Virgin No More
Flying on Virgin America’s Farewell Flight
April 25, 2018 marked an important milestone for Virgin America (VX) and Alaska Airlines. On that day, the airlines conducted Passenger Service System (PSS) Cutover, an important milestone of the airlines' merger. Ticket counters, reservations, VX flight numbers, website, apps, call centers – all elements that a passenger would face – became one under Alaska Airlines. The hip, playful, and edgy brand with the red motif was officially no more.
[In case you missed it, Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America in April 2016 for $2.6 billion dollars.]
PSS Cutover was just one of many steps in the merger transition. At the end of 2017, the two airlines’ frequent flier programs merged. This was followed by the receipt of Single Operating Certificate in January 2018 leading to the retirement of Virgin America’s clever radio callsign “Redwood”.
On the last evening under the Virgin America ticket, two flights were scheduled for departure at 9:30 pm San Francisco (SFO), the airlines’ home airport. While both can be considered as the final flight, the redeye to Philadelphia would land the next day after the PSS cutover. Therefore, enthusiasts designated flight VX 1948 to Los Angeles (LAX) as the unofficial farewell flight. [Flight VX 1947 from LAX to SFO was the official final flight. Known as Founders Flight, it limited to Virgin America employees only.] As enthusiasm gathered steam on Flyertalk, the airline upgauged flight VX 1947 to the larger A321 and moved the departure time to 9:32 pm, making it officially Virgin America’s final scheduled departure from SFO. Keeping this flight accessible to fans everywhere, the one-way price never went above the $50 range!
A few days before April 24th, I swung by the Virgin America ticket counter at SFO. Most of the airline’s distinctive tabletop self check-in kiosks had already been removed, except for one. By the final day, this table was gone.
Arriving at SFO two hours before flight VX 1948, the ticket counter was quiet on this Tuesday evening. I walked right up to an agent and requested a boarding pass printout. Unfortunately, they no longer have the distinctive red boarding passes. Either they have been totally exhausted or were pulled from service as checking with the gate also yielded nothing.
I breezed through Pre-Check and arrived at Gate 51B. There, flyertalk members Nate Vallier (UAPremierExec), Brendan Hooley (socialgecko), and friends were busy setting up the #vxfarewell swag table.
A true grassroots effort, through these members and kind donations by other forum members, the swags exceeded all expectations! We are talking about custom printed baggage tags, posters, and buttons. Virgin America also donated clean safety cards (full set: A319, A320, and A321), wine bottle holders, and lanyards.
Alaska Airlines graciously opened up their lounge space at LAX for the after-flight VXFarewell Fiesta. They also provided fancy chocolate red velvet cupcakes at the gate. They were delicious – I had two!
When boarding started, the line for the swag table was still long – longer than the boarding line. I was happy to see the swag was a big hit!
As we approached boarding pass scan, surprise guest Sir Richard Branson greeted us at the door (albeit Sir Richard was in small cardboard form). SRB would later make his way in-flight greeting passengers.
Flight: VX 1948 San Francisco (SFO) – Los Angeles (LAX)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-253N (Sharklets)
Registration name: N922VA frances
msn: 7639
Delivered (age): May 2017 (1 year)
Scheduled Departure – Arrival: 9:32 pm – 11:01 pm
Actual Departure – Arrival: 9:24 pm – 10:57 pm
Depart SFO Runway 01L: 9:42 pm
Arrive LAX Runway 24R: 10:38 pm
Flight Duration: 55 min
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| Flightaware Tracking |
This was my first flight on board an A320neo, though I could not tell any difference from the current generation Virgin America A320 I flew on a few months prior. I suppose, the sharklet out the window was something different.
Boarding was completed rather quickly in my section. Both of my seatmates in B and C were just ordinary passengers headed to LA. In fact, Ms. 25B quickly put on her headphones so she could tune out all the commotion.
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| Virgin America’s seat-back entertainment system: Red |
As we pushed back from the gate, a crowd gathered on the ramp to see us off.
On board, Virgin America’s signature dancing safety video started to roll. The crowd delightfully sang along. We flashed the appropriate safety card (instructions and safety card were given at the swag table) near the end, matching the actors on the video. After a hearty shoutout for “Virgin America” at the conclusion of the video, everyone applauded. A few seconds later, an Alaska Airlines intro video came up which garnered laughter, cheers, and boos from the crowd. Someone called out: “too soon!”
