Virgin Blue’s international airline, V Australia, and US based award winning airline, Virgin America, have signed an Australia-U.S interline agreement offering seamless travel on the networks of each carrier and across the trans-Pacific route.
Both Virgin Blue Group and Virgin America are heralded as being the best in the business, with Virgin Blue taking out numerous awards in recent years, including Best National Airline three years running at the Australian National Travel Industry Awards. In the US market, Virgin America was also named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure 2008 World's Best Awards.
The agreement will allow Guests to purchase a single ticket online at www.vaustralia.com.au, for travel in the U.S and Australia on either carrier. Guests can also book via their travel agent or through V Australia’s call centre on 13 82 87.
The new interline arrangement will go live from today Monday (for travel agents bookings on the GDS system and 8 June for anyone booking via the website) for travel from Monday 8 June 2009.
The agreement will allow Guests to enjoy a seamless “Virgin” experience as Virgin America and V Australia share
Los Angeles World Airport’s newly redesigned Terminal 3. Guests arriving at LAX on V Australia international flights will come through the Tom Bradley International Terminal before being directed to Terminal 3 - a short walk to the Virgin America gates.
Both airlines will transfer baggage between connecting flights and to the final destination once Guests arriving on V Australia’s international flight have collected their checked bags and cleared customs.
The interline partnership offers great choice for V Australia Guests to connect to and from a wide range of Virgin America destinations including Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Washington DC.
Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We are delighted to be formally partnering with Virgin America to offer great travel benefits not only from Australia to the US on V Australia but beyond Los Angeles across Virgin America’s extensive and expanding route network.”
“The new agreement is a natural fit for both airlines as we share the Virgin commitment to exceptional customer service, quality and value for money. We may be newcomers to our respective markets but we’re keen to inspire an industry revolution to benefit travellers and invigorate trans-Pacific travel.”
V Australia offers a three class trans-Pacific travel option with direct flights from Brisbane and Sydney to Los Angeles, with direct Melbourne-Los Angeles flights scheduled for September this year (subject to regulatory
Virgin America also offers a three class domestic US service The interline agreement will make it even easier to fly around the world on Virgin Airlines with V Australia to Los Angeles, Virgin America to five cities, Virgin Atlantic US connecting gateways to London, then back through Asia to Sydney , again on Virgin Atlantic. Guests will later this year be able to earn Velocity Points when flying on Virgin America and will also be able to redeem Velocity Points for flights on Virgin America.
About V Australia and Virgin Blue:
V Australia is a three class boutique style airline offering the acclaimed service for which the Virgin Blue Group is renowned and a unique Australian style. On board the airline’s brand new 361-seat 777-300ER aircraft, configuration includes Business Class cabin with 33 fully lie-flat beds, Premium Economy with 40 International Club seats and 288 International Economy seats. All cabins offer the Red, state-of-the-art personal seat back entertainment, seat to seat 'chat' or competition connectivity. The airline also has two in-flight bars, mood lighting including twilight and sunset, bathrooms with piped music including a "ladies only" bathroom and other touches of Australiana from salt and pepper shakers to hidden wallpaper murals. V Australia is a part of the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines.
The Australian-based airline group also includes Virgin Blue, second largest carrier in Australia and short haul international airlines Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue. Together they operate a fleet comprising of 80 modern Boeing 737-NG’s, Boeing 777 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 28 Australian and 13 international destinations in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
About Virgin America: Launched in August 2007, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Virgin America's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's modern International Terminal. The airline's new Airbus A320-family aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets for electronic gear. Virgin America hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the domestic skies on its touch-screen Red seatback system. In addition to a 25-film library at every seat including Oscar winners, foreign language films and Hollywood blockbusters, Red™ features live TV, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, music videos and more. In just over a year flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline in the Condé Nast Traveller 2008 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline"in Travel + Leisure 2008 World's Best Awards. To learn more: www.virginamerica.com
