Virgin America Preps For Mile-High Takeoff: Airline Launches 'Blaze A New Trail' Campaign Aimed At Tech-Forward SFO-DEN Travelers And Announces New Denver-Area Customer Contact Center

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the Silicon Valley-based airline that recently announced it would launch its upscale, low-cost service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Denver International Airport (DEN) as of March 15, 2016, today reinforces its commitment to the region by announcing a new Customer Contact Center in the Denver area.  The announcement coincides with the launch of the airline's "Blaze a New Trail" campaign** that encourages DEN-SFO travelers to grab a seat on the only airline flying the SFO-DEN route to offer WiFi, power outlets, on-demand food and drinks and live TV and movies – at every seat, on every flight.  The promotion, now live at www.BlazeYourNewTrail.com, offers flyers a discount of up to 30 percent off* Virgin America's new SFO-DEN flights and the ability to share with their network on LinkedIn for a chance to score themselves and their "ultimate business dream team" either future flights on Virgin America or four seats on the airline's inaugural flight from SFO-DEN on March 15, 2016.  Each grand prize winner will also score 50,000 Elevate points, hotel accommodations, Uber rides, a GoPro HERO4 Session camera, one year of LinkedIn Premium, and a one-year membership on Lynda.com, LinkedIn's online learning platform**.

Onboard the inaugural flight, Virgin America is further partnering with LinkedIn to convene a unique, onboard, live-streamed discussion on the future of entrepreneurship from 35,000 feet via the airline's new high-speed satellite ViaSat WiFi – with Virgin Group's 'Trailblazer in Chief' Sir Richard Branson and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. They will be joined by ten entrepreneurs from the 'Virgin Media Accelerator, powered by Techstars' program, an accelerator launched by the UK provider of ultrafast broadband for consumers and business to identify and support the most innovative and disruptive digital start-ups from around the world.

"We're pleased to welcome Virgin America's unique service to the Colorado market – and applaud their continued investment, and support of local entrepreneurs," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "Colorado has become one of the driving forces in the innovation economy, and Virgin America's new service will keep local business travelers headed to the West Coast more connected and productive in-flight."  

With top-notch guest service and a tech-forward product – including being the first and still only airline to offer WiFi and power outlets on every mainland U.S. flight, Virgin America has been named both the "Top Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's Annual World's Best Awards and "Best U.S. Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for the past eight consecutive years.

"With our consistent, business-friendly product, we're the airline of choice for entrepreneurs, pioneers and anyone else who likes to blaze their own trail.  Once people try Virgin America they usually stay with us, and we're happy to provide local travelers a great flight offer today and an opportunity to experience firsthand why we're so different," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "In addition to our new flights, we're also pleased to be further investing in the Denver community with our new Customer Contact Center. As an airline known for our industry-leading guest service, we're pleased to be growing a critical part of our business in the region."

Virgin America's "Blaze a New Trail" promotion, which launched today at www.BlazeYourNewTrail.com, will give San Francisco and Denver-area entrepreneurs and adventure seekers a chance to get up to 30 percent off* SFO-DEN flights just by being a Virgin America Elevate® member or by signing up for the Elevate frequent flyer program.  Flyers can also share with their network on LinkedIn to score themselves and their "ultimate business dream team" either future flights on Virgin America or four tickets on Virgin America's inaugural flight from SFO to DEN – as well as the chance to participate in a live streamed chat on the future of entrepreneurship with Branson and Mayor Hancock from the inaugural flight at 35,000 feet. Included in the live chat will be ten entrepreneurs from the 'Virgin Media Accelerator, powered by Techstars' program. Each grand prize winner will also score 50,000 Elevate points, hotel accommodations, Uber rides, a GoPro HERO4 Session camera, one year of LinkedIn Premium, and a one-year membership on Lynda.com**. Lynda builds world-class content and learning environments to help professionals identify and acquire the skills they need – to get their first job, get a promotion or advance their career.

