Silicon Valley's hometown airline partners with Silvercar to offer elevate members seamless, connected travel.
SAN FRANCISCO – Virgin America announces that it has partnered with Silvercar, the company revolutionizing the car rental experience with its fleet of WiFi-enabled, premium Audi A4s, to offer Virgin America’s Elevate members a seamless and connected travel experience from air to ground. Beginning today, Elevate frequent flyer members can earn 2,500 Elevate points on their first and fourth Silvercar rentals – plus four points for every $1 spent with Silvercar. As the only airline headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Virgin America has built a loyal following of frequent flyers for its tech-forward amenities, including WiFi, power outlets and touch-screen personal entertainment at every seat – on every flight. Using Virgin America’s fleetwide WiFi, travelers can now reserve a Silvercar via the Silvercar app or at Silvercar.com, and upon arrival at the destination airport, simply scan a QR code located on the windshield of the Silvercar to unlock the vehicle – and drive to their final destination.
“Our discerning travelers expect access to the latest conveniences to fit their busy lifestyles,” said Luanne Calvert, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Virgin America. “Our new partnership with Silvercar allows us to provide our guests with a more high-tech, high-style and connected travel experience whether they’re on the ground or 35,000 feet in the air.”
The new partnership with Silvercar will provide Virgin America’s guests with more options for ground travel during their business trip or leisure getaway. Silvercar operates a rental fleet comprised of only the latest model premium Audis – 2013 A4s (in silver, of course). Through the use of Silvercar’s mobile app (iOS or Android), travelers can take control of their rental experience and bypass paper contracts and lines all together. All Silvercar rentals include free in-car WiFi, Sirius XM satellite radio and Bluetooth. Upon return of the Silvercar, travelers receive their receipt on their smartphone – before even boarding their Virgin America return flight home.
“We have a great affinity for Virgin America as they offer a tech-friendly experience for travelers that goes above and beyond the norm,” said Luke Schneider, CEO of Silvercar. “Silvercar was created to make car rental and travel not only easier, but an enjoyable experience. Virgin America does the same for air travel.”
Known for outstanding service, beautifully designed cabins and unrivalled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch, including being named “Best Domestic Airline” in both Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the past five years. The airline’s new fleet offers custom-designed mood-lit cabins and amenities like fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal entertainment at every seat. The Red platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, a custom-curated You Tube channel, Google Maps, video games, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 4,000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight.
Virgin America and Silvercar share markets in Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. Silvercar first launched on January 14, 2013, at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with Austin as its second location following in March.
Last summer, Virgin America launched a suite of enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program – 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 complimentary access to the best seat assignments within Main Cabin. In December 2012, Virgin America opened its first airport lounge – the Virgin America Loft at LAX, which offers guests a sleek and modern retreat, with a selection of amenities and a space that reflects the look and feel of the airline’s mood-lit aircraft and overall design aesthetic.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
