It may be the heart of summer, but JetBlue is already looking ahead to fall, and putting one-way flights on sale starting at just $39 to celebrate.
27.07.2023 - 18:15 / smartertravel.com / Ed Perkins
Goodbye, Virgin America.
The last Virgin America flights operated on April 24, departing San Francisco at 9:30 p.m. Two years after being bought for $2.6 billion, the airline is officially incorporated into Alaska Airlines.
Related:Alaska and Virgin America Merge, Creating Fifth-Largest U.S. AirlineBut you might not notice its absence at all, at least according to the travel blogosphere: Alaska took a good look at the problems generated by prior airline mergers, and has made sure that the Virgin America reservations systems has worked smoothly with its own. It seems there will be no surprises.
But that’s in the short term. Overall, the newly expanded Alaska Airlines system is facing something of an identity crisis, especially on former Virgin America routes. Alaska has apparently decided not to emulate the Big Three airlines (plus JetBlue) in offering a true premium option on transcontinental routes. It has, however, decided to offer seat-only “basic” fares starting sometime this fall.
The Big Three airlines—especially Delta—are steadily moving onto Alaska’s West Coast turf. It’s anyone’s guess how Alaska Airlines will accommodate this increasingly competitive environment, but you may well see some surprises from them within the next year or so.
The good news? If you’re flying on Alaska or a Virgin America-booked ticket over the next few days, you can expect a no-surprises transition.
More from SmarterTravel: The End of Virgin America’s Elevate Program: What to Know The Future of Virgin America 11 New Air Routes That Promise Cheap FlightsConsumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuses every day at SmarterTravel.
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It may be the heart of summer, but JetBlue is already looking ahead to fall, and putting one-way flights on sale starting at just $39 to celebrate.
Passengers aboard Delta Air Lines flight 1437 had to disembark with emergency slides after the plane burst one of its tires when landing in Atlanta.
Bad news for the airlines often translates as good news for travel consumers.
Likely in response to JetBlue’s systemwide double-points promotion, in effect through February 29, Virgin America is also offering double points, but only on select routes.
With the high probability of Virgin America’s being folded into Alaska Airlines within the next two years, Virgin loyalists are in the market for an alternative. And JetBlue wants to be that alternative.
Today, two storied travel brands that are destined for the scrap heap announced a marketing partnership that only serves to make their imminent demise that much sadder.
According to the just-released Airline Quality Rating study, Virgin America is the country’s best airline. Of the 13 airlines ranked in the study, Alaska Airlines was rated fifth.
Judging by their load factors, U.S. airlines are doing just fine. For June, Alaska Airlines filled 86 percent of its seats; Delta flew 87.7 percent full; other carriers’ results are expected to be similarly robust.
Flying to Europe between now and July 31? Good. Flying on a first-, business-, or full coach-fare ticket? Even better. Because, bonus miles.
With Alaska Airline’s acquisition of Virgin America, it was just a matter of time before Virgin’s loyalty program, Elevate, was terminated and its members folded into Alaska’s Mileage Plan program. In the meantime, the programs were somewhat integrated, allowing reciprocal mileage earning. And beginning on January 9, 2017, Elevate members will be able to convert their points at a 1:1.3 ratio to miles in Mileage Plan, and have their Virgin status matched in Alaska’s program.
Want to fly Virgin America as an elite member of the airline’s Elevate program? If you’ve already earned elite status with American, Delta, Southwest, or United, Virgin America will match that status, for three months.
Virgin America thinks its new “Flights with Bennies” campaign is cheeky. In name, perhaps. But really, it’s just another refer-a-friend bonus promotion. Which isn’t a bad thing.