Virgin America Airline Review

No longer will the consumer be left withonly one choice for inexpensive travel. Virgin American has clearly come to the forefront of the travel world and cleanly shoved Southwest aside as the cost-conscious consumer's choice for travel. (Granted, Virgin America only has a few routes at present, but I guarantee that they will be adding more as their popularity grows.)

Why is Virgin America so great?

1)  Roomy seats - when the person in front of you relines your tray table isn't shoved into your gut. And, no more bald heads  literally in your face! The seats are also leather(?) on a moulded modern plastic frame. In the seat back, is the entertainment and communication module - more on that later. 

2)  Good, no-GREAT Food!  Now that we have to pay for food on flights, it might as well be good.  And, it sure is. Prices for meals range from $7-$9. (I recommend the Fruit and Cheese box, the Mandarin Chicken Wrap and the Chicken Salad Wrap. Snacks are also offered, as well as specialty drinks.  As always, sodas, coffee, tea, etc. are complimentary. The cool thing is that you can order and pay for your items on the module in the back of the seat.  Your food is instantly delivered by one of the fun and friendly flight attendants.

3) Entertainment - The safety video is a hoot to watch, and doesn't insult your intelligence as do the safety demos offered on other airlines. And - you will never believe this - your seat cushion is NOT a flotation device!  The entertainment and communication module (Linux-based) located in the seat back in front of you, above the tray table, has so many choices - most free - to keep you amused on your flight. The difference between Virgin America and other airlines are the CHOICES. You can pick one of several current movies, regular TV (including sports, news, Sci Fi, and sitcoms), and text messaging feature that allows you to communicate with anyone else on the plane. This is great, especially for people like my husband and I, who sit across aisle from each other instead of next to each other. We can gossip away and no one will ever know! There are video games (operated with the removable controller from your armrest) which is a controller on one side fr games, TV controller, etc. and a keyboard on the other (for texting). Or you can watch the flight as it progresses across the country on Google Maps - or. listen to any type of music you like..there are so many choices, I can't remember what they all were. Oh, and as I mentioned above, you can order your food and drinks - and pay for them with the handy credit card slot.

They also offer power for all electronic devices for each seat, and encourage their use (except for cell phones, of course).

4) The boarding process - this is where Virgin did some research on human behavior and the sociology of plane boarding. You are divided into groups - I couldn't figure out the categories are created - As usual, kids, first class and those needing extra assistance go first. Then, the groups are called. They do not seem to be in seat order - but in a pattern that allows people to be settled in before the next group boards. There was no traffic jams, fighting over stowage space, or climbing over people to get into your seat. Sweet. Compare that to the Southwest "cattle boarding" method. They have changed it several times over the years, but no matter how they set it up, it is based on the first come - first served method, thus creating the aura reminiscent of waiting in line for Rolling Stones concert tickets.

5)  Flight Attendants - Southwest used to be fun - back about 15 yrs ago. Now, they are just as bitter and jaded as all the other airline hosts/hostesses. The entire crew, from Captain to attendants, assist with the boarding and the "deplaneing." Young, friendly, upbeat - they way that flight crews should be. With the heightened anxiety associated with flying today, an unfriendly or snippy attendant is the LAST thing you need to make your flight even more stressful.

6) Price - they are inexpensive. They match Southwest in fares, and are a lot less expensive than Jet Blue. 

What more can I say? Oh - they have a lighting scheme that helps with mood.  Blues, pinks, purples - very soothing.  Someone did their research!

Virgin America ROCKS.