Virgin America signs interline deal With Japan Airlines

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Virgin America, the California-based airline, announces a new interline agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL), offering seamless travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective North American and Asian routes. Virgin America has grown to 18 destinations, a fleet of 52 new aircraft and more than 2,600 teammates since its launch in August 2007. In addition to the new JAL agreement, Virgin America has interline agreements with Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, South African Airways, El Al, Qantas, China Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Air Pacific.

“We’re pleased to sign an interline agreement with JAL that will allow us to provide guests of both of our airlines connectivity across our two networks and more choices as they plan travel between Asia and North America,” said Adam Green, Virgin America’s Director of Network Planning.

JAL offers daily service from Virgin America’s home base San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and daily nonstop service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – a focus city for Virgin America – to JAL’s hub at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), where travelers may connect onward to most major cities in Asia including Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei. In addition, JAL serves Narita from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and New York’s JFK. Both airlines will transfer baggage between connecting flights to guests’ final destinations.

“We are pleased to enter this interline agreement with Virgin America,” said Koichi Fukunuga, Senior Director of Route Planning at Japan Airlines. “It will expand the network of flights that customers can easily ticket on and therefore provide them with greater convenience when they fly between Asia and North America.”

JAL, with headquarters in Tokyo, flies to destinations in Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.

Known for beautifully-designed cabins and unparalleled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch. The airline has taken top honors as “Best U.S. Airline” in both Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the past four consecutive years. Virgin America’s mood-lit, custom-designed new aircraft feature standard power outlets near every seat, Gogo™ In–flight Internet on every flight and Red™ – the most advanced entertainment system in the U.S. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, Virgin America’s First Class features international-grade amenities, including plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch and lumbar massagers. The carrier’s premium cabin option, Main Cabin Select, offers 38-inches of seat pitch, complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to entertainment options, dedicated overhead bin space, one free checked bag and priority check-in and boarding.

Interline electronic tickets for Virgin America and JAL connecting flights can now be booked through all the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Travel agents should refer to JAL’s GDS reference pages for further booking instructions.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs (seasonally), Philadelphia, Portland and – as of August 14th – Washington D.C.’s Reagan National (DCA).