VX Farewell Flight 1948 - 24 April
Apr 26, 18, 4:41 pm - Wikipost
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Message from your hosts: Thank you to everyone who participated! We really had a great time and hope you did too. We made a Facebook page where you can post photos, share stories, and whatnot at http://www.facebook.com/VXFarewell. We understand there's a level of anonymity at FlyerTalk, so we understand if you don't want to join or acknowledge who you are. As your cohosts, we even face that risk by revealing the "veil" from behind our screen names since we have to work with the parties and vendors involved. Overall, we had a great success. Between the swag, flash mob, inseat dance video, and lounge we hope we could give the Virgin America brand the proper send off it deserved. It was a highly emotional day, and overall things went well. We also wanted to thank everyone for your contributions for the Virgin America swag! Without you, none of this would be possible. Now, we did get confirmation from Alaska that the CHATROOM messages are not archived, and are long gone. It was quite amusing, however we *did hear you loud and clear* - you want more. We are talking about doing another event in the fall, and coordinating it with Alaska; we will keep you updated here and at the Facebook VXFarewell & Facebook MVP Gold 75K group. We're hoping to talk to Alaska to make an SFO/SEA trip a combination of AvGeekFest meets Alaska MVP Gold luncheon, since the focus is on us frequent flyers. This would include a possible visit to the Boeing plant (floor tour), Museum of Flight, and some other aspects of the PacNW. By then, hopefully emotions will have subsided and we can coordinate some meaningful dialogue with the decision makers at Alaska about what we like, don't like, etc. and special shout out to Ben, Sam, Mikey, and our Virgin angels who help made this possible. Thank you for living it up one last time in the sky with us! -Brendan, Carolyn, Nate #VXFarewell #VXForever #tillthewheelsfalloff  Schedule of Events 8:00PM - FlyerTalk #VXFarewell checkin table will be open. Please stop by to claim your FlyerTalk ID name tag, swag, lyrics sheet, sign up for the midnight toast in the LAX Lounge, and sign the #FinalBoardingCall certificates. Please show your VX1948 boarding pass for your swag kit. Swag kit will consist of a 16 ounce tumbler, #vxforever stickers/buttons/laptop sticker, specialty bag tag, FlyerTalk bag tag, destination poster, and safety card. We have enough for everyone on the plane, our VX crew working the flight, and the gate agents & ramp working our flight in SFO and LAX. There may be leftover pieces that will first be given to our sponsors/donors, and we'll have plenty of tumblers, stickers, pins, and posters for VX Team members. 8:30PM - our inbound flight from DC should be arriving right about now. We're expecting a sizeable turnout of VX team members (current and past). There will be other activities going on between our flight and the EWR flight. 9:00PM - #VXFarewell table will start to be torn down (as we're all on the flight) 9:20PM - please make sure that you are on board, not everyone can be the "last to board". We're working on having someone video tape the final boarding call and upload it. 9:32PM - Pushback to LAX, gonna live it up one last time! VX Safety Dance: Please remain seated and adhere to crew instructions! We'd like as many of you to participate in this as possible, and will share videos/photos. Tutorial here: https://youtu.be/QDsxTKO9Bzg 11:01PM - with luck, we pull into T6 at LAX and *not* a remote stand. We're expecting a greeting committee of VX'ers and #avgeeks in LAX. 11:20PM - we say goodbye to our friends going to PDX/ANC/SEA on Alaska and the redeyes to ATL/MIA. Rest of us need to move into the Alaska Lounge (use BOTH elevators - AL Direct and the AC Maple Leave Lounge elevator). Should you NOT be an Alaska Lounge or American Admirals Club Member, Alaska Airlines has graciously covered your entrance by showing your VX 1948 boarding pass. 12:00AM - We toast farewell to one of the most innovative airlines as the Sabresonic system & VX code is sunset. 