It’s ON: Virgin America Offers New Benefits to Flyers Feeling the ‘Blues’

Virgin America responds to JetBlue’s shout out to “JetBlue Virgins” with a new promotion for flyers feeling “Blue.”

In an industry that’s often far too navy, there’s nothing more exciting that healthy competition between two strong airline brands with bold colours.

The recent acquisition of Virgin America red by cool aquamarine Alaska Airlines has left some U.S. flyers seeing stars, others stripes, and most dizzy from the swirls.

Alaska’s push to ensure that Virgin America retains a loyal customer base, especially among corporate flyers, has now resulted in a bold status matching campaign.

Starting today, Elevate members and members of “other programs who may be feeling a little ‘blue’.” This is an extension of Virgin America’s status matching program with United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines.

The airline specifies that JetBlue Mosaic customers can now get upgrades to its Elevate Gold status tier, with all the associated perks including: priority check-in, security clearance and boarding priority, points earning bonuses, free checked bag allowances, an expanded advance purchase window for Virgin America’s First Class, free ViaSat WiFi, and access to Virgin America’s Loft lounge at LAX.

For their “upgrade” to Elevate Gold  status, JetBlue Mosaic members can apply online. The status match lasts three months, with “the opportunity to retain Gold status through the end of 2017.”

The airline is also making it easier for its customers to become Elevate Gold or Silver flyers and earn Bonus points.

“Virgin America travellers will earn status based on either the number of flights they take or the amount they spend purchasing flights. Reward flights will also be counted towards achieving status.  The new flight counter will make it around 70 percent easier to maintain and achieve status with Elevate and will count all flight activity since 1/1/2016.  Members can view their flight counts in their account on the website from today,” the airline specifies.

“Our loyal flyers have embraced our innovative approach to travel since the beginning, and we’re pleased to announce these new benefits so they can strike status even faster and enjoy even more Bonus Points to put towards future travel with Virgin America and our partners”, said Virgin America’s Director of Loyalty, Stuart Dinnis said: “And for anyone out there who is feeling a little “blue” about their loyalty program, we’re offering instant status upgrades so they can enjoy more of the good life with our Gold status.”

There you have it. It’s on.

JetBlue will likely reply with an offer to flyers feeling a little flushed.

I’m tickled pink with all this back and forth. No doubt U.S. flyers are too.