A discussion about the airline industry, airline employees, and all things related

*Update:  Virgin America's CEO, Fred Reid, could be ousted even before one flight is flown in order to allow the start up airline to get off the ground.  Even a name change is on the table.* 

I signed it.  I am tired of poor customer service.  I am tired of being treated as a frequent flier number.  I am tired of airlines taking and taking and never giving back.  My online petition signature will probably matter very little but I signed it anyways. 

Mark over at UpGradeTravelBetter, has an overview of what Virgin America is trying to do with their fancy videos and petition signing campaign. 

Sign it Here 

Yesterday Virgin America released a statement that will drop their minority investor Virgin Group board seat, which would relinquish voting shares and other provisions to remove any doubt of U.S. citizenship.

This move comes as the airline did not receive permission to fly in the United States after the government said VA has too much foreign ownership. 

"Our investors have made key changes to the company that we feel demonstrably address DOT's concerns so that we can get our airline up and flying as soon as possible," said Virgin America CEO Fred Reid. "We are committed to creating the best airline possible and bringing much-needed competition to the U.S. airline market." 

Should the legacy carriers, who put up such a fit when Virgin America announced their plans, be afraid, again?  What about JetBlue, who recently announced new service from San Francisco where VA is planning to launch service later this year? 

If I were an air carrier, I would be nervous, look what other Virgin brand names have done to the airline markets around the world.  Virgin Blue and Virgin Atlantic are some of the bigger names.  Service and quality have come back to the those markets served by the Virgin name.  Now it’s America’s turn? 

I signed the petition.  If I lived in San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia or Boston, I would push for a bit of action from the DOT.

Virgin America Press Release 

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Virgin America Inks Deal with EchoStar (Dish Network) for TV deal on Planes