In praise of Virgin America

[HUGE AL]

Thanks. How have the white leather seats aged over the past 4 years? Still decent?

I can't believe how time flies!

You know, surprisingly well! I had inquired about them during that first year when I sat next to one of the designers on the LAX-SFO run. He told me they put a lot of thought into the material and the color. I really haven't noticed too much of a difference -- except for the dirtiness in the crevices. Many seats, however, have been replaced due to faulty electronics.

[singaporeairlinesboi]

I think sitting on the right gives you more of a chance to be looking out over the strip as you come into land but LAS is one of those airports where it is very difficult to predict which direction the plane will land from. But to be honest unless it is dark when you land it is not much of a sight.

Actually, sitting on the left will give you a better chance of seeing the strip because the majority of the flights come in from the north and turn for 25l



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[singaporeairlinesboi]

i flew VX on 3/19 and 3/21 to Vegas and i was not so much impressed. Ground crew were great at SFO, received a voucher for a free drink because it was my 21st bday but in-flight team members were totally different. I had 2 male crew serving the main cabin and one lead in the front. The two male were very slow, did not smile and had an attitude. When asked for a $2 headset, the male crew (J) is what im going to call him, rolled his eyes, went to the overhead bin, grab the head set and dropped it on my tray table. I wanted to speak to the lead team member during disembarkation but i was like the hell with it because i was in Vegas.

Return flight was slightly better. Had an all female crew. They did their job, but nothing more. Overall, the only thing that puts VX on a different level is there cool new planes, mood lighting, PTV's and leather seats. Other than that, they are no different than southwest, well thats not really fair because on SWA they actually try to give you peanuts to nibble on, not VX.

Complimentary drink from VX



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[Lobster]

Definitely the best views I have ever had leaving SFO I was sitting on the Left but I was heading to LHR.

[fone]

If you can sit in first class (whatever they called it), it will be even better. Usual domestic first class seats do not have much leg room. VX's first class has so much leg room, my feet can't touch the front seats when fully stretched out (I'm 6' tall). However, IFE does not operate gate to gate for first class as screen needs to be stowed for taxiing.

[Kyo]

Grateful for the answer, Lobster! Last question, for takeoff ex-SFO, for the best views, would you recommend sitting on the Left or Right? (not sure if they use A or K)

Thanks in advance mate

[Lobster]

I think sitting on the right gives you more of a chance to be looking out over the strip as you come into land but LAS is one of those airports where it is very difficult to predict which direction the plane will land from. But to be honest unless it is dark when you land it is not much of a sight.

[KeithMEL]

KeithMEL: For SFO-LAS, would you prefer to sit on the left or right of the aircraft?

I sat on the left on the outbound and the right on the inbound and couldn't really discern any difference... If you're referring to the views outside the window I wouldn't know as I like my aisle seats.

[Kyo]

KeithMEL: For SFO-LAS, would you prefer to sit on the left or right of the aircraft?

[9V-JKL]

My fav for domestic flights as well (have yet to try B6 though....) Did a LAX-SEA back in Nov '08. They did not have the instant MCS upgrade then and the differential was quite big so skipped it.

[milehighj]

Some more pics:

http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2027

Thanks. How have the white leather seats aged over the past 4 years? Still decent?

[HUGE AL]

Some more pics:

http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2027

[FlyBoy]

Yep I have had a few flights on Virgin America now in First Class!

It puts all other domestic USA and pretty much every other domestic First Class to shame.

The only domestic flights that come close are the PS United Airlines First/Business services, but they planes are just sooooooo old!

[KeithMEL]

Yeah I flew them a couple of years ago on the SFO-LAS route. Definitely the best airline I have flown on that route but to be honest it is such a short flight it does not make much difference.

I agree it is a very short flight at 1 hr 14 mins on the outbound and 1 hr and 23 mins on the inbound. However as I've come to accept US domestic travel for what it is and adjusted my expectations accordingly, I found VX rather refreshing. I can't wait to try them on a longer flight. Perhaps a transcon if I get an opportunity for a long weekend holiday whilst I'm here.

[Lobster]

Yeah I flew them a couple of years ago on the SFO-LAS route. Definitely the best airline I have flown on that route but to be honest it is such a short flight it does not make much difference.

I would love to try them on one of their longer flights