Virgin America

I like you, Virgin America. I’ve just discovered you and now you are no longer flying from Toronto. That makes me sad.
Is it the crazy cheap deal I got on the flight I had with you ($ 330 roundtrip from Toronto to California) that made me like you so much? Or perhaps the coolness of your staff? Or maybe just that you delivered me from a slushy Toronto afternoon to a gorgeous Los Angeles evening? Whatever the reason, I had a good time flying Virgin America, even in perpetually uncomfortable economy class.
And the purple. I really do like the purple. It made me feel cool by association. What I didn’t like was the insipid music that played during takeoff and landing. Thank goodness for the cool iTunes-​like music set-​up on the personal entertainment unit that let me choose a playlist to listen to.
Yes, you need to pay for everything (I was almost surprised there weren’t pay toilets) but with flights this cheap — who cares? Why not pay $ 8 to watch the Social Network again? Why not spend $ 8 for a tiny roasted veggie wrap?
Come back to Toronto, Virgin America! Even if my main reason for loving you is a sell-​off sale to announce your departure…

This rating is a blend of how I feel about the first class and economy class. First class is a five, economy is a 2 or 3 depending on if the beverage cart passes me up on its journey down that narrow little aisle.
My first time flying Virgin (yeah, I could make a joke about being a Virgin virgin, but I won’t…I think it’s a stupid name for an airline. Makes me think inexperienced, naively new, and really young — nothing I want my airline to be.)
I’d always believed «Sir» Richard Branson to be an ass. His comment, «Anything that’s virgin, I’d like to improve» confirms him as the quintessential douchebag in my book. That said, no one’s perfect and I’d probably go to lunch with him if he was buying.
The inner plane itself is quite striking. Lots of purple. I love purple.
Having flown both first class and economy during this trip (SFO to Toronto and back again), I would only fly Virgin again if it were first class. First class kicks ass. The seats are incredible. They have everything you could imagine in an airplane seat. We wanted to take them home with us! Like a dentist chair, that reclines almost all the way. Has a tray that comes up and out, a monitor, remote, a personal light, place to plug in your cute bright pink headphones you bought prior to boarding (I wanted them to go with my home office once we got back, ok?)…plus they serve you a HELL of a meal. A full meal. I loved almost everything and got stuffed. It was a vegetarian Indian dish and dessert.
The flight attendant we got was a total doll. We adored her. Wanted to take her home with us, too. Such a sweetheart. She was a walking ray of sunshine after we’d been in bleary cold Canada. Truly believed she’d do anything for us, and if we didn’t know, she’d suggest something. A doll!
I loved being able to watch TV on the plane… had never bothered to partake of «Real Housewives of Atlanta» before, but somehow it was stupid enough to be interesting. What assholes, these people’s kids! Some siliconed, bleached, injected mama went to a lot of work and $ 60,000 to make over her younger daughter’s bedroom (do YOU have $ 60,000 sitting around to transform an 8-year-old’s room? Ok, maybe Richard Branson), and the bratty 15-​year-​old had to bitch and whine about hers not being done. The little bitch had 2,000 sq. ft. of living space all to herself — an entire floor — but she had to bitch and whine and be jealous of her pre-​pubescent sister. Of course plastic mama had to give in and do hers next. Entitled, bratty bitch! But I digress…
The economy class seats, while still affording the opportunity to watch stupid reality TV, were much more narrow than we’re used to on other airlines. Also, the underseat space was tiny. Could barely fit anything under there. It was miserably cramped. I don’t care how pretty the plane is, the tightness blew chunks. We hated it. Made finally getting home that much more of a relief!

My son & his girlfriend were so happy to book a Virgin America flight from L.A. to Toronto to visit me on Sept 5^th 2010. They said it was the least expensive fare they could find, approximately $ 340 return for each.
But when they got to the airport it was $ 25 for his one small suitcase and also $ 25 for his girlfriend.
On the flight which was a red eye, they would have had to pay for all the food, although non-​alcoholic drinks were free.
So they arrived 7am at Pearson Airport in Toronto ravenous. After very little sleep, I prepared breakfast for them.
My question is ‚“Where is the Bargain?” You must ask the right questions.
Is food free for economy class? Are there hidden taxes? Is Toronto considered international? To be travelling for five hours from LA to Toronto and not to have any food. at all included such as small snacks is ridiculous. Going back today, they took many snacks, tuna & crackers, chips, bagels, etc.
Is that what flying has come to? I would rather pay a bit more and have a pleasant meal included in the fare.
I don’t think they will be flying Virgin America’s LA to Toronto flight anymore. It is possible to find many flights for the same price that DO serve food without a cost and where you get at least one checked bag free.
Please remember to ask the right questions so there are no surprises when you arrive at the airport and if not first class, bring many snacks on a longer flight.

Was so excited to being flying Virgin and what a disappointment! When checking in online, had to pay $ 50 more as I had two bags and didn’t want to wrestle a bag above everyone’s head in the cabin. Another $ 50 for the return flight.
The staff are indifferent at best and only served one drink cart round in a 5 hour flight. You could ring a bell and pay for food and drink if you wanted to.
The plane seemed new and clean but I was in an aisle seat near the back of the plane and the person in the middle row did not fit well in her seat so she overlapped mine for quite a bit of the flight. If you want to watch TV, it is $ 2; if you want a snack as there are no peanuts or pretzels with your drink, you pay.
Worst of all, the cabin staff were standoffish and almost rude. I don’t believe Sir Richard Branson would approve or else he is full of crap.
I will never fly Virgin America again if I have another option.

There’s a whole lot of sizzle to this steak.
And it’s really good sizzle.
— A mind-​numbing array of inflight entertainment options. You can chat with people all over the plane. You can order cocktails. You can even play the old PC version of DOOM from your seat.
— Then there’s the inflight internet. It’s the same system that everyone else uses, but that doesn’t make it any less cool. I’m writing this on the plane right now. Awesome.
— The mood lighting and mood music. If you’re a sucker for the W-​hotel aesthetic, this will make you squirm with glee. I just find it really purple.
— The overzealous we’re-so-cool approach to everything from the safety videos to cancelled flight announcements.
Sure, there are some negatives…
— Not many flights.
— You have to deal with confused people who don’t ‘get it’ and are wowed or frustrated by every minor detail.
— They charge for EVERYTHING. Bags, Headsets, Food, Drink, Internet, Movies, etc. But who doesn’t?
I think that the most telling thing about this airline is that people in the terminals hold their plane tickets face-​up, in public view, as if to say «Look at me! Look at me!».
Most airlines, you think of safety. This one is sexy enough that you don’t care how safe it is. They could fly wooden planes for all you care. You just like the pretty colors and fancy dress.