Virgin America?

[disneydreamin247]

I'm looking for airfare for my Feb trip to Vegas and Virgin is offering the lowest fare. I haven't heard much about them, but what I have heard is good. Is there any reason I should be weary booking with them?

 

[bumbershoot]

I think some people would worry that, because they are still so new and have few-ish flights, if something happened weather-wise it would be harder for them to be creative to get you on a flight.


But other than that, I love them! I've flown them twice now, from Seattle to San Diego and Seattle to LAX. They are fun at the gates, they are super-sweet on the planes. The planes have "mood lighting", which means pink, purple, and blue lights instead of the normal glaring white.

Now I don't know if the lighting and their attitude is the reason, but I've never seen such calm passengers on my two flights with them.

On the San Diego flight, there was naaaaasty weather in San Francisco (where we were stopping) and we couldn't leave Seattle until it started clearing up down there. So they played a trivia game at the gate, played music (all based on David Bowie) and had a good time. Then they gave us an estimated departure time and let us run off. My friend and I went to the bar (as most passengers did, LOL), and JUST as our beer was put on the table, they announced that it was boarding in ONE minute (1.5 hours before the estimated departure time). We all rushed out (our server shooed us off since we didn't even touch our beers).

Then the plane was 3/4 of the way boarded, when the airport was shut down due to a problem with a bag at security and a woman who left the bag. All planes had to be cleared (not emptied, just searched) and the airport did too, and our plane was boarded by agents twice as they looked for the woman. After the airport was opened again, the rest of the people had to board, then we had to wait another half hour or so until a "window" opened again for us to take-off.

Through this entire time, no one freaked out, yelled, or tantrumed at all. It was sooo calm. We had the ability to chat seat-to-seat using their seat-back TV things, we could listen to music, we could order a movie (for a fee). And the light on the plane was so soothing it was very calm.


The seats are comfy and pretty too.

I hope to never do first class on VA b/c I have a feeling once I do, I will always want to. The seats look THAT comfy.


The one thing that gives me pause is that they are like a bigger carrier, in that they don't give credit when the flight price goes down. I'm used to Southwest's policies, and I know that Jet Blue does it too, as does Alaska (they actually just started rounding up to the nearest 25, when your flight decreases in price within 60 or 90 days of booking! a $5 decrease on three tickets became a total of $75 in credits for our recent trip back from LAX to SEA!). So when VA's prices went down the same amount as Alaska, JB, and SW all did, I was a little bit surprised when they would not give credit.

But that's OK, the original price was a good one, and I realized that those other airlines are doing something extra, while VA is the normal one.

So I like VA.

 

[disneydreamin247]

I am quite comfortable with the price ($299 from JFK to LAS). I have to say when they announced the airline I was pretty stoked to get to try it, and now that I have a chance I'm quite antsy to book it! The planes look comfy and fun. I have read all good things. I'm going to have DBF book it for us tomorrow.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[silmarg]

Flew VA from JFK to LAX on my trip to DLR. It was very nice.

But I must say when the seat in front of you is reclined... its awefully tight.

Jet Blue certainly has more legroom

That said, I would fly them again.

 

[VWLMember]

I am in the Boston area and am eagerly awaiting them to add Orlando and Vegas to the schedule. Right now they only go to LA and San Diego from Boston.

I have flown with them from Boston to London multiple times and refuse to fly anyone else. They are courteous, prepared and on time. The plane is always clean and comfortable. The entertainment system is first rate. And most of all the food is excellent and they constantly come around for drinks and snacks above and beyond the main meal.

I almost never send a company a letter stating how much I LIKED their service since most companies suck nowadays. I have sent them complimentary e-mails twice and was replied to within a few days both times.

As far as credits for issues, I highly doubt you would have any issues with resolution.

 

[silmarg]

I am in the Boston area and am eagerly awaiting them to add Orlando and Vegas to the schedule. Right now they only go to LA and San Diego from Boston.

I have flown with them from Boston to London multiple times and refuse to fly anyone else. They are courteous, prepared and on time. The plane is always clean and comfortable. The entertainment system is first rate. And most of all the food is excellent and they constantly come around for drinks and snacks above and beyond the main meal.

I almost never send a company a letter stating how much I LIKED their service since most companies suck nowadays. I have sent them complimentary e-mails twice and was replied to within a few days both times.

As far as credits for issues, I highly doubt you would have any issues with resolution.

Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic are two different airlines. So the one you took to London is not the same as the one that goes to LAX.

I know an fairly sure that Virgin America does not give credits when a fare changes. And they are sticklers.

My brother works for another airline and he cant believe how little lee way Virgin America gives their customer service reps to rectify certain matters like these.

 

[bumbershoot]

As far as credits for issues, I highly doubt you would have any issues with resolution.

That's referring to being credited if the price drops?

I know an fairly sure that Virgin America does not give credits when a fare changes. And they are sticklers.

Absolutely. I was told absolutely NOT when I asked if they gave credit when the price dropped. Since I had just been totally surprised to find out that Alaska gives credit (and rounds up to the nearest $25 to boot!), I was then surprised the other way to find that VA doesn't. It wasn't a big deal, I was happy with the fare I got anyway, but it was a little surprising.


Love that you can chat using an IM-type of thing from seat-to-seat.

 

[VWLMember]

Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic are two different airlines. So the one you took to London is not the same as the one that goes to LAX.

I know an fairly sure that Virgin America does not give credits when a fare changes. And they are sticklers.

My brother works for another airline and he cant believe how little lee way Virgin America gives their customer service reps to rectify certain matters like these.

Different names, same parent company. Although there are outside investors as required by US law, Virgin corp still owns controlling interest. I find it hard to believe that Richard Branson is aware that such a strict policy regarding credits exists. They allow Virgin Atlantic employees a huge amount of latitude to make concessions. This is his biggest pet peeve about the industry and vowed to revolutionize the industry when he started Virgin Atlantic. And so far he has.

 

[MAH4546]

Different names, same parent company. Although there are outside investors as required by US law, Virgin corp still owns controlling interest.

They do not have the same parent company. That would be illegal.

Branson's share is not controlling - its a non-controlling 25% stake, the maximum allowed by a foreigner. It's too bad, though, because if foreign airlines could own controlling stakes in U.S. airlines, the U.S. airline industry would be in much better shape. Europeans know how to run airlines very well.