Virgin America and Hertz Team Up to Offer Elevate Loyalty Program Members Great Deals On the Road and at 35,000 Feet

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the award-winning airline that is reinventing travel, announces today that it has partnered with The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world's largest general use airport car rental brand, to offer Virgin America's Elevate loyalty program members exclusive deals on Hertz rental cars wherever the airline flies.  Elevate members who rent with Hertz can earn one Elevate point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals and for a limited time, Virgin America and Hertz are offering double points and up to 35 percent off for rentals of two days or more through December 31, 2011.*

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"We're pleased to partner with Hertz to offer our business and leisure travelers another great option for ground travel once they've arrived at their destination," said Brett Billick, director of CRM at Virgin America. "Our new partnership with Hertz provides our frequent flyers with an easy and seamless travel experience throughout their trip – both in the air and on the ground."

The latest partnership with Hertz expands Virgin America's rental car partners to three of the largest car rental companies in the U.S., giving the airline's guests even more options for ground travel during their business trip or leisure getaway.  Virgin America's Elevate frequent flyer loyalty program offers guests the ability to redeem points** for any unsold seat — on any Virgin America flight, at any time. Elevate offers Web–based redemption with no black–out dates and has grown to over 1.9 million members since the carrier's 2007 launch. Last year, Virgin America rolled out changes to Elevate in order to give flyers more flexibility to earn and redeem points for travel on the airline. Elevate members are also able to retain their Elevate points indefinitely, as long as they either earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months.

Known for its beautifully designed mood–lit cabins, innovative amenities and topnotch service, Virgin America has won a list of industry best–in–class awards since its 2007 launch, including "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and "Best Domestic Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun and Chicago.

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 three years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World's Best Awards.  Virgin America is a U.S. owned and operated airline that has created 2,000 jobs and welcomed more than 12 million guests since its August 2007 launch.  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.  In 2011, the airline announced plans to nearly triple its fleet size by 2019 and placed the first orders for the new eco-efficient Airbus A320neo and CFM LEAP engine.  In April, the airline opened its new home as an anchor tenant at SFO's sleek and sustainable new terminal 2 (T2).  For more: www.virginamerica.com

About Elevate: Elevate is Virgin America's first-of-its-kind loyalty program, which offers guests the ability to redeem points for any unsold seat – on any Virgin America flight, at any time.  Elevate offers one of the industry's most generous and easy-to-redeem flight reward programs, as few as four roundtrips or 2,500** points can earn members a reward flight.  Elevate members are able to retain their points indefinitely, as long as they either earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months. Elevate members receive exclusive offers that only the world–class Virgin brand could provide, such as tickets to the star-studded in-flight premiere of HBO's Entourage and the chance to compete to earn a seat on a Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space flight.

About Hertz:  A subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ), Hertz is the world's largest general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,500 locations in 146 countries worldwide.  Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 83 major airports in Europe, operating both corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  In addition, the Company has licensee locations in cities and airports in Africa and the Middle East. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz #1 Club Gold®, NeverLost® customized, onboard navigation systems, SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company's Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition.  Hertz car sharing operates in Berlin, London, Madrid, New York City and Paris.  Hertz also operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, offering a diverse line of equipment, including tools and supplies, as well as new and used equipment for sale, to customers ranging from major industrial companies to local contractors and consumers from approximately 325 branches in the United States, Canada, China, France and Spain.

To make car rental reservations or for more information, customers can call their travel agent, or call Hertz toll-free at 1-800-654-3131. Information and reservations are also available on the web at www.hertz.com.

*Terms and Conditions: Base point earning for Hertz is 1 point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals. Now through 12/31/11 members will earn 2 points per $1 spent on qualifying rentals of 2 or more days.  To reserve this offer offline, call Hertz at 1-800-654-2210 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, or 1-800-263-0600 in Canada.  At the time of reservation, you must provide discount CDP 1916490, PC 160252 and your Elevate number.  Advance reservation required.  CDP 1916490 and PC from above must be included in the reservation.  This offer has no cash value, may not be used with Pre-Pay Rates, Tour Rates or Insurance Replacement Rates and cannot be combined with any other certificate, voucher, offer or promotion.  Hertz age, driver, credit and qualifying rate restrictions for the renting location apply.  Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included.  The CDP savings of up to 35% apply to time and mileage charges only, discount vary by rental date, location and vehicle type.  Frequent Flyer Surcharge of $0.75 per day, up to a maximum of $5.25 per rental may apply.  Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer.  Points will not be awarded on travel industry rates, wholesale tour packages, insurance/dealer replacement, other promotional rates or group travel.  Offer valid for pickup through December 31, 2011.  Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for points to post in your Elevate account.

**Points required to redeem an Elevate travel reward on Virgin America will be publicly available on a seat and flight-specific basis and are subject to change.  Domestic reward bookings are subject to a security fee of $2.50 per segment, payable by credit card or Virgin America credit file.  The Passenger Facility Charge and Segment Fees are waived for domestic reward bookings.  For international reward bookings, Virgin America guests are responsible for the taxes and fees incurred from international travel.  These taxes and fees are subject to change at the discretion of each country's government and also vary from country to country depending on the origin and destination.

SOURCE Virgin America