9 Reasons Virgin America Is The Best Domestic Airline Flying Today

October 8th, 2008 · 14 Comments

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1. Flies out of SFO’s International terminal, so you get to feel like you’re a global jet-setter even if you’re just going to Seattle. The terminal is newer, more spacious, has better food and is a much more relaxed environment than the domestic terminals. This has nothing to do with Virgin America, but it sure adds to the mystic and overall experience.

2. The check-in area has fresh flowers and white Mac-like self check-in kiosks. There’s a red carpet leading up to the first-class counter. You feel more like you’re in a retail environment than standing in a human corral.

3. The gate agents seem younger, hipper, friendlier and more eager to provide good customer service. They even smile!! Some of this may be perception, drafting off other Virgin brands and Richard Branson’s personality, but it is also illustrated through their advertising and even the uniforms worn by the gate agents themselves. Black t-shirts are not uncommon.

4. First-class is not astronomically out of reach. Yes, it’s more, but only by a hundred bucks or so each way. And if your flight still has open seats in first, they release them for only $50 more at the gate. So there’s always the possibility you’ll be movin’ on up like the Jefferson’s.

5. You don’t walk onto a plane, you walk into a club. Mood lighting makes all the difference. The crew is wearing uniforms, but they are far from stogy. The sleeves on the stewardess blouses had delicate ribbon details that made it look like it might be for sale at Macy’s.

6. The planes are brand new. You feel safer and they seem fresher and cleaner than the ratty-tatty planes of the Delta / United type airlines. No Cheerios crumbs all over the damn place.

7. I don’t know if it’s the mood lighting, but even the passengers seem more hip. Less mom hair, more gel-spiked bangs and tattoos. Perhaps Virgin attracts a more fashion conscious customer than Southwest. I felt cooler by association.

8. The entertainment options are good. No one is forced to watch “Air Bud: Golden Receiver.” TV, movies, games, there’s even a chat option if you want to pick up a fellow passenger.

9. The safety video is a great example of Virgin’s attention to detail. Yeah, they could have just got a couple of community-theater actors to mimic seat buckling skills in a rented studio space, but instead they made the video something you would actually watch. The video makes you like the brand. They treat safety in a way that acknowledges our collective intelligence without coming off as flip. Delicate balance handled astutely.

Tags: Air Travel

14 responses so far ↓

1 Enlight // Oct 9, 2008 at 5:47 am

Hey Travel Betty, I like Virgin airlines and happy they started Virgin American.

Also, those 23 year old Arab virgins can put a spell on a guy, Wow.
2 MLRebecca // Oct 9, 2008 at 1:38 pm

I have never flown on Virgin Airlines, but I definitely plan to look into it. I love the ambiance on the plane cabin, and even the look of the check-in desk. Plus, the entertainment options seem as though they would make the plane ride fly by. (No pun intended.) Thanks for the recommendation!
3 devari // Oct 12, 2008 at 11:59 am

what do you guys think about British Airways?
4 Travel Betty // Oct 12, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Enlight, I think you’ve been spending too much time in the Middle East

Rebecca, I hope you get a chance to fly them soon. The entertainment options really DO help you pass the time. And a lot of them are free!

Devari, I’ve flown BA a couple of times. It’s okay. Nothing special. If you’re flying international, Singapore Airlines is pretty good. I’ve never flown Virgin Atlantic, although I hope to soon.
5 Nomadic Matt // Oct 13, 2008 at 1:37 am

I hear great things about VA. When I get back to the states next year I am going to try to fly them. I really like the photos too.
6 Farsighted Fly Girl // Oct 13, 2008 at 8:43 am

This sounds like heaven to me. I’m so tired of the dusty, cranky, scary United/American/Delta airlines that I’ve briefly contemplated doing something else instead of travel writing. I’ve never flown Virgin but I will be investigating it soon.
7 Jenny // Oct 14, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Seems like everyone’s a fan of VA
8 Travel Blog // Oct 24, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Wow. I love the neon purple in the airplane! Looks really cool. I never flew on that particular airlines, I’ll have to check it out.
9 Flüge // Oct 29, 2008 at 7:12 am

@Travel
“Wow. I love the neon purple in the airplane! Looks really cool. I never flew on that particular airlines, I’ll have to check it out.”

I flew with one of the particular airlines - its great !check it out my friend , you will be acceptable suprised Greets , Flüge
10 Justin Wright // Nov 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm

I have never flown Virgin but after reading this I totally want to. I have always flown United or Delta but lately they have not been so great.

Awesome blog!
11 jean // Nov 9, 2008 at 9:11 am

“Fresh flowers and white Mac-like self check-in kiosks”, that’s nice, feels very personalized and attending to details.

More, the safety movie looks cool. I never really watched that except my first flight years ago. Definitely gonna try VA when got chance.

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12 Sharon // Nov 12, 2008 at 10:46 am

I’ve done long haul with Virgin from Europe to the Caribbean and they rock! Love the service and the amenities.
13 Jenn Maer // Nov 28, 2008 at 10:29 am

Amen to that, sister. The only sucky thing is that they have fewer planes in their fleet, so if there’s a mechanical problem, you can be stranded for 8 hours instead of 2. But other than that, I’d take them any day. I heart TV.
14 Tommy // Dec 27, 2008 at 10:41 pm

I’ve only flown on Southwest, Delta, American, and Frontier. They all definately make you feel as though you’re part of a stampede into tight and dirty holding pens. Hopefully I can check out Virgin in the future.

Great post and great blog!