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Virgin America Announces Bag Fee Changes

Posted on: Friday, 21 August 2009, 02:05 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America today announced changes to the airline's baggage fees. Effective for all bookings made on or after Aug. 21, 2009, for travel starting on or after Sept. 10, 2009, the airline has changed its baggage fee to a flat $20 rate for all checked items (excluding the first and second bag for First Class travelers; and the first bag for Main Cabin Select and Refundable Fare travelers.) Previously, the airline's fee was $15 for these checked items. Virgin America maintains one of the most generous first bag weight limits in the industry - up to 70 lbs.*

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

Beginning today, any Main Cabin guest who books a non-refundable ticket for travel starting on or after Sept. 10, 2009, will be charged a flat rate of $20 for each checked bag ($20 for a first checked bag and $20 for the second through the tenth checked bag.) Guests who purchased Virgin America tickets before today or who book and travel before Sept. 10, 2009, will be charged per the airline's previous bag fee rate. Guests can pay checked bag charges when they check in at airport kiosks, on-line or at any airport ticket counter.

The fee changes are as follows: New Fee-Main Cabin New Fee-Main Select and New Fee-First Fee Changes Cabin Refundable Fares Class First checked bag, up to $20 (previously No fee No fee 70 pounds $15) Second checked $20 (previously $20 (previously No fee bag fee $15) $15) Third-tenth checked bag $20 (previously $20 (previously $20 (previously fee $15) $15) $15)

Under the new fee rules, First Class guests will continue to receive up to two checked bags for free. Guests in the carrier's premium Main Cabin Select service or those who purchase Fully Refundable Main Cabin fares will also continue to receive one checked bag for free. All weight and size policies remain the same, and the airline's carry-on baggage policy has not changed. *

Virgin America's fee structure remains competitive with, or lower, than its major network competitors. The airline continues to invest in the innovative amenities and low fare, award-winning service for which it is known - including beautifully designed new planes, power outlets at every seat, and Red(TM) - the most advanced entertainment system in the U.S. skies. Software upgrades made this month to the touch-screen Red system allow for even greater functionality and speed - and expansion of its already robust entertainment library. In May, Virgin America became the first U.S. airline to offer WiFi on every flight.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Orange County and as of Nov. 18, 2009 - South Florida (Fort Lauderdale). The airline currently offers daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, SFO to SNA and as of Nov. 18, 2009 - SFO to FLL and LAX to FLL. Virgin America has flown close to five million guests since its inaugural flights in August 2007 and now counts over 950,000 Elevate loyalty program members.

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled, owned and operated airline. It is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing start-up U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1500 people. Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's modern International Terminal. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat for electronic gear. Virgin America offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the U.S. skies via its touch-screen Red(TM) seatback system. In just over two years flying, the airline was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 Readers' Choice Awards and in Travel + Leisure's 2008 and 2009 World's Best Awards. Elevate is Virgin America's first-of-its-kind loyalty program, which offers guests the ability to redeem points for any unsold seat - on any Virgin America flight, at any time. Elevate offers Web-based redemption with no black-out dates. For more please visit: www.virginamerica.com.

*Overweight bag policy: Virgin America maintains one of the most generous first bag weight limits in the industry - up to 70 lbs. The airline's checked baggage policy allows guests to check a first bag for $20 that can weigh up to a generous 70 lbs, and a second through tenth bag weighing up to 50 lbs for a $20 fee.

For the second through tenth checked bags weighing from 51-70 lbs, the airline charges an additional $50 per bag. For all overweight bags weighing from 71-100 lbs, the airline charges an additional $100 per bag.

Virgin America's Main Cabin Select and Fully Refundable Fare guests will not be charged for a first bag and First Class guests will not be charged for a first or second bag, but overweight and oversized bag fees are applicable.

SOURCE Virgin America

Source: PR Newswire

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