Virgin America Launches New Route: Daily Flights From Los Angeles To Las Vegas

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing travel, today announces that it is bringing more of its upscale, low-fare flights to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) with new nonstop service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning April 22, 2013. The three daily roundtrip flights will add to Virgin America's existing service from its San Francisco International Airport (SFO) home base to Las Vegas and its existing nonstop service between Las Vegas and New York's JFK International Airport (JFK).  Tickets for the new service are on sale as of today at www.virginamerica.com and 1-877-FLY-VIRGIN* with LAX-LAS fares from $39** (taxes and fees included and restrictions applying) – all seats are also available for redemption booking using Elevate® points, with no-blackout reward flights starting at 1,302 points.   For the high rollers, upgrades to First Class are available for only $79. To mark the new route, the airline is also launching a "feel lucky anywhere we fly" systemwide fare sale with short haul flights from $59*** and long-haul flights from $119*** (taxes and fees included and restrictions applying).

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

"With moodlighting, custom-designed leather seats and touch-screen entertainment at every seat, we think our guests will agree that Virgin America is the perfect way to escape to one of the most iconic travel destinations in the world,"  said John MacLeod, Virgin America's senior vice president of planning and sales. "This route has been one of the most requested by our frequent flyers, and whether guests are traveling for a fun weekend getaway or headed to one of the many trade events or business conferences that Las Vegas hosts each year, we think this new 'ride' will be a stylish, welcome alternative."

Known for outstanding service, beautifully designed cabins and unrivalled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch, including being named "Best Domestic Airline" in both Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past five years.  In December 2012, Virgin America opened its first airport lounge – the Virgin America Loft at LAX offers guests a sleek and modern retreat, with a selection of amenities and a space that reflect the look and feel of the airline's mood-lit aircraft and overall design aesthetic.

"We are thrilled to welcome additional service from LAX on Virgin America," said Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority. "Every new destination that is added to the schedule provides additional convenience and flexibility for travelers. With record visitation to Las Vegas in 2012, every new airline seat provides opportunity for continued growth. "

"Virgin America has been a wonderful partner since its first flight arrived at McCarran International Airport in October 2007, and we believe travelers will take to its newest service as much as they have to its existing flights connecting Las Vegas with San Francisco and New York," said Rosemary A. Vassiliadis, deputy director of Aviation for Clark County, Nevada, which owns and operates McCarran. "The greater Los Angeles area is the largest feeder market for air passengers into Las Vegas. We are pleased that Virgin America will soon offer additional capacity for Southern California residents, as well as other leisure and business travelers who may make Los Angeles a connection point for their travels to and from Las Vegas."

Las Vegas is the largest market that Virgin America does not currently serve from LAX, in terms of traveler demand, and Los Angeles is the largest market for Las Vegas travelers. The airline's schedule will include three daily nonstop roundtrips between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  The schedule is designed to provide guests with well-timed connections for flights to and from many of the destinations Virgin America serves from Los Angeles, as well as for guests connecting to or from flights operated by Virgin America's interline and codeshare partners.

The airline, which celebrated its fifth anniversary of operations in August 2012, launched, the first nonstop JFK to Palm Springs domestic flight in the nation on December 22, 2012.  Last month the airline also announced new daily nonstop service from both San Francisco and Los Angeles to Newark – with flights starting in April of this year.

Virgin America's new fleet offers custom-designed mood-lit cabins and amenities like fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal entertainment at every seat.  The Red™ platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, video games, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 4000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight.  In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers.  The carrier's Main Cabin Select option offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding.  Last summer, Virgin America launched a suite of 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.

Virgin America's LAXLAS flight schedule is as follows:

Connecting flights are also available between Las Vegas and Virgin America's Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Washington (Dulles), New York (JFK) and Seattle destinations. 

Guests can also connect to Virgin America's codeshare partners Virgin Australia, Hawaiian Airlines and Singapore Airlines, and many of its interline partners including 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.

Virgin America is the only airline headquartered in California. In just over five years flying, the airline has expanded to 19 airport destinations and has created 2,600 new jobs. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National (DCA).  On April 2, Virgin America will inaugurate service to its 20^th airport destination – Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Photos of Virgin America's unique aircraft: http://www.virginamerica.com/about/airline-photos/virgin-america-pictures.html 

Broadcast quality video b-roll can also be downloaded at: http://www.virginamerica.com/about/airline-company.html

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline and 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:  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

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

Fare Terms and Conditions

**All Main Cabin fares are one-way. All Main Cabin fares require a 21-day advance purchase. Travel must occur between April 22, 2013 and August 14, 2013. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm CST January 18, 2013. Lowest sale fares for are available only on certain itineraries. Lowest sale fares are valid only for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 2013 blackout dates are: 5/24, 5/27, 7/2, 7/3, 7/5 and 7/7. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Any remaining balance will be placed in a guest's travel bank, good for travel on Virgin America for one year from date of issue. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $100 redeposit fee per guest. Guests who no-show without a change or cancellation 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 $20 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept up to ten pieces of checked baggage, up to 50 pounds each, per ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee for each piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

*** All Main Cabin fares are one-way. Main Cabin fares for EWR-LAX and EWR-SFO require a 21-day advance purchase and travel must occur between April 2, 2013 and June 5, 2013. Main Cabin fares for LAX-SFO, LAS-SFO, SAN-SFO, PSP-SFO, LAX-SEA, and SEA-SFO require a 10-day advance purchase and travel must occur between January 26, 2013 and May 15, 2013. Main Cabin fares for IAD-LAX, IAD-SFO, LAX-ORD, ORD-SFO, LAX-PHL, PHL-SFO, DFW-LAX, and DFW-SFO require a 14-day advance purchase and travel must occur between January 30, 2013 and May 15, 2013. Main Cabin fares for BOS-SAN, BOS-PDX, BOS-LAX, JFK-SAN, JFK-PDX, DFW-SAN, DFW-PDX, DFW-LAS,  PHL-SAN, PDX-PHL, LAS-PHL, ORD-SAN, ORD-PDX, LAS-ORD, IAD-SAN, IAD-PDX, IAD-LAS, FLL-PDX, FLL-LAS, MCO-SFO, SAN-SEA, LAS-SEA, LAX-PDX, PDX-SFO, PDX-SAN, and LAS-SAN require a 7-day advance purchase and travel must occur between January 23, 2013 and May 15, 2013. Main Cabin fares for JFK-PSP require a 7-day advance purchase and travel must occur between January 26, 2013 and March 16, 2013. All other Main Cabin fares require a 21-day advance purchase and travel must occur between February 6, 2013 and May 15, 2013. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm CST January 18, 2013. Lowest sale fares are available only on certain itineraries. Lowest sale fares are only valid for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Lowest sale fares for JFK-PSP are valid only for nonstop travel on Saturdays.  2013 blackout dates are: 2/15, 2/18, 3/22 through 3/24, 3/28 through 4/1, and 4/5. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Any remaining balance will be placed in a guest's travel bank, good for travel on Virgin America for one year from date of issue. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $100 redeposit fee per guest. Guests who no-show without a change or cancellation 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 $20 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept up to ten pieces of checked baggage, up to 50 pounds each, per ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee for each piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

SOURCE Virgin America

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