.
Q: Can you get a standby upgrade to Main Cabin Select?
A: Yes. If there are seats available 24 hours or less before departure, you can upgrade at check-in (including OLCI) or prior to check-in. The charge for upgrading depends on the flight distance: 849 miles or less is $25, 850-1499 miles is $50, and 1500 miles or more is $100.
Q: What are the fees for checked baggage?
A: In Coach, the first through tenth bags are $20 each. In Main Cabin Select, the first bag is free. The first and second bags in First Class are also free. Note that the weight limit on baggage on Virgin America is 70 pounds, compared to 50 on most other airlines.
Q: Can you get a standby upgrade from Main Cabin Select to First Class?
A: Yes. If there are seats available 24 hours or less before departure, you can upgrade at check-in (including OLCI) or prior to check-in. The charge for upgrading depends on the flight distance: 849 miles or less is $25, 850-1499 miles is $50, and 1500 miles or more is $150. NOTE: Oftentimes, the cost of MCS plus the upgrade fee is as much as a discounted F ticket was, and almost always more than upgrading Main Cabin to F! Also note that you do not get any priority upgrade treatment when you are going from MCS to F over when you are going from MC to F. It is strickly first come, first served!
Q: How does Virgin America's first class cabin compare with United PS?
A: Please see
articos's excellent post on the subject
Q: When I try to use the "chat" feature of Red, it says that it's "currently unavailable". Why?
A: The flight attendants have an override which disables the use of this feature. They disable it when there are complaints of abuse. Unfortunately, this setting is persistent, so if they forget to re-enable it after the plane lands, it will still be disabled for the next flight. Let the flight attendant know it is still disabled, and it can be re-enabled.
Q: What is the problem with Virgin America's live TV system?
A: It is a combination of a hardware problem, and Dish Network reception issues. The hardware problem is being fixed on aircraft when they are available to be serviced.
Q: Does Virgin America have a lounge?
A: Not at present, but at SFO, IAD, and JFK, if you are travelling on Virgin America, you can buy a day pass to the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class lounge. This pass costs $35. The service in the lounge is excellent. The food is very good, and there's top shelf liquor included. The lounges do not expand hours for Virgin America, so they are only open during Virgin Atlantic's flight times.
Q: What type of planes does Virgin America use?
A: Airbus A320s and A319s.
Q: What are the change fees associated with changing your flight?
A: For coach tickets, you are charged $50 to change your ticket. This includes re-booking to take advantage of a fare that has gone lower. For First Class tickets, there is no fee for changing tickets/pricing. If you change your ticket within 24 hours of making your reservation, you are not charged a fee. You can change from First Class to one or more coach flights with no fee, but once you do that, you can't change it again without incurring the $50 fee. NOTE: Some have reported that you can change a ticket from coach to first class without paying the $50 fee, but that is undocumented. This is confirmed as of 8/15/2008 (by me), but YMMV. You cannot change from coach to first class online. You must call reservations.
Q: Does Virgin America oversell/overbook flights?
A: Virgin America does not overbook or oversell their flights. There has been confusion because you can book a reservation when the seat map looks full and you cannot select a seat. This is because certain rows (row 4, row 9, row 25DEF, and row 26ABC for A320, and row 4, row 9, row 21ABC for A319) are reserved for airport assignment and cannot be selected beforehand. When the seat map looks full, there could be 0-18 seats left.
Q: What are the names of the planes, and which planes have WiFi?
A: Virgin America held a contest before their launch, to allow people to name their planes. The plane names are painted in the front.
A319s:
N521VA - Let There Be Flight (
WiFi Enabled)
N522VA - The 1-Year-Old Virgin (
WiFi Enabled)
N523VA - Contents May Be Under Pressure (
WiFi Enabled)
N524VA - Dark Horse (
WiFi Enabled)
N525VA - Virgin & Tonic (
WiFi Enabled)
N526VA - Jane (
WiFi Enabled)
N527VA - Tubular Belle (
WiFi Enabled)
N528VA - Fog Cutter (
WiFi Enabled)
N529VA - Moodlights, Camera, Action (
WiFi Enabled)
N530VA - gogo Dancer (
WiFi Enabled)
A320s:
N621VA - Air Colbert (
WiFi Enabled)
N622VA - California Dreaming (
WiFi Enabled)
N623VA - Three if by Air (
WiFi Enabled)
N624VA -
fRed, White & Blue (
WiFi Enabled)
N625VA - Jefferson Airplane (
WiFi Enabled)
N626VA - Unicorn Chaser (
WiFi Enabled)
N627VA - Runway Angel (
WiFi Enabled)
N628VA - Entourage Air (
WiFi Enabled)
N629VA - Midnight Ride (
WiFi Enabled)
N630VA - Superfly (
WiFi Enabled)
N631VA - Chic Mobile (
WiFi Enabled)
N632VA - Youtube Air (
WiFi Enabled)
N633VA - The Tim Clark Express (
WiFi Enabled)
N634VA - Mach Daddy (
WiFi Enabled)
N635VA - My Other Ride's a Spaceship (
WiFi Enabled)
N636VA - Airplane 2.0 (
WiFi Enabled)
N637VA - An Airplane Named Desire (
WiFi Enabled)
N638VA - San Francisco Pride (
WiFi Enabled)
Q: Does Virgin America sell gift cards like JetBlue does?
A: Not specifically, but you can take advantage of the lack of a change fee in first class to create your own gift card. Simply book a first class ticket for the giftee in his/her name for any two city pairs that end up costing around the amount you want to give, for a date as far out as the website will allow. Then give the confirmation number on some sort of certificate to the giftee with instructions that when he/she wants to fly, just look up the confirmation number and change the flight to the one he/she wants. Make sure the giftee understands that if it is changed to change it to one or more coach tickets, that it will not be able to change again without incuring the $50 fee, but it can be changed it to another first class city pair(s) as many times as wanted. Also, let the giftee know that if the initial date for which you booked is approaching and the giftee is not yet ready to fly, that it should be changed again to another first class city pair to extend it.
There is now an easier way to do this. If you have a "credit file" (money on account) in your frequent flyer account, you can transfer it to anyone else's frequent flyer account. So, you can simply book and cancel a first class flight, and move the money into the recipient's frequent flyer account.
Q: I've heard the safety video is funny, but I've only flown in first class. How can I see it?
A: Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyygn8HFTCo
{editor's note: I think there's an error in the video when he says, "...tampering with smoke detectors isn't allowed by law..."
The way the emphasis is, it leaves the possibility that it also isn't disallowed by law. You have to listen to understand what I mean}
Virgin America (VX) FAQ Thread
I wonder what the FAA thinks about having an in-flight campfire!! 
I hope I get the chance to try them on my upcoming LAX-SFO flight (is that flight too short).
