Virgin America Unveils Digital Campaign 'Fly Like a Boss' To Promote New Newark, New Jersey Service

To mark the upcoming launch of its new nonstop flight service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to one of the nation's top business travel markets Newark, New Jersey, Virgin America is launching a digital campaign that invites flyers in their newest market to show how they "Fly Like a Boss." Known for its business-friendly amenities, Virgin America's all new fleet of aircraft offer WiFi, power outlets and touch-screen personal entertainment platforms with movies, Google maps, live TV (including Fox, MSNBC, CNN and CNBC), on-demand food ordering and more.

Virgin America is the only U.S. airline to offer in-flight WiFi on every flight, and will be the only airline serving the Newark-West Coast routes to offer WiFi, power outlets and live satellite television at every seat on every flight. To celebrate the launch of a fresh travel option for the Garden State's entrepreneurs, the airline is launching a social media campaign that invites travelers to share how they would use the airline's business-friendly features to "fly like a boss." Entrants will receive 25* percent off a future Virgin America New Jersey flight, and five submissions will score** a ticket to the airline's Newark launch including the chance to join a live Google+ hangout onboard an aircraft with Mashable CEO & founder Pete Cashmore and Virgin Group Founder/'Entrepreneur-in-Chief' Sir Richard Branson. In addition, those who use the hashtag #flylikeaboss will see their Tweets appear on a live digital billboard in the New York area.*** For more, visit facebook.com/virginamerica or www.likeabossflight.com. Today, the airline also releases the results of a poll**** of frequent flyers that yielded some interesting insights about modern business traveler preferences.

"We get feedback from travelers everyday about how our 'office in the sky' amenities helped them close a deal, meet a deadline or just catch up on email while flying," said LuAnne Calvert, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. "And a recent survey of our frequent travelers found that, increasingly, guests are viewing amenities like better WiFi connectivity and nonstop flight options as 'must haves' for business travel instead of 'nice to haves.' As we launch service to one of the nation's top business travel airports, we're excited to ask New Jersey travelers to expect more from their airline and to invite them to 'fly like a boss' every time they travel."

As of April 2013, Virgin America will offer three conveniently timed daily nonstop roundtrip flights from both San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to EWR. Virgin America has already built a strong following of bi-coastal flyers with its popular nonstop flights from both Los International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). With the addition of Newark, Virgin America will now serve nine of the top 10 business markets from SFO and eight of the top 10 business markets from LAX. Prior to the carrier's announcement of new service to Newark International Airport (EWR), the SFO-EWR route was only served by one carrier and there was no low-fare competition serving LAX-EWR. Since Virgin America's launch of EWR ticket sales, fares on the EWR-West Coast routes have dropped by as much as 30 percent and travelers now have an airline option that guarantees WiFi, live TV and new aircraft on every flight.

In February, Virgin America initiated a poll of its Elevate frequent flyers**** to solicit their feedback on what aspects of business travel they would like to change or improve upon. With more than 2.6 Million Elevate members and headquarters in California's Silicon Valley, the airline has a strong base of frequent business travelers and entrepreneurs. The poll results included the following:

• When asked about their "most wanted" airline amenity when traveling for business, 40 percent of those surveyed noted the availability of nonstop flight options, followed by 24 percent who said their top requested business travel feature was the availability of in-flight WiFi.
• Over 50 percent of respondents use a laptop or electronic device to get work done on every flight they take, with a further 34 percent using their electronic devices every two to three flights.
• 32 percent use in-flight Wifi on every WiFi-enabled flight they take; a further 14 percent use WiFi at least once per trip; and an additional 19 percent use in-flight Wifi occasionally (every two to three WiFi-enabled flights they take).
• Delays were rated as the most frustrating aspect of business travel noted by a full 33 percent of respondents, followed by not enough legroom or seat space (16 percent).

With topnotch guest service, beautifully-designed cabins and three classes of service including an international grade First Class cabin, the airline offers business travelers an "office in the sky," that allows them to stay connected, productive and comfortable coast to coast. Virgin America has been named the best "Business/First Class" experience in the U.S. in Conde Nast Traveler'sannual Business Travel Poll every year since the airline's 2007 launchand "Best overall U.S. Airline" in both Conde Nast Traveler'sannualReaders' Choice AwardsandTravel + Leisure'sannual World's Best Awardsfor the past five years in a row.

In 2012, Elevate Virgin America's no black-out date frequent flyer program rolled out a suite of business-minded program enhancements, including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels that offer perks such as: priority check-in; security clearance and boarding; points earning bonuses; free checked bag allowances; enhanced digital/social rewards; private discounts; an expanded advance purchase upgrade window for the airline's exclusive eight-seat First Class; complimentary space-available upgrades to the carrier's premium Main Cabin Select service; and more. In late 2012, Virgin America launched a limited time Status Match program, offering qualifying elite level flyers from select airline frequent flyer programs the ability to match their status to Virgin America's Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver Status levels without giving up their status (or any points/miles) in their current program. For more details please see: www.virginamerica.com/statusmatch