Virgin America Now Selling Tickets

by Justin Glow on

Finally, Virgin America has started selling tickets! One-way tickets between SFO and JFK are roughly $139-$199 which — considering the amenities on board — is pretty cheap. Here’s the upcoming route map:

  • San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX)
  • San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK)
  • New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) begins August 29.
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Washington D.C. (IAD) begins September 26.
  • San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS) begins October 10.
  • Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington D.C. (IAD) October 24.

To purchase tickets, head to Virgin America’s website.

Here are some other VA facts:

  • Virgin America is the first U.S. airline with mood lighting.
  • There are 3000 MP3s onboard every flight.
  • You can plug in to 110v power at every seat. (!!)
  • You can order fresh food when you want it, from the screen at your seat.
  • Red, the in-flight entertainment system, has over 25 pay-per-view Hollywood movies on demand.
  • Virgin America is a cashless airline. Place your order, swipe your card, and you’re done.

Also: Our sister site, Engadget, got a sneak peak at the planes a few months ago. Check out their wicked photo gallery.

(Thanks, David!)

Airlines Learning the Art of “Sorry.”

by Jamie Rhein on

Maybe this scenario sounds familiar. You’ve just finished your airplane food lunch. Not bad, particularly since you’re on an international flight and the wine is free. Then, just when you’re halfway into the first movie, the pilot comes on and says, “We’re sorry, but the plane has lost an engine and we’re heading to ____ (fill in the blank.) You wipe your mouth on your napkin giving yourself time to regroup while you realize that it doesn’t look like you’ll be waking up where you thought you might. Instead, you find yourself being held over somewhere with meal vouchers and a place to stay. You’ll be equipped with a tiny toothbrush and toothpaste, but not a change of clothes. Yes, you’ll be sleeping in the clothes you’ve been wearing all day, in your underwear, or in nothing.

This has happened to me three times. Each time on a flight that left LAX in Los Angeles. Once I ended up in Seoul, Korea on an unplanned overnight. The second time was a dreadful experience. After taking off on a noon flight to Singapore, we ended up back at LAX by 10:30 that night after being diverted to San Francisco. The thirty of us at the end of the rebooking line, after 6 hours of waiting, were told all the hotels in San Francisco were now full. If we wanted a room on the airline’s dime we needed to return to LA. The next day, on the 12 noon flight, it was the same food and the same movie, as if, the airline was trying to pretend that the day before hadn’t happened. Since I was wearing the same clothes, they might have fooled me, but I know what clothes smell like when I wear them two days in a row.

The third time was not too shabby. On our way to Taiwan, we had a two day layover in Honolulu. Northwest put us up at the Waikiki Sheraton in a room overlooking the ocean with plenty of phone cards, great meals and communication about what was happening and why. I still happily fly Northwest.

Lately, many airlines are learning the art of apology does make a difference. A recent article mentioned Southwest Airlines as being the best at saying I’m sorry. One guy’s job is to do just that. It helps keeps customers happy and coming back when a flight doesn’t go as planned.

Remote Bag Check-in at LAX

by Iva Skoch on

In an effort to ease congestion and help travelers, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is experimenting with remote bag check-in, at locations around the city. The month-old program is apparently working well, and they’re adding locations.

The service, provided by BAGS, Inc., includes getting airline boarding passes and bag check in, for up to two bags, for between $10-15 per person. At the check-in locations, shuttle bus service ($6 round trip) is available to take you right to LAX. You can then proceed through security and right to your gate.

Check-in locations include the Van Nuys FlyAway bus terminal in the San Fernando Valley, the Union Station FlyAway bus stop at Patsaouras Transit Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center. They hope to expand the program to major hotels as well.

Unfortunately, it’s only available to U.S. destinations at this time, and the airlines are limited to major U.S. carriers.

If this does expand to hotels and other locations, this would be a good way of avoiding nightmarish check-in lines, although you’re still stuck in security lines.