SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA- Virgin America, the award-winning California-based airline, today announces a new interline agreement with Korean Air (KE) – offering seamless travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective North American, Asian and South American routes. Korean Air marks the ninth interline partner for the rapidly expanding U.S. domestic airline. Virgin America has grown to 17 destinations, 148 flights a day and 2,500 teammates since its launch in August 2007. In addition to the new KE agreement, Virgin America has interline agreements signed with Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, South African Airways, El Al and Qantas.
"We're pleased to sign an interline agreement with Korean Air, an airline known for its award-winning, international service," said Adam Green, Virgin America's Director of Network Planning. "This agreement allows us to provide travelers with simple connections and continues the building of our strategic partnerships with foreign carriers that drive connections over our SFO and LAX bases."
The interline partnership offers a new choice for KE guests to connect at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport(SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) to several other Virgin America destinations from Seoul (ICN). Korean Air also flies nonstop from LAX-Tokyo (NRT) and LAX-Sao Paulo (GRU). Effective as of February 22, 2012, the agreement will allow connecting guests to purchase interline tickets for travel between the U.S., Japan, Brazil, South Korea, etc.
"We are delighted to partner with Virgin America to offer more great travel benefits and convenient connection options between Asia and the U.S.," says Korean Air Vice President of Marketing for the Americas, John Jackson. "This agreement represents collaboration between two world-class airlines dedicated to excellence and to offering the most comfortable and convenient way to travel."
Korean Air also offers daily service between Los Angeles and Seoul aboard the superjumbo. Passengers flying over the Pacific will find unparalleled comfort on Korean Air's A380: with only 407 seats on the aircraft, Korean Air offers the most spacious configuration of any airline. The A380 super jumbo has 12 luxurious First Class Kosmo suites on the lower deck, while the upper deck is entirely devoted to Prestige Business Class. The all-Business Class deck features 94 full flat Prestige Sleeper seats. The aircraft also comes with a stylish on board bar and lounge area where passengers can sample Korean Air's selection of exclusive cocktails as well as a first-of-its-kind 'Duty Free Showcase' which features a great variety of duty-free products with a dedicated cabin crew member to assist and advise passengers with all their shopping needs.
Known for its guest service, beautifully-designed cabins and unparalleled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch. The airline has taken top honors as "Best U.S. Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past four consecutive years. Virgin America's mood-lit, custom-designed new aircraft feature standard power outlets near every seat, Gogo® In-flight Internet on every flight and Red™ – the most advanced entertainment system in the U.S. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, Virgin America's First Class cabin features international-grade amenities, including plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch and lumbar massagers. The carrier's premium cabin option, Main Cabin Select, offers 38-inches of seat pitch, complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to entertainment options, dedicated overhead bin space, one free checked bag and priority check-in and boarding.
