AIR TRAVEL | VIRGIN AMERICA Takes Top Honors 4th Consecutive Year in a Row for Innovative Low-Fare Service Launches “You Win Some, You Win Some More” fare sale

Virgin America, the California–based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, took top honors as “Best U.S. Airline” in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.  Launched in August 2007, Virgin America has captured the award for the fourth consecutive year for its innovative low–fare service. The results of this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards will be reported in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler.  The survey is unique for both its size and unfiltered results and reflects the opinions of nearly 30,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers.  To thank guests for voting the airline best in America for the fourth year in a row, Virgin America today launches the “You Win Some, You Win Some More” fare sale with fares as low as $44,* with restrictions, taxes and fees applying. … Continue Reading

FIT4TheFLY | Richard Simmons Functifies Air New Zealand’s Air Safety Video in Classic Retro 80′s

Most air travelers tune out when a pre-safety flight video plays. People usually turn on their IPods, get themselves comfortable, and do everything but pay attention to the character telling them how to buckle up.

For Air New Zealand, neon colored lycra, celebrities and retro moves are becoming a comical way to get their passengers to pay attention to safety precautions before flying. With help from Richard Simmons, their pre-safety flight video will be paving the way for “infotainment”, where viable information is shared and retro-dance moves brings entertainment to all ages. – Erica Martinez

Air New Zealand’s safety ambassador for its new inflight safety video is US fitness legend Richard Simmons. “Simmons’ fitness moves will definitely ensure that all eyes are on the safety briefing.” Simmons will be putting Air New Zealand customers through their paces, as he takes them step-by-step through the airline’s pre-flight safety briefing.

The inflight video features Air New Zealand cabin crew and Les Mills fitness instructors working out in colorful lycra, fluorescent leg warmers and sweat bands. Simmons is also assisted in conveying the key safety messages with some celebrity cameo roles by the Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, sporting a bright yellow headband, television personality Paul Henry, in orange shorts and pink sweat band, and Silver Fern Temepara George in some stunning silver hot pants. … Continue Reading

FIT4THeFLY | Airlines reinvent Domestic Travel – Enjoy the Latest and Greatest Frequent Flyer perks – by Erica Martinez

A friendly welcome back at the terminals, enhanced boarding options, including upgrades on flights, and waiving service charges are all common perks for the frequent flyer.

Airlines are enhancing the travel experience by accommodation and enabling easier access to earn rewards.

Paving the way for reinventing domestic Travel, Virgin America announced it will bring low-fare, upscale service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with daily nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting May 25, 2011. This is great news to the frequent flyer looking to jet set as fast and affordable as possible. “Until today, travelers flying from O’Hare to SFO or LAX had little choice and few low fare options. With unrivalled service and new planes that look like nothing else in the skies, we hope our flights will be a breath of fresh air for Chicago travelers,” said Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer David Cush. … Continue Reading

AIR TRAVEL | Virgin Airlines Teams up with GOOGLE CHROME™ to Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi Over the Holidays

Virgin America, the first airline in the U.S. to offer fleetwide WiFi in the skies,  announces it is teaming up with Google’s Chrome browser team to offer free Gogo® Inflight Internet for all its guests during the holiday season. The two California companies known for innovation, entrepreneurialism and for connecting people in new ways have come together for the second consecutive year to give Virgin America flyers the gift of in-flight connection during the holiday travel season.  From November 20, 2010-January 2, 2011, guests on all Virgin America flights will be able to check email, stay in touch with family and friends via social media, or just go wherever the web takes them – all for free.  Virgin America is also offering flyers one more seasonal gift: a sale on its award-winning flights, with “byte-size” fares from $39* short-haul and from $109* long-haul, restrictions, taxes and fees apply.

“As the only airline based in Silicon Valley, in-flight WiFi has been popular with our guests since we launched it on our first aircraft in November of 2008,” said David Cush, President and CEO of Virgin America. “Both business and leisure travelers are logging on at a growing rate, … Continue Reading

AIR TRAVEL | Shanghai Airlines Adds 32 New Destinations to Global Airline Alliance SkyTeam

SkyTeam, the  global airline alliance providing customers from member airlines access to an extensive global network with more destinations, more frequencies and more connectivity, announced today that Shanghai Airlines, China’s first commercial airline, will become part of SkyTeam under the wings of parent company China Eastern, which is already in the process of joining the alliance in 2011. (photo by Josie Stoneking)

China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines merged in February 2009. In June 2010 China Eastern signed an agreement to join SkyTeam. As a result, both Shanghai-based airlines are scheduled to join SkyTeam in 2011.

Shanghai Airlines customers will enjoy SkyTeam alliance benefits such as earning and redeeming of frequent flyer miles across the global network, elite recognition, priority passenger service and access to more than 420 lounges worldwide. … Continue Reading