Virgin America Launches Codeshare With Singapore Airlines

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the award-winning U.S. airline, announces today that Singapore Airlines (SQ) will codeshare on select Virgin America flights. This new agreement, only the second international codeshare agreement for California-based Virgin America, offers seamless booking using the Singapore Airlines code (SQ) on a single ticket for guests traveling between Asia and multiple Virgin America destinations in the U.S. including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago (ORD), Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, Seattle and Washington DC (IAD).  Singapore Airlines operates non-stop flights between the US and Toyko, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore and Frankfurt.  Virgin America's recent move to a new reservations system allowed the carrier to initiate new codeshare alliances and significantly expand its roster of interline partnerships.

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

Codeshare flights are on sale now and the first travel date is December 18. The move will allow Singapore Airlines travelers to have more options when connecting in the U.S. The partnership is a true quality alliance as Singapore Airlines is routinely named one of the top international carriers for its high levels of guest service and Virgin America has been named the Best Domestic Airline by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure Magazine, and Zagat and has swept other major travel awards every year since its launch in 2007. 

"This agreement enables us to offer guests a seamless, award-winning travel experience across continents and significantly expand connection options in North America for Singapore Airlines' savvy travelers," said John MacLeod, Virgin America's senior vice president for planning and sales. "The partnership with one of the world's leading airlines is a testament to the quality of our product, and we're happy to welcome aboard Singapore Airlines guests in time for the holiday travel season." 

"We are pleased to announce this important partnership with Virgin America which extends our network even further within the United States," said Singapore Airlines Acting Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chin Yau Seng. "The United States is an important market for Singapore Airlines and through this partnership we can offer our customers more travel options to more destinations."

Beginning today, flights can be booked through all the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS) for travel beginning December 18 (U.S.).

Known for beautifully-designed cabins and unparalleled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch. The airline has taken top honors as "Best U.S. Airline" in both Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past five consecutive years.  Virgin America's mood-lit, custom-designed new aircraft feature standard power outlets near every seat, Gogo™ In-flight Internet on every flight and Red™ — the most advanced entertainment system in the U.S. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, Virgin America's First Class features international-grade amenities, including plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch and lumbar massagers. The carrier's premium cabin option, Main Cabin Select, offers 38-inches of seat pitch, complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to entertainment options, dedicated overhead bin space, one free checked bag and priority check-in and boarding. Earlier this year, Virgin America rolled out enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program — including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels that offer perks such as:  priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; points earning bonuses; free checked bag allowances; enhanced digital/social rewards; private discounts; an expanded advance purchase upgrade window for the airline's exclusive eight-seat First Class; complimentary space-available upgrades to the carrier's premium Main Cabin Select service; and complimentary access to the best seat assignments within Main Cabin.

In addition to the new Singapore Airlines agreement, Virgin America has codeshare agreements with Virgin Australia and Hawaiian Airlines and interline agreements with China Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, South African Airways, El Al, Qantas, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Pacific, Japan Airlines, SATA, Thai Airways and Air China. For more, please visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/travel/virgin-partners.html

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 (seasonally), Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National (DCA).

Singapore Airlines currently operates 45 flights per week to five points in the United States, namely Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York and San Francisco.

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 five years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 '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 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.  For more: www.virginamerica.com

SOURCE Virgin America