In order to accommodate the airline's continued growth and further invest in the Denver region, which has been dubbed the "next Silicon Valley" and is a growing hub for technology companies and start-ups, Virgin America is partnering with 24-7 Intouch – a global contact center company with an innovative culture and facilities – to open a new Customer Contact Center that will support approximately 100 new Denver-area jobs.  The center will be staffed by 24-7 Intouch with support from Virgin America's in-house team. Virgin America, which will operate out of Concourse A at DEN, is also hiring approximately 40 new teammates from the Denver area to support its schedule of three daily, nonstop SFO-DEN flights launching on March 15, 2016.  For more on Virgin America careers, visit: https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/airline-jobs 

As of March 15, 2016, Virgin America will launch the following service between SFO and DEN:

Launched in 2007, Virgin America has built a loyal following of tech-forward travelers, with WiFi, power outlets at every seat and amenities that allow flyers to stay connected and productive on every flight. The Silicon Valley-based airline offers mood-lit aircraft with three custom-designed classes of service, touch-screen personal entertainment and an on-demand food and cocktail menu on every flight. In addition to its First Class cabin, Virgin America offers a Main Cabin with custom leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, and Main Cabin Select service with 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding. The Red™ entertainment platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen, with dozens of latest release films, live TV, interactive maps, videogames, a 3,000 song library, surround sound technology and an on-demand menu, which allows flyers to order from their seatback any time during a flight.  With a full service First Class menu and a unique on-demand menu in the Main Cabin, Virgin America was named Travel + Leisure Magazine's "Best U.S. Airline for Food." 

Virgin America has also been a stand-out in the industry for its operational performance.  For the past three years, Virgin America has been the number one ranked carrier in the Airline Quality Rating (AQR) report, an annual study of U.S. domestic airline performance conducted by professors at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – measuring on-time performance, customer complaints, denied boarding and mishandled bags. 

Since its 2007 launch, Virgin America has created nearly 3,000 jobs. Denver will represent the 24^th destination served by the California-based airline.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Photos & broadcast-quality video of Virgin America aircraft: https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/about-our-airline/photos.html

ABOUT VIRGIN AMERICA: Known for its mood-lit cabins, beautifully designed classes of service and innovative fleetwide amenities — like touch-screen personal entertainment, WiFi and power outlets at every seat, Virgin America has built a loyal following of flyers and earned a host of awards since launching in 2007 — including being named both the "Best U.S. Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards for the past eight consecutive years.  The airline serves Austin, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Denver (as of March 15, 2016) Dallas Love Field, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Newark, New York (JFK and LGA), Orlando, Palm Springs, Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA), Honolulu and Maui-Kahului.  For more: www.virginamerica.com

*Terms and Conditions for DEN Blaze a New Trail up to 30% off promo: This offer expires on March 24, 2016 at 11:59pm PT. This offer is valid for nonstop and connecting travel to/from DEN only; offer is not valid for any multi-city itineraries. Travel must occur between April 12, 2016 and May 25, 2016. One time use promo code is valid in Main Cabin only. Promo code is valid for a 30% discount off the base fare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Promo code is valid for a 15% discount off the base fare on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  Discount is not valid for travel on Sundays. Promo code applies to newly booked travel and may not be applied to prior bookings. Promo code discount will be deducted off of base fare. Base fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.60 per one way trip, where each one-way trip may include a connection or stopover between two domestic flights not exceeding 4 hours, and a Federal Segment Tax of $4.00 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. A stopover is a break in travel of more than 4 hours between 2 flights. For service to/from Mexico, base fares do not include the U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, the U.S. APHIS fee of $3.96, the U.S. Customs processing fee of $5.50, a U.S. International Arrival/Departure Tax of $17.50 each way and additional taxes/fees of up to $70, including: Mexico International Departure Tax and Mexico Tourism Tax.  Promo code may not be redeemed for cash. Promo code may only be used for bookings made on virginamerica.com and is only valid on itineraries of up to 2 guests. 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. For travel solely between points in the Continental Western Region (LAS/LAX/PDX/PSP/PVR/SAN/SEA/SFO/SJD only), DAL-LAS, and DEN-SFO, changes or cancellations can be made for a $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. For all other itineraries, changes or cancellations can be made for a $150 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. Promotion code is not eligible for Elevate points redemption bookings. 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 in Main Cabin is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply. https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/dam/vx-pdf/Terms-and-Conditions-for-DEN-Blaze-a-New-Trail-up-to-30

**Virgin America Denver Blaze a New Trail Promotion Official Rules and Details: https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/dam/vx-pdf/Official-Rules-DEN-Blaze-a-New-Trail-Sweeps-FINAL-021616.pdf

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SOURCE Virgin America

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