12:15AM - Move from the Lounge to In & Out on the north side of the airport. The Flight Virgin America will "cease to exist" as a branded airline on April 25, 2018. Alaska is quite focused on the PSS integration, so we've heard mumbles that Alaska is more concerned with that aspect and not the "goodbye" fiesta. Alaska has made the 9:35PM LA-SF flight a private, "founders" flight for Virgin staff & special invite, but nothing was ever announced for the public. So, we found that VX 1948, the 9:32PM SFO-LAX flight, will officially be the final revenue departure for Virgin America- It has been upgauged to an A321 from an A320 and will be the last VX flight to depart on the 24th, earning the monicker as the "Final Flight" available to the public. VX1948 is SOLD OUT. AS/VX has indicated that they plan to make special gate announcements and give all passengers "a special treat" during the flight. Alaska will also take the lead with working with us on a midnight champagne toast to Virgin America in the LAX Alaska Lounge conference room. 4/18 UPDATE: Alaska Airlines has graciously offered to cover the entry fee for any FlyerTalk member who shows their VX1948 boarding pass to the lounge reception team. No guest passes or Priority Pass memberships will be necessary. Alaska has also planned celebratory events for VX team members at LAX & SFO. Our celebration is not meant to overshadow or replace that. As customers, we are celebrating 11 years of innovation and a bright future for Alaska. However, you should expect to see quite a few VX team members greeting our flight when it arrives! Swag We have made some #vxforever and #vxfarewell items which will be distributed in the boarding area prior to departure. Alaska is going to have their own handouts, but are also allowing us as frequent flyers to hand out our own so if anyone wants to donate to the pot, we can make sure everyone ends up with some cool mementos to remember the flight by. Right now we are going to have buttons, bag tags (both FlyerTalk & VXFarewell), 16 ounce plastic cups, posters and stickers at our FlyerTalk Farewell Table in the gate area for VX 1948. The table will have the swag, name tag pick-up, and registration for the Alaska Lounge Toast (they still want a headcount). Those who contribute more than $25 to help socalgecko & UAPremierExec offset the costs will be rewarded with any remaining extra items after they have been distributed to people on our flight. (note: we've received a bit more contributions and ordered 200 more cups and will run more posters, but supplies will be limited, so please make sure you stop by our table to check-in and receive your swag). Please be prepared to show your VX 1948 boarding pass, as we will only have enough swag for those on the flight and for the VX/AS staff working it. Donations can be made via PayPal or sent to @socalgecko on Venmo. Memorabilia & Autopilot Kit Exchange We will have a table in the gate area with the FlyerTalk logo & #VXFarewell to distribute and trade Virgin America swag and memorabilia. Table will need to be torn down at boarding since those working the table are also on the flight. Users and Seats - 81 confirmed FTers and guests First Class: Carfield 1A CalanMan +1 (FT Lurker +1) Main Cabin Select: m_j_n + 1: 3D socalgecko +1: 3F, tbd The ITDA +1: 4A & 4B TheMiddleSeat: 4C FluxTZ: 4D PhoenixWildman: 4E MiniC: 4F Main Cabin: mfolf: 6A DaWhirledTraveller: 6E, 23E Jaloola: 6F jrl767: 7A Zorak: 7B beckoa: 7D ktenorman: 7F UAPremierExec + Guest: 8A & 8C, 9B, 18C Voldoo: 8B Robt760: 9D Texas2SFO: 10D Flyupfrnt: 10F zc0302 + 1: row 10 diburning: 11A isaac.chambers +1: 11E & 11F bennos: 12C williaminsd +1: 12D,E GTBundy: 14A mooseofspruce: 15A Lglr2: 15B justkeepflying: 15D jeromekeh: 15F forthwall: 16B steve64: 16C be_rettSEA: 16D vji: 16E boxo 16F eap: 17A krazykanuck: 17C PDXPremier: 17D motoridersd: 17E eddiehuang97 17F JamilD +1: 18D & 18E diburning: 18F Carp12C: 19A McGowan06- 21F media travel show producer/journalist: 22A Well known aviation photographer: 23A VGC: 23B farwest714: 23C jetsflier: 23D N777UA: 25A wanderlutz: 25B yectep: 26B Jeremys1: 26F aw: 28A brettsir: 28D sky303: 29A opiuman: 29D OhHai: 33A paradox +1: 33B & 33C Unaccounted/Unassigned seats (or they want to remain anonymous, which is OK): Dr Alex DevRogue Baze tusphotog NachoAirline +1 mte401 jbenomi AaaChiuuu After Flight Get Together at LAX Alaska is taking the lead on the lounge effort and has said they will keep the lounge open until 12:15a since we are scheduled to land at 10:59PM. Alaska Airlines has graciously offered to cover the entry fee for any FlyerTalk member who shows their VX1948 boarding pass to the lounge reception team. No guest passes or Priority Pass memberships will be necessary. This is probably the ideal time/place for those of you who want to trade Autopilots kits to do so, if you didn't in SFO. Plan is to have a midnight toast farewell to Virgin America as the brand sunsets at midnight. Afterwards, some of us shall head to In & Out and the park across the street for continued socializing. Hotels The following hotels & rates are available as of 12 April, if interested in booking, please MESSAGE your name & phone number to