Virgin America Asks Flyers to 'Upload To Upgrade' Their Next Orlando Family Vacation

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America today launches an online promotion with Awkward Family Photos that celebrates the airline's new Orlando service – and family vacations everywhere.  To mark the airline's new flights to Orlando, Virgin America is teaming up with the popular Awkward Family Photos Web site to encourage families to upload their "most awkward" family vacation photos for a chance to upgrade to the ultimate family getaway.  In addition, those who submit a photo or vote on their favorites will score a 33.3 percent discount off their next family booking on the airline's Orlando flights (parties of three to six people, restrictions, taxes and fees apply).*

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In October, Virgin America launches nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Orlando International Airport (MCO).  The airline encourages flyers to kick off their Orlando vacations a few hours early with an unrivalled flight experience and low fares from $129 (restrictions, taxes and fees apply).** Virgin America offers innovative and fun amenities for kids and adults alike, including comfortable leather seats, an award-winning on-demand menu, WiFi,  beautifully designed moodlit cabins and touch-screen entertainment at every seat (including a kid's entertainment platform).

Travelers can enter their awkward family vacation photos and access the special discount on Orlando flights* by visiting the airline's Facebook page or http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/virginamerica.  The public can submit photo entries today (September 29, 2010) through October 5, 2010.  Awkward Family Photos and Virgin America will then select the top 20 photos and allow the public to vote on their favorites from October 6-13, 2010.  The awkward family vacation photo with the most votes as of October 13, 2010, will receive four roundtrip tickets anywhere Virgin America flies for their next family vacation.  In addition, one lucky California entrant will score the ultimate Orlando family getaway – flights, hotel stay and the chance to attend Virgin America's celebration of its new Orlando service on October 13, 2010.  The winners will be whisked in style from Los Angeles onboard Virgin America's celebratory flight and greeted on arrival in Orlando at a red carpet welcome party hosted by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson.

Since its 2007 launch, Virgin America has swept the major reader-based travel awards, including "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 and 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards.  The airline's touch-screen seatback in-flight entertainment platform offers a 30-film library, live TV, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, Google maps, a digital Shop platform, an award-winning on-demand food menu and more.  In May 2009, Virgin America became the first airline to offer WiFi on all its flights.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Orlando (service starts October 6, 2010, with the official celebration occurring on October 13, 2010), Dallas-Fort Worth (starting December 2010), Los Cabos (starting December 16, 2010) and Cancun (starting January 19, 2011).

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. owned, controlled and operated airline.  It is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin America: Launched in August 2007, Virgin America employs over 1600 people. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport.  Virgin America offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies via the Red™ platform.  In three years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 and 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards.  For photos and more, visit: www.virginamerica.com ; http://www.facebook.com/VirginAmerica; or http://twitter.com/virginamerica

About Awkward Family Photos: With just ten photos and a mission to celebrate the awkwardness of family, childhood friends Mike and Doug launched AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com in May 2009. Within a week, the site was receiving millions of visitors a day and thousands of submissions from around the world. Since then, the site has been featured on The Today Show, The View, The Tonight Show, and was named one of the top 10 comedy websites by CNN.com. The official Awkward Family Photos book was released on May 4th by Random House and debuted at #3 on The NY Times Bestseller List.

* Terms and Conditions: This offer ends and promo code must be used by 11:59pm PDT on October 31, 2010. Travel must occur between October 6, 2010 and February 16, 2011. One time use promo code may only be used for bookings made on virginamerica.com and is valid for travel only between Orlando and Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle/San Diego. Promo code is valid for non-refundable Main Cabin fares only and excludes fully refundable Main Cabin, instant upgrade to Main Cabin Select, Main Cabin Select and First Class fares. Blackout dates are November 24, 27, 28, 29, 2010, December 23, 24, 26, and 30, 2010 and January 2 and 3, 2011. Promo code is only valid on itineraries of 3 guests or more, up to a maximum of 6 guests, traveling together on a single reservation. Decreasing the number of guests, splitting the itinerary or changing names will be subject to change or cancel fees and may result in the loss of the discount. Promo code may be used only towards newly booked travel and may not be applied to prior bookings. Promo code discount will be deducted off of base fare only and does not extend to the government taxes and fees. Promo code may not be redeemed for cash. Offer is not transferable and cannot be combined with any other offers. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. If travel is changed or cancelled, promo code discount will become invalid. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee per change if changes are made on Virgin America's website or a $100 fee per change through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Tickets purchased through Virgin America's reservation call center will cost an additional $15 per guest per itinerary; this amount is non refundable if travel is changed or cancelled. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. Fares may include a surcharge. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares are not applicable to check-through connecting flights for city pairs where direct flights are offered. Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $25 for each ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice.

**Terms and Conditions: Main Cabin fares are one-way, require a 7-day advance purchase, are valid for travel only between Orlando and Los Angeles/San Francisco, and are not available on Fridays and Sundays.  Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.   Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm PDT October 4, 2010. Travel must occur between October 6, 2010 and December 15, 2010.  Blackout dates are November 24, 27, 28 and 29, 2010. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights.  Flights may not operate daily.  Changes or cancellations can be made for a $75 fee if changes are made on Virgin America's website (www.virginamerica.com) or a $100 fee per change through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable.  Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $75 redeposit fee.  Guests who no-show without a change or cancel prior to the scheduled departure time will forfeit the amount of this fare.  In addition, any future flights booked in the same reservation will also be canceled and the fare will be forfeited.  Tickets purchased from Virgin America through our reservation call center will cost an additional $15 per guest per itinerary.  Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable.  Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per domestic segment.  A segment is a takeoff and landing. For international travel, fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7 or the U.S. APHIS fee of $5.  For service to/from Toronto, fares do not include additional taxes/fees of up to $50, including: Airport Improvement Fee, Canadian Security Fee, Goods and Services Tax, and Harmonized Sales Tax.  Bookings made at a Canadian point of purchase are subject to a $16.10 International Arrival/Departure tax, each way.  Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $25 for each ticketed guest.  The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $25.  Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

SOURCE Virgin America