Virgin America Wins Best Domestic Airline from Travel + Leisure

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

Virgin America Wins Top Honors in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards​

Virgin America Wins Best Domestic Airline in 13th Annual World’s Best Awards ​

San Francisco-- July 9, 2008 -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic air travel, today took the top honors as “Best Domestic Airline” in the prestigious Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards readers’ survey.

“We're delighted to welcome so many new winners this year, said Nancy Novogrod, Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure. “Virgin America came on strong in its very first year of service, winning the prize for Best Domestic Airline.”

“Virgin America was launched just last year with the goal of creating a different kind of airline: one built around providing an upscale, innovative, high-value customer experience for smart travelers in the urban destinations we serve,” said Virgin America Chief Executive Officer David Cush. “So, we couldn’t be more honored to take the top award as Best Domestic Airline from Travel + Leisure’s readers -- those who fly the most and expect the very best in design, comfort and service in all their travel choices.”

The complete 2008 results, including the Top 100 Hotels Worldwide, Top 100 Hotels in the Continental U.S. + Canada, and Top 10 Cities in the World, are featured on www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest now and in Travel + Leisure’s August issue, available on newsstands July 22, 2008.

“These awards are certainly not a finish line,” Cush said. “It shows that we are moving in the right direction, but our goal from the start was to design an airline by listening to what travelers actually want. We’ve already implemented customer suggestions taken from our seatback video-screens from some of our very first August 2007 flights. We may not be the biggest, but we aim to be the most innovative, customer-facing and best in the domestic airline market.”

The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards winners for 2008, including Virgin America’s Cush, will be honored in New York City on July 24, 2008, at an awards luncheon at the Four Seasons Restaurant, followed by a gala event at Hudson Terrace that evening.

 

[Blue Dude]

Clean, brand new airplanes with the latest amenities... and nobody on them. What's not to like?

 

[TheJCNIs]

Damm! Midwest did not win again. I guess we better close down shop or chage our slogan to "Second best care in the air"

 

[starshipdrvr]

yeah blue dude, 90% load factors and nobody's on the airplanes. Right. . .

 

[Wino]

Looks like the AX is being sharpened as we type.

www.planebuzz.com

Cheers
Wino

 

[a320drivr]

yeah blue dude, 90% load factors and nobody's on the airplanes. Right. . .

Are you an idiot? Load factors dont mean squat. Its yield that matters. You can bet every one of your seats in losing money. You are next to fold. So take those $80 hr Capt. positions and go home.

 

[WateryGrave]

yeah blue dude, 90% load factors and nobody's on the airplanes. Right. . .

90% HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Right!!!!

Thats the funniest thing I've heard all week. I must just fly into SFO when the during the empty times and the rest of the time they are 100% full I guess.

 

[Hamburger]

The magazine can hardly be considered an authority on the business if they put Virgin in the Domestic airline category.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Anyone else see the irony of watching jetBlue folks bashing Virgin America.

 

[spinproof]

Anyone else see the irony of watching jetBlue folks bashing Virgin America.

Yeah pretty pathetic huh?

 

[meigwo]

Wow. I guess Midwest can't afford the bribe money anymore!

Virgin America Wins Top Honors in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards

Virgin America Wins Best Domestic Airline in 13th Annual World’s Best Awards ​

 

[Blue Dude]

Anyone else see the irony of watching jetBlue folks bashing Virgin America.

That was bashing? Really? You don't get out much. A left-handed compliment, maybe.

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

The magazine can hardly be considered an authority on the business if they put Virgin in the Domestic airline category.

Umm....it's Virgin AMERICA.....

Ah! Yeah. It's just we're putting new coversheets on all the TPS reports before they go out now. So if you could go ahead and try to remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!

 

[spinproof]

That was bashing? Really? You don't get out much. A left-handed compliment, maybe.

Yeah maybe. Kinda' like where are you going to "PARK" all those new airplanes you're getting...oh wait..
no ill will intended of course.

 

[starshipdrvr]

a320driver, who's the idiot? maybe the guy that didn't read the posts. i wasn't discussing yields, rasm vs casm, etc. so shut up and next time read before you go calling people idiots!!!!

 

[clickclickboom]

Guys it is pointless to argue with facts just look at the reported DOT data......


Oh yeah VA petitioned to keep that data confidential..

Yep everything is just peachy.

Not a bash just reality since everyone is throwing stones

 

[flyipilot]

I for one am very happy for VA...Funny how a new upstart can out do all the crappy old airlines from years past. But, it can not be hard to give better service than UA, AA, DL...etc...all you need to do is smile. Then you WIN! The legacy companies could learn something about customer service from VA. Congrats to the guys and gals there! Well done!

Oh, and VA did lose the battle to keep the data from the DOT. Be interesting to see what the financials are.

 

[tzskipper]

Guys it is pointless to argue with facts just look at the reported DOT data......


Oh yeah VA petitioned to keep that data confidential..

Yep everything is just peachy.

Not a bash just reality since everyone is throwing stones

Peachy or not, why the need to bash another airline?

