Virgin America named best airline in US

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Virgin America today took the top honors for “Best Premium Class” among domestic airlines in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012 Business Travel Poll. The annual independent survey of the magazine’s business travelers ranked Virgin America as the top U.S. airline for Premium Class service for the fifth consecutive year, as reported in the October issue of Condé Nast Traveler – on newsstands now. An independent firm asked over 46,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers identified as business travelers to rate hotels, airports and airlines on a variety of criteria. Final scores (out of 100) represent the percentage of readers who rated a hotel, airport, or airline “excellent” or “very good.” Virgin America’s unique flight experience was ranked number one among all domestic carriers, with an overall score of 87.9.

With outstanding service, beautiful design and a host of high-tech amenities, Virgin America has built a loyal business flyer following since its 2007 launch. The airline offers business travelers an “office in the sky” with fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal entertainment at every seat – including live TV like CNBC and CNN. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seats with a deeper pitch, the carrier’s premium Main Cabin Select service offers guests 38″ of seat pitch – about 6 inches more legroom than Main Cabin, unlimited complimentary cocktails and snacks from the airline’s award-winning menu, an all-access pass to in-flight media content (including free movies and premium TV like HBO and Showtime), priority security access/boarding, dedicated overhead bin space and one free checked bag. Virgin America’s First Class features international-grade amenities and plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The airline’s Red™ in-flight entertainment platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, a 4,000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. Virgin America’s latest advertising campaign offers a digital experience that brings the airline’s unique cabins to life – through the eyes of a few of its most frequent travelers: http://experiencevirginamerica.com.

This summer, Virgin America launched a suite of enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program – including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels that offer perks such as: priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; points earning bonuses; free checked bag allowances; enhanced digital/social rewards; private discounts; an expanded advance purchase upgrade window for the airline’s exclusive eight-seat First Class; complimentary space-available upgrades to the carrier’s premium Main Cabin Select service; and complimentary access to the best seat assignments within Main Cabin.

Virgin America has won a list of industry best-in-class awards since its 2007 launch, including “Best Domestic Airline” in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. In just over five years flying, the airline has expanded to 19 airport destinations and has created 2,600 new jobs. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.’s Reagan National (DCA).