Virgin America Joins Points.com to Provide Frequent Flyers Even More Ways to Score Reward Flights

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the award-winning California-based airline, has announced today that it has joined Points.com's Partner Network.  Starting today, Virgin America's 1.3 million Elevate members have the option to buy points for themselves, transfer or gift points to other Elevate members via Points' industry-leading miles and points purchase platform.  Elevate members can purchase or transfer in 500 point increments, buy up to 20,000 or transfer up to 30,000 points each year.  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.

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"At Virgin America, we decided to change the typical model to design a program that was simple, rewarding and easy for our guests – for example reward flights can be booked at any time – there are no blackout dates or redemption restrictions," said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America.  "We've received great feedback from our frequent flyers on our program and this new partnership with Points.com allows even greater flexibility - especially for those guests whose Elevate account balance is just a few points shy of achieving an award ticket."

With industry-leading guest service, beautiful design and a host of high-tech amenities, Virgin America has captured a list of travel industry best-in-class awards since its launch, including being named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in the Travel + Leisure 2009 World's Best Awards.

"We're thrilled that Virgin America has selected Points.com to provide their Elevate members even more versatility," said Rob MacLean, CEO of Points International Ltd. "Points International's platform offers a wide range of options that will allow Elevate members more utility in how they accrue, earn and spend their points."

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 1.3 million members in just two years.  In addition, Elevate members receive exclusive offers that only the world-class Virgin brand could provide, such 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.  Virgin America is one of the only airlines to have launched its loyalty program prior to its own launch, so that guests could begin accruing points from the first day of flights.  Earlier this 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 now able to retain their Elevate points indefinitely, as long as they either earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months.  In addition, Elevate members can now earn even more points for free flights by shopping at the Red store, which features 150 popular brand retailers.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County (ends May 26), Fort Lauderdale, Toronto (starting June 23) and Orlando (starting August 19).

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing start-up U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1500 people. Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's modern International Terminal. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat for electronic gear. Virgin America offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the U.S. skies via its touch-screen Red™ seatback system. For more please visit: www.virginamerica.com

About Points International Ltd.

Points International Ltd. is the owner and operator of Points.com, the world's leading reward program management Web site. The site was named one of the 30 Best Travel Sites in 2008 and 28 Best Travel Sites in 2009 by Kiplinger's. At Points.com consumers can Swap, Earn, Buy, Gift, Share and Redeem miles and points from more than 25 of the world's leading reward programs. Participating programs include American Airlines AAdvantage® program, Aeroplan®, AsiaMiles™, British Airways Executive Club, Wyndham Rewards®, Delta SkyMiles® and InterContinental Hotels Group's Priority Club® Rewards. Redemption partners include Amazon.com® and Starbucks. For more information, visit http://www.points.com. 

* 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. All other applicable fees apply. 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