In addition, before you lob the "pay sucks' bomb, along with the "I can't believe anyone would work for it...", keep in mind that the only choices for those employees whose previous carrier (ALPA represented for the Aloha and ATA guys and gals) shut down is Asia, VA or small freight. There is not a legacy job in sight.

VA will make it or not, and that is our fortune (or not). As a twenty airplane operation, I doubt it truly impacts you. So, just as a suggestion, how about you try and manage your own group's issues and not spend the effort to make what has already been a tough road for most, even tougher.

Skipper

 

[clickclickboom]

Peachy or not, why the need to bash another airline?

In addition, before you lob the "pay sucks' bomb, along with the "I can't believe anyone would work for it...", keep in mind that the only choices for those employees whose previous carrier (ALPA represented for the Aloha and ATA guys and gals) shut down is Asia, VA or small freight. There is not a legacy job in sight.

VA will make it or not, and that is our fortune (or not). As a twenty airplane operation, I doubt it truly impacts you. So, just as a suggestion, how about you try and manage your own group's issues and not spend the effort to make what has already been a tough road for most, even tougher.

Skipper

Skipper i just stated fact I do not have an opinion either way.. As long as Branson can creatively finance his operation you guys are in good shape.

I was on a trans con flight with 25 people after a pairing with a dh that ended in sfo. It was scary to sit an an airbus for 5 hours with 25 pax knowing that you guys were burning about 35000 lbs of fuel to get there...

 

[Yuppyguppy]

Bottom line...no union, ********************ty wages, trying to undercut everyone else...please go away ...THANK YOU!

 

[mvedepo]

...please go away ...THANK YOU!

Hmmmm. Race ya!

 

[PinnacleDude]

VA will make it or not, and that is our fortune (or not). As a twenty airplane operation, I doubt it truly impacts you. So, just as a suggestion, how about you try and manage your own group's issues and not spend the effort to make what has already been a tough road for most, even tougher.

Skipper

Skipper,

Unfortunately, it does impact us. Like it or not all pilots are in this together. When ATA or ALOHA, etc. fails, it hurts everyone. A bad contract/or lack thereof effects everyone as well.

For example, the Alaska guys are in some tough negotiations with their management right now. They have a good product....better than most. Right now, they are having statements thrown at them like, "We can't afford to pay you more because you are so much more expensive than VA, etc." Of course that is just an excuse, but I know most of us, if we are really honest with ourselves, would not appreciate it. It is a typical managment divide and conquer statement.

On the other hand, I think if you guys were a union carrier and could say, "Hey look, we are new, but in our first contract we are going to get rid of some of these problem issues." Most people would not have a problem with it.

You can never judge a pilot group by one guy, but the one I know at VA says you don't need a union. They don't need to change the upgrade or pay policies. Basically, he got his and it's tough for everyone else. Including your own.

Contrast that to the Jetblue guy I ran into the other day. Senior Captain said that they need a union and increased pay for all. The other Jetblue guys I know also concur. Good on them and I agree.

I doubt that is how you all feel, but one less than nice guy at a small airline makes up a larger percentage than one guy at a 1500 or 5000 pilot operation. If you all do feel that things are fine the way they are, then I have a serious problem with your pilot group. I work hard to make my place better and I would hope that you would do the same.

Good luck,
P-Dude

 

[spinproof]

Bottom line...no union, ********************ty wages, trying to undercut everyone else...please go away ...THANK YOU!

You first.

 

[mozzer]

Anyone else see the irony of watching jetBlue folks bashing Virgin America.

You should know, you worked for both.

How's things?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

You should know, you worked for both.

How's things?

Great. How are you doing? Did you get a slot in Florida yet??

The commute is a bit easier but of course I have to compete with "the Deuce" for jumpseats. LOL.

Tell some of these guys to be nice, it wasn't that long ago that Blue was the new kid in town. Pilots are pilots I guess and love to predict everyone else's demise. Hasn't changed in decades.

Drop me your number PM and maybe I can catch you up in JFK sometime on an overnight.

If you see the boys, tell everyone I said hello.

Pogue

 

[CopilotDoug]

I for one am very happy for VA...Funny how a new upstart can out do all the crappy old airlines from years past. But, it can not be hard to give better service than UA, AA, DL...etc...all you need to do is smile. Then you WIN! The legacy companies could learn something about customer service from VA. Congrats to the guys and gals there! Well done!

Oh, and VA did lose the battle to keep the data from the DOT. Be interesting to see what the financials are.

New Business Plan: Smile your way to the Top!

Yep. Just a short time before they're taken to the landfill and tossed on top of the still-warm Skybus corpse.

 

[spinproof]

New Business Plan: Smile your way to the Top!

Yep. Just a short time before they're taken to the landfill and tossed on top of the still-warm Skybus corpse.

Yes and may you receive ten times that which you wish on others!

 

[spinproof]

deleted......................

 

[CopilotDoug]

Yes and may you receive ten times that which you wish on others!

Just workin' with the facts, ma'am.

 

[spinproof]

Just workin' with the facts, ma'am.

Well may that fact be on your house first!Ahole.