VIRGIN AMERICA RANKS NO. 1 IN TRAVEL + LEISURE’S WORLD’S BEST AWARDS – AGAIN!

Virgin America took the top honors today for the third year running as “Best Domestic Airline” in the prestigious Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards readers’ survey.   Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards highlight the results of an annual, impartial survey that allows Travel + Leisure readers to share their opinions of their favorite travel experiences.  In the annual reader survey, airlines were rated independently by Travel + Leisure readers in four categories, including:  cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value.  The complete Travel + Leisure 2010 results, including the Top 100 Hotels Overall and Top 10 Cities Overall, are featured on www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest now and in Travel + Leisure’s August issue, available on newsstands July 23. 

Press Release (07.08.2010): http://www.virginamerica.com/press-release/2010/Virgin-America-Ranks-No-1.html

This week Darnell Skepple landed at Virgin America headquarters for a week of mentoring, job shadowing and a taste of life as a Virgin America teammate. Darnell's real Virgin journey began last November when he attended our Fort Lauderdale Launch Party as a member of the North Beach Miami Beach High School's Entrepreneurship Club, part of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurs (NFTE). Virgin America and Virgin Unite were helping to raise funds for NFTE at the launch, and Darnell, who had never previously set foot on an airplane, got some entrepreneurial advice and a personal tour of an arriving aircraft by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. When Sir Richard learned that this budding entrepreneur had never before flown, he and Virgin America CEO David Cush offered Darnell a round-trip ticket on the spot and a NFTE work experience opportunity at Virgin America's San Francisco headquarters.

Darnell, now a student at Miami Dade College, has been vlogging, blogging and Tweeting about his work experience thus far ? including his VIP treatment aboard his Virgin America flight to San Francisco, learning the difference between Java and JavaScript from one of our web designers, and of course…experiencing our favorite lunch spot: parking lot ChowderMobile!

Darnell claims that, "This experience will never be forgotten. I truly feel blessed." We feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and get to know such an inspiring and ambitious young person!!

NFTE has teamed up with Virgin America and Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of Virgin Group, to empower more young people like Darnell via similar mentoring, work experience and training programs, and seed funding to start their own business. To find out more or to donate to the cause, check out Virgin Unite's NFTE page. And please leave Darnell some words of encouragement on his blog or twitter page!

Our policy for First Class day of departure upgrades has changed. Upgrades are only available within 6 hours of departure. Prior to 6 hours from departure, guests may purchase First Class fares. Within 6 hours of departure, upgrades for open seats will be available on the website, at the airport kiosks, and from airport teammates.

Virgin America presents yet another way to make flying good again: first class lounging. You now have the ability to purchase access to Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse in three cities*.

Relax in this stylish retreat where you can catch up on work, read the newspaper or a magazine, zone out in front of the TV, enjoy delicious food, or simply unwind at the full bar. The Clubhouse also features Wi-Fi, coffee and juice bars, and even a shower.** This is first class luxury, and it's all yours for only $35. This is how to fly. To get your pass, stop by the Virgin America check-in counter.