In an era of add-on fees, crunched-up knees, and general dissatisfaction with air travel, what does it take for an airline to stand out with customers? Apparently not much. [More]
virgin america
Alaska Airlines Might Not Drop Virgin America Name After Merger
By 6.15.16
Two months after Alaska Airlines put $4 billion on the table and bought up Virgin America, the soon-to-be fifth largest airline operating in the U.S. is spilling the beans — kind of — about its future, and that might include keeping the recently purchased carrier’s name. [More]
Sour Over Failed Bid For Virgin America, JetBlue Gives Away Free Tickets
By 4.13.16
You’ve probably seen your fair share of those “(Airline Name) giving away (X number) free tickets if you share this post” promotions that infiltrate social media but are actually bogus. In a new twist — and a ploy to bring over loyal passengers of Virgin America after its announced a $4 billion merger with Alaska Airlines — JetBlue really is offering consumers the chance to win one of 500 free tickets from the carrier, no Facebook required. [More]
Alaska Airlines To Buy Virgin America In $4B Deal
By 4.4.16
Virgin Alaska? Alaska American? Either of those — and other combinations — could soon be the fifth largest airline operating in the U.S. after Alaska Airlines agreed to acquire Virgin America in a deal valued at $4 billion. [More]
Virgin America Reportedly Gets Takeover Bids From JetBlue, Alaska Airlines
By 3.28.16
Well that was fast. Less than a week after Virgin America realized it was a pretty hot commodity and said it would consider putting itself up for sale, the company has reportedly received not one, but two takeover bids from rival airlines. [More]
Traveling This Weekend? Airlines Offering Travel Waivers Ahead Of Winter Storm
By 1.21.16
Planning on traveling by plane in the next few days? The winter storm rolling across the country this weekend might have something to say about that. Ahead of the storm’s arrival, most U.S. airlines are issuing travel advisories and weather waivers for customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic who might find their plans ruined by snow, ice, sleet, wind, etc. [More]
Airlines Testing Auctions For Seat Upgrades At Gates
By 1.6.16
Until recently, the only thing that auctions and airlines had in common were crowds of on-edge people in confined spaces. Some carriers are testing out the idea of turning their airport gates into auction houses, selling off premium seat upgrades to the highest bidders. [More]
Lawmaker Questions Airlines, Plane Manufacturers On Cybersecurity Measures
By 12.2.15
Eight months after a government report found that airplanes with WiFi connections may be vulnerable to cyber attacks and seven months after a hacker claimed to have commandeered a United Airlines flight via the plane’s in-flight entertainment system, one lawmaker wants to know just what airlines are doing to protect their computer systems — and passengers. [More]
Virgin America Passenger Says He Was Blocked From Flight Because Crew Didn’t “Feel Comfortable”
By 12.1.15
We’ve all heard stories of airline passengers being removed from planes because of apparently minor disputes with the flight crew, but a Dallas man says he wasn’t even allowed to board his Virgin America flight because he made the crew uncomfortable. [More]
Virgin America To Offer Free In-Flight WiFi For Netflix Subscribers
By 9.30.15
Netflix customers who’ve wished they could download content to bring with them on their mobile devices when they fly still won’t be able to do that, but they will be able to stream video on some Virgin America planes by way of a new partnership that gives Netflix subscribers free WiFi. [More]
NASA Creates App Aimed At Shortening Commercial Flights, Saving Fuel
By 9.23.15
There’s an app for just about everything. And that now includes one created by NASA and aimed at helping commercial airlines shorten flight times and conserve fuel. [More]
Virgin America Souping Up WiFi System So Passengers Can Stream Video
By 7.8.15
A growing number of planes now allow passengers to connect to onboard WiFi networks (usually for a fee), but the connection is often sluggish and sometimes unreliable; it’s rarely good enough to stream video dependably. Virgin America hopes its upgraded inflight WiFi will solve that problem. [More]
Airline Performance Slips; Virgin America Named No. 1 For Third Time In Annual Airline Survey
By 4.13.15
Many consumers have a love-hate relationship with airlines: We love that they get us from point A to point B faster than a car, but we hate all the little fees, the inevitable delays and the occasional lost bag. It looks like all that hate once again won out, as this year’s Airline Quality Rating Survey found performance declined across all customer-focused categories just a year after the industry’s best scores in 25 years. The only carryover from the hopeful 2013 report was Virgin America’s ranking as top airline for the third consecutive year. [More]
Virgin America Flight Diverted After Passenger Masturbates, Tries To Open Exit Door
By 9.24.14
A Virgin America flight from Boston to Los Angeles had to stop in Nebraska on the way. Because while self-love is perfectly acceptable and healthy, it should not be attempted on a plane full of people, and followed by an attempt to exit out the emergency door. You know, planes being public and in the air and all. [More]
CarMax, Virgin America, Others Ditching L.A. Clippers Over Owner’s Alleged Racist Comments
By 4.28.14
If we learned anything from Deengate last year, it’s that if people don’t like what you’re allegedly saying, big companies will no doubt cut ties and run in order to avoid as much of the fallout as possible. Joining Paula Deen and others before her in the rejected corporate sponsorships arena is the L.A. Clippers, whose owner Don Sterling has been accused of making racist comments. [More]
Virgin America Flight Attendant’s Safety Demo Shows That He Can Kick A Lot Higher Than You
By 3.10.14
The fascination — if there’s any to be had — with airlines’ safety demonstrations wears off pretty much during the first 30 seconds the first time you hear one. And then once you’ve been through one safety demo, you’ve been through them all. At least, until you’re faced with a high-kicking, dancing and strutting Virgin America flight attendant. [More]
Virgin America Setting Up In-Flight Social Networking To Connect Flying Strangers
By 2.13.14
For those of you who not only can’t stand to be separated from some form of social networking for even a second but also have a burning desire to connect with strangers, Virgin America has got just the thing for you. The airline is teaming with a location-aware social app to boost in-flight networking, even with people not currently in the same airplane as you. [More]
Expedia, United Blame Each Other For $200 Change Fee For Passenger Stuck In LAX During Shootout
By 11.8.13
The recent tragic shootings at Los Angeles International put parts of one of the world’s largest airports on lockdown for several hours, resulting in rescheduled and canceled flights for many travelers. Given the extenuating and unique circumstances, one would think that airlines and hotels would have some level of understanding and not hit people with huge fees, and yet… [More]
