Virgin Airlines Take Flight Rewards Global

SAN FRANCISCO, LONDON and SYDNEY, March 19, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Australia, today announce that all three award-winning Virgin airlines are fully linking their frequent flyer programs to offer global benefits to Virgin flyers. Known around the world for their stylish, innovative and value-based flying experience, the three airlines have agreed to a global partnership that for the first time allows each airline's loyalty program members to redeem miles or points when taking flights on any of the sister-branded airlines across their respective route networks. This new initiative will allow those earning points on any Virgin airline to be able to use them to fly to any of the Virgin destinations around the world, knowing that they will get the unique Virgin experience wherever they fly. The new benefit builds on the airlines' 2010 move to enable miles and points earning across the Virgin airline family.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder commented: "Virgin got into the airline business three decades ago to offer great value and a brilliant experience. Today's travelers still choose Virgin for the same reason: because we do things differently. I am thrilled that we can now reward our loyal guests with the ability to fly around the world on Virgin. Yes indeed, Virgin goes all the way!"

"As a new U.S. airline, our guests have believed from day one that we could create a better travel experience here in the States," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "As we prepare to mark our fifth year anniversary, we are thankful to the travelers who got us where we are today and excited to take their benefits to the next level with global rewards and continued Elevate® program enhancements in 2012 and beyond."

"With our new services onboard, new aircraft, and 2012 being the year to visit London; there couldn't be more reasons to fly with Virgin Atlantic. The enhanced frequent flyer program allows us to offer even greater rewards to travelers who choose to fly with us. The Flying Club program will now not only allow our passengers to redeem flights around our global network but between ourselves, Virgin Australia and Virgin America, they will be able to do so to even more U.S. and Australian destinations," said Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic.

"A good frequent flyer program remains one of the key drivers for customers globally when choosing an airline. One of the most important features for our frequent flyers is the ability to earn and redeem points and enjoy status privileges wherever they fly, and we are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity with leading airlines such as Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic," said Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti.

Members of Virgin America's Elevate® program can now book roundtrip flights as of today on Virgin Atlantic from New York, Boston, Chicago, or Washington D.C. to London for as few as 15,000 Elevate® points* and from San Francisco to London for as few as 25,000 points.* As of March 22nd, Elevate® members can book roundtrip flights on Virgin Australia – for as low as 40,000 points* from Los Angeles to Sydney. Virgin America Elevate® members can redeem points for travel to any of the destinations in the three carriers' combined global network via the Virgin America Call Center at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (877.359.8474).** For more details and to calculate rewards, guests can visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/redeem-with-partners

A member of Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program can now book roundtrip flights on Virgin America from San Francisco to New York for as few as 25,000 Miles, or Los Angeles to San Francisco for 10,000***Miles. Flyers can also travel on Virgin Australia from Sydney to Los Angeles from 94,000 Miles****. For more, guests can visit: https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/frequentflyer/index.jsp

Velocity members can learn more about earning and redemption at: www.virginaustralia.com/velocity

* Subject to terms and conditions and taxes and mandatory fees applying. For example a New- York to London booking at 15,000 Points would include $650 in taxes and fees. A San Francisco to London booking at 25,000 Points would include $650 in taxes and fees. A Los Angeles to Sydney booking at 40,000 points would include $749 in taxes and fees.

**Any guest calling within the U.S. has access to a complimentary telecommunication relay service by dialing 711. For more, go to: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/telecomm.asp.

***Subject to terms and conditions and with $5 fees and taxes. Taxes and fees can vary depending on origin and destination.

**** Subject to terms and conditions. The Los Angeles to Sydney route would include $749 in taxes and fees.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. In just over four years flying, 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 and 2011 'World's Best' Awards. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport (SFO)'s sleek and sustainable new Terminal 2. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in–flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat. Virgin America offers Gogo™ WiFi on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies via the touch-screen Red™ platform. Virgin America's Elevate® frequent flyer program has grown to two million members since the airline's 2007 launch. Elevate® was among the first U.S. loyalty programs to offer dynamic pricing – or the ability for guests to redeem points for any unsold seat – on any flight, at any time. Elevate® offers easy-to-redeem flight rewards, with as few as four roundtrips earning members a reward flight. Elevate® continues to add partners, and members can now earn points and get exclusive deals from more than a dozen U.S. and international hotel brands. In 2010, Elevate® became the first airline loyalty program to award points in exchange for geo-location check-ins. For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com

About Virgin Atlantic Airways: Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the world's leading long-haul airlines, was founded in 1984, and currently has 38 aircraft in its fleet. Virgin Atlantic offers service from 10 US cities and Vancouver, BC to London and onto a range of long-haul destinations worldwide. From its main base at London Heathrow and Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic services destinations as far apart as Las Vegas, Tokyo, Delhi, Boston and Shanghai. Even with Virgin Atlantic's continued growth, the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation ensuring flying Virgin Atlantic is always an event. Pioneering many air travel innovations, Virgin Atlantic received a number of 2010 travel trade awards including for the third consecutive year, Travel Weekly's "Best International Airline," Global Traveler's "Best Airline for Premium Economy Class," Business Traveler's "Best Premium Economy Class in the World" and for the first time, "Best Airport Clubs/Lounges." To book travel contact 800-862-8621. For additional information, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com

About Virgin Australia:  Virgin Australia group of airlines (ASX: VAH), formerly the Virgin Blue group of airlines, was launched in 2000 as the first sustainable low-fare airline in Australian skies. It has established a global reputation as an innovator and leader in the aviation industry; renowned for the warmth of its people and the quality of the service they provide. Starting out as a single airline operating a single route with just 200 team members, today the group employs over 7,000 people and includes Virgin Australia international and domestic airlines and Virgin Samoa, a joint venture with the Government of Samoa. Virgin Australia operates a fleet of modern Boeing 737, Boeing 777, Airbus A330, ATR-72 Turboprop and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to Australian and international destinations including the USA, UAE, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. Velocity is the global frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia, providing members with many easy, everyday ways to earn Velocity Points and enjoy fantastic rewards sooner. Earn and redeem Velocity Points and earn Status Credits every time you fly with Virgin Australia and many of our international airline partners to over 500 destinations around the word. Gold and Platinum Velocity members will also receive the benefits of lounge access, priority check in, priority baggage, additional baggage allowance and priority boarding.

SOURCE Virgin America