UAPREMIEREXEC and we can book you (no commission, no service charge). Rates are 100% non-refundable or changeable, unfortunately. DO NOT email a credit card, we will call you. Best Western Airport Plaza - $91 + tax Motel 6 LAX: $100 + tax Four Points Sheraton LAX: $121 + tax Holiday Inn LAX: $136 + tax Crowne Plaza LAX: $144 + tax Westin LAX: $188 + tax Available via hiltonfamilymvp.com: (must be a HHonors member) Hilton LAX: $171 + tax Embassy Suites LAX: $188 + tax Meet Up and/or Lounge Access Handle: Inbound: ----------------------- Outbound: -------------------- Lounge Access: beckoa AS3419 5:56 PM MSP-SFO AS193 11:55 PM LAX-ANC SFO AMEX CL+PP [Can Guest 2] UAPremierExec VX1899 12:41PM (I think) Outbound SNA 10AM to SEA on the 25th. AL Member. 2 Free guests spoken for. Zorak local / 25 Apr 16:55 LAX-SFO WN1251 / PP krazykanuck AA349 3:00 pm DFW-SFO / AA136 LAX-LHR 19:40 / Amex CL + PP socalgecko VX1899 12:41p / local / PP flyupfront VX1754 5:59 pm / AS403 6am to SEA on 4/25 (PP & 75k Passes) jrl767 VX1929 or 1933 (LAX; arrive 1541 or 1643) / staying in LA for work the rest of the week / request guest access @SFO CalanMan SFO local / LAX-SFO on AS Airbus 4/25 morning / AA Club Member, AmEx Plat, PP boxo AS 1899 LAX SFO dep 11:20-12:41. Need guest access into lounges. Jaloola Local / WN 1791 / PP brettsir VX1933/ local / AA/AMEX/PP Robt760 VX1816/local /AMEX, PP be_rettSEA VX1933 / AMEX,PP VGC AS477 LAX-SEA. Need guest access into lounge. paradox Local / UA 471 LAX-SFO 6:06 am / AMEX CL & PP diburning DL2488 BOS-SFO 10:55AM / UA1981 LAX-IAH-BOS 11:00AM / Requesting Access at lounges tusphotog Inbound not set, AS BR & 75K Passes Carfield Inbound on VX 1255 IND-SFO 1828 Arrival/Local/ AA Admiral Club membership (I am already bringing in one guest, but can take one more). steve64 Inbound: AS 400 from PDX 3:35p / Outbound the next day on DL to PHX / Lounge: PP & AA (if still needed after "guesting" has been used up, you might be able to talk me into throwing in 2 AS [75K] lounge passes) sky303 SEA-SFO DL4142 / LAX-ATL (12:45a) DL1556 / AMEX, PP aw - local / outbound next day UA 460 LAX-SFO @ 1627 / *A Gold w/TK - can host one guest flying any *A in the afternoon to *A Gold Lounge @ TBIT or/and possibly AC Maple Leaf T6 and UA Club T7. PreFlight Get Together See the FlyerTalk Community meet up thread here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/comm...appy-hour.html Festivities should start around 8PM in the gate area @ SFO Terminal 2. Swag socalgecko and UAPremierExec fronted a big chunk of cash for these items; we've had many donations come in but both of us are still "in the hole." We love VX and are happy to do it, but any contributions are appreciated. Donations can be made via PayPal or sent to @socalgecko on Venmo. Buttons & Stickers (socalgecko): #VXforever Button 425 1 per passenger, 1 per crew member on VX 1948 & those working the gate. Will also have some available to VX Team members who show ID. (extras to be given to those who donate towards swag)  #VXforever sticker 500 1 per passenger/crew member on VX 1948/those working the gate/VX crew who show socalgecko their badge  #VXfarewell Safety Dance buttons, 225 1 randomly selected from 4 designs per passenger/crew on VX1948/those working the gate     Bag Tags (UAPremierExec): 250 tags 1 per passenger, 1 per crew member on VX1948 & those working the gate; extras to be given to those who donate towards swag.  16 oz Tumblers (UAPremierExec + Donations from you guys): 450 cups 1 per passenger, 1 per crew member on VX 1948 & those working the gate. Will also have some available to VX Team members who show ID (SFO/LAX)  VX Route History Poster (socalgecko) Will be provided to all attendees, with extras for VX Team members.  Donor Extra (socalgecko/w!lkidu) Numbered 5x7 print of illustration commemorating the union of AS & VX, given to everyone who donates by 4/23 to support the production cost of the swag  
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Mar 5, 18, 11:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,706
VX Farewell Flight 1948 - 24 April
I'm hearing that AAG doesn't plan on doing anything, corporate wise, for VX 1948, 24 APR SFO-LAX; this is the "shared" final VX departure that's open to the public. I'm hoping pressure will give AAG a change of heart, or maybe we can turn it into a FlyerTalk DO-inflight :P
The other is SFO-EWR at the same time. AAG did, however, approve the flight to be operated by an A321. I know some people are buying tickets for it as a final "hurrah" to Virgin, including myself. Wasn't sure if anyone else wanted to be a part of one of the final, if not final VX departure that's open to the public.