Engine start was the only indication that I was on a different kind of Airbus. The CFM LEAP-1A started with a tremendous rumble and roar, exactly like what I have experienced previously onboard the 737 MAX (the MAX uses the same engine). The startup sound is not all that different from the famous 777-300ER “mooing” engine start.
I checked flightradar24 to see if we were indeed the final Virgin America flight to depart SFO. ASA 1182 to Newark was on the roll on Runway 01R, so we were! It’s official!
Taxi time to Runway 01L was short. There was minimal delay taking the runway. Unlike engine start, takeoff power was impressively quiet. Come to think of it, the 737 MAX takeoff was the same way. (Note Pratt & Whitney PW1000G is also an engine option on the A320neo family).
Upon climbout, we banked left with SFO below the wing and eventually headed south to LA.
With a short flight and large aircraft (185 seats), flight attendants immediately went to work. To expedite service, off duty flight attendants helped out with the service.
Announcement was made that the seat-back ordering system was taken out of service. All drink orders would be by request only. In addition to the free commentative cookie, all adult beverages would be on the house.
My friend seated behind me wanted champagne, but given today’s celebratory mood, they had already run out. His alternate order for rum and Coke was happily filled.
In-flight wifi:
There was laughter all around. At first I thought folks were watching a funny movie but then I realized it was strange that most were laughing at the same time. Either everyone decided to start watching the same comedy at the same time or something else was up. I later found out that there was an epic AvGeek group chat on the seat-back entertainment system (which I was not part of).
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| Obligatory selfie with SRB |
As with all flights between the Bay Area and LA, the cruise phase came and went quickly. We were soon on our descend and the once again, our pilot thanked us for joining the farewell flight. Flight tracker showing 17 minutes to go and the seat belt sign came on. With service finally complete, flight attendants hurriedly came through for express trash pickup. The trash bag probably got heavy as clank of empty glass bottles accumulated down the aisle.
Condensation formed on the wing as we got approached the airport. With fog hanging near the coast, June gloom started early this year, my SoCal friend mentioned. Fifty five minutes after taking off from SFO, we touched down on Runway 24R at LAX.
Since much taxi time was required to Terminal 6 on the south complex, the safety dance video played again – the sing-along was hearty and loud for the last time's sake. And this time around, no Alaska advertisement followed at the end.
An off duty employee yelled out not to take anything off the plane – it will still be in service tomorrow morning!
After waiting for two departures between the Terminal 5-6 alleyway, we parked at gate 66 at 10:57 pm. Seated in the rear three-quarter of the plane – it took a while for me to deplane. Unlike many of final flights I have been on, sadly, there was no lingering, no line for autographs – everyone just got off just like any other flight.
Inside Terminal 6, some quickly proceed to the departure gate for the Seattle flight. Most went to the Alaska Lounge for the VXFarewell Fiesta.
Inside the Lounge, it was surprisingly busy and crowded for 11 pm. It appears most of the passengers on the flight took up the offer for the Fiesta. Alaska lounge staff was very friendly. Attendants kept snacks well stocked and bartenders kept champagne glasses full. For those not in the mood for champagne, they generously offered alternative selections. While everyone mingled, flyertalk organizers went around the room and offered leftover swag for those that wanted them. Later in the evening, red velvet cupcakes showed up. Not as fancy as those at SFO, however, it was kind that Alaska provided them on both ends of the flight.
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| SRB greets guests at the bar at LAX |
As midnight approached, there came three toasts: first – to “all of you” – all the guests that made the evening memorable. Second – to Alaska Airlines for graciously hosting the swag table at SFO and the VXFarewell Fiesta at LAX. Finally – to Virgin America. Brendan @Socalgecko made an eloquent speech on all the unique qualities of Virgin America that he will miss – and to that we cheered!
At midnight, 11 years after Virgin America made her first flight, the “VX” airline code officially retired.
If you thought you had missed out on the Virgin America experience, don’t fret! The new Alaska interior will not be fitted on to the Airbuses until this fall. Cabin and exterior paint conversion are expected complete by the end of 2019. Even Alaska’s own fleet page still shows Virgin America painted aircraft.
So - there is still time for you to experience Red,
to sit in those big white leather first class seats,
or to splurge for Main Cabin Extra.
Goodbye Redwood - I will miss the airline I used to call "local", the "hip airline" known for its mood lighting and music on flights, and the airline known for its friendly team members! And I will never forget those quirky avatars!
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