Virgin America Hitches A Ride With Uber: First-ever Uber Frequent Flyer Partnership Offers A Seamless, Connected Travel Experience From Ride To Roll

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept.12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the award-winning California-based airline, announces today that it has partnered with Uber, the company revolutionizing personal transportation, to offer Virgin America's Elevate® frequent flyer program members the ability to earn Elevate points when they complete their first ride with Uber.  As of today, Elevate frequent flyer members who are new to Uber can sign-up (on the Uber website or through the Uber app) with their Elevate membership number and will be awarded 800 Elevate reward points upon completion of their first Uber ride.  To celebrate the partnership, as of today, Virgin America and Uber will also be giving one winner a week a free domestic roundtrip on Virgin America and $500 in Uber ride credits until October 2, 2012.  More information on the "Ride with Us, Roll with Uber" sweepstakes*, official rules and other details are available at: http://vgn.am/VXuber

"As two companies known for looking at ways to improve and reinvent the travel experience, we're pleased to partner with Uber to offer travelers a new option for ground travel that fits their busy, connected lifestyles," said Luanne Calvert, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America.  "Our new partnership with Uber provides our frequent flyers with a more connected, seamless travel experience – from the air to the ground."

The latest partnership with Uber offers Virgin America's tech-forward guests more options for ground travel during their business trip or leisure getaway. Uber harnesses the latest technology to provide an innovative on-demand car service that is unique in the marketplace.  Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has grown a passionate following of flyers for its topnotch guest service and unique amenities. The airline's Elevate frequent flyer program was among the first U.S. loyalty programs to offer dynamic reward pricing – with the ability for guests to redeem reward points for any unsold seat – on any flight, at any time. Earlier this summer, Virgin America announced a suite of enhancements to its Elevate program – including new Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels with a host of traveler perks and enhanced social rewards for virtual check-ins.  Elevate program details can be viewed on the airline's website at: www.virginamerica.com/elevate

With one of the youngest fleets in the U.S., Virgin America offers custom-designed seating, in-flight WiFi, a cabin 'moodlighting' system which transitions across 12 shades based on outside light, power outlets near every seat and the most advanced entertainment system in the skies via the Red™ platform.  Every guest enjoys their own nine-inch seatback touch-screen with: 

• More than 25 on-demand movies, including independent films, foreign language films and latest release blockbusters.
• 18 channels of live TV and 6 channels of cached TV, including: CNN, MSNBC, ESPN, FOX, CBS, NBC and more.
• 4,000 song music library and the ability for guests to create a custom playlist in-flight.
• A videogame library.
• Interactive Google Maps, so guests can track their journey at eight levels of zoom.
• Onboard seat-to-seat chat messaging.
• World's first on-demand food and drink ordering system with a menu named best in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure.

Virgin America has swept the major travel awards, including:  "Best U.S. Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for the past four years; "Best U.S. Business/First Class" in Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Poll for the past four years; and "Best Domestic Airline" for the fifth consecutive year in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.

Virgin America and Uber share markets in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Diego, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Philadelphia.  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, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National (DCA).  

For video and photos of Virgin America aircraft and cabins: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/photos

About Virgin America:  Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 'Readers' Choice' Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 'World's Best' Awards. The airline's base of operations is SFO's sleek and sustainable Terminal 2.  The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat. Virgin America was the first airline to offer Gogo™ InFlight Internet on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the U.S. skies, via the touch-screen Red™ platform.  Elevate's more than 2.5 million members can earn reward points and get exclusive deals from a growing range of hotel, car rental, shopping and lifestyle partners including the Virgin America Visa Signature credit card.  In March of 2012, Virgin America completed a frequent flyer alliance with all three Virgin airlines. For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com

About Uber:  Uber is everyone's private driver.  With just the push of a button Uber connects users to a network of professional drivers who make it easy to get around any city.  Available via iPhone, Android or at m.uber.com, and operating in an ever-growing number of cities that can be found at www.uber.com/cities, Uber is changing the way mobile professionals arrive in style. To sign-up for Uber with your Elevate number, please visit:  https://www.uber.com/go/virgin

*Terms and Conditions: Ride With Us, Roll With Uber Sweepstakes Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES & D.C. 18 AND OLDER WHO DID NOT PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ENTERING THE CONTEST. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Enter Contest by 11:59pm PST, October 2, 2012. For Official Rules, which govern, and complete details, visit: http://vgn.am/VXuber

SOURCE Virgin America