The other is SFO-EWR at the same time. AAG did, however, approve the flight to be operated by an A321. I know some people are buying tickets for it as a final "hurrah" to Virgin, including myself. Wasn't sure if anyone else wanted to be a part of one of the final, if not final VX departure that's open to the public.
Mar 6, 18, 12:04 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Virgin America Elevate Gold (Founding Member)
Posts: 126
I'm open to doing this but the VX planes themselves will still be flying through next year. After 4/24, you just book on Alaska's website and look for the Airbus flights.
Mar 6, 18, 1:53 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: US West Coast
Programs: Alaska 100K, Delta DM, Hyatt Gl, Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 333
Originally Posted by FluxTZ
...the VX planes themselves will still be flying through next year. After 4/24, you just book on Alaska's website and look for the Airbus flights.
The husband and I are booked on this flight. I'm sure the stations will be considering it a special moment, even if it's not officially anything specific (VX1948 LAX-SFO will be the last to depart, VX1182 SFO-EWR will be the last to land, VX1122 OGG-LAX will be the last to land at LAX, etc etc). But the subbing in of the 321 gives me hope for a festive admosphere. Stuff like this is always fun. We did the final CX 747 flight, and that was quite the party. If any US airline knows how to party, it's VX. (Although UA had a surprisingly good show for their final 747 flight.)
We're excited and hope to see some of you there!
Mar 6, 18, 4:16 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,706
Calanman, I'm coming in from a trip from BA - will be meeting my VX/AS friend that arranged for the plane to be an A321, and hop over to the CX lounge for an hour or two.
I'm wondering if we can arrange for this to be a FlyerTalk send off as well? I know that FT has helped organize DOs and make donations, etc. I'm sure we all have enough Alaska contacts to make something "fun" for this flight. I'm hoping we can at least organize *SOMETHING* to say goodbye to VX.
I'm wondering if we can arrange for this to be a FlyerTalk send off as well? I know that FT has helped organize DOs and make donations, etc. I'm sure we all have enough Alaska contacts to make something "fun" for this flight. I'm hoping we can at least organize *SOMETHING* to say goodbye to VX.
Mar 7, 18, 4:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: US West Coast
Programs: Alaska 100K, Delta DM, Hyatt Gl, Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 333
Originally Posted by UAPremierExec
Calanman, I'm coming in from a trip from BA - will be meeting my VX/AS friend that arranged for the plane to be an A321, and hop over to the CX lounge for an hour or two.
I'm wondering if we can arrange for this to be a FlyerTalk send off as well? I know that FT has helped organize DOs and make donations, etc. I'm sure we all have enough Alaska contacts to make something "fun" for this flight. I'm hoping we can at least organize *SOMETHING* to say goodbye to VX.
I'm wondering if we can arrange for this to be a FlyerTalk send off as well? I know that FT has helped organize DOs and make donations, etc. I'm sure we all have enough Alaska contacts to make something "fun" for this flight. I'm hoping we can at least organize *SOMETHING* to say goodbye to VX.
Mar 7, 18, 11:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 71
+2 here. My wife and I just changed our tickets to a one stop at SFO (arrives SFO two hours before VX1948). Anyone could swipe both of us into the CX lounge if the party is held there?
Mar 11, 18, 11:53 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: US West Coast
Programs: Alaska 100K, Delta DM, Hyatt Gl, Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 333
Originally Posted by UAPremierExec
Alaska said via Twitter they are working on something...
Originally Posted by The ITDA
+2 here. My wife and I just changed our tickets to a one stop at SFO (arrives SFO two hours before VX1948). Anyone could swipe both of us into the CX lounge if the party is held there?
If people really want to get together in a lounge, then I'd say that the AA lounge in T2 is still a better choice, even though it's no longer part of the AS lounge network and it's not as nice as CX's. It's in the right terminal, anyone with a AA Exec CC or AA lounge membership can get in, and they sell day passes if anybody really wants to join and can't find someone to swipe them in, which CX doesn't do. And you can see VX planes from its windows, and VX planes are why we're doing this!
Mar 11, 18, 2:10 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 6,887
I will be on this flight and can't wait to see some of you! I am sitting in 1A and will fly into SFO via VX 1255 from IND, which will arrive SFO at 6:28pm.
I don't expect anything but hope that AS and VX will do something!
Carfield
I don't expect anything but hope that AS and VX will do something!
Carfield
Last edited by Carfield; Apr 8, 18 at 6:33 pm
Mar 12, 18, 10:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: West Hollywood
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Alaska MVP, Delta Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 167
Originally Posted by The ITDA
I'll be in row 4.
Last edited by socalgecko; Apr 20, 18 at 12:05 pm Reason: Removed image because it had the wrong frikkin' plane in it
