Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (March 29) unveiled plans for this season’s partnership with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). At the Giants’ annual Media Open House at AT&T Park, Giants President and CEO Larry Baer and Virgin America President and CEO David Cush, together unveiled the new mood-lit Virgin America Club Level in the ballpark.  In addition, Virgin America introduced the newest member of its fleet – an Airbus A320 aircraft named “Fly Bye Baby,” named and painted in honor of the Giants.  The aircraft sports a beard, as a nod to the facial hair-friendly hometown team.  Although a sneak peek of the aircraft was revealed yesterday, the plane will be launched into revenue service on flights nationwide as of April 2.  Those who happen to catch a flight on the aircraft also have the chance to score:  Virgin America is inviting its social media fans to send in their best photos of the new Giants-decaled plane using the hashtag #flythebeard.  Now through the end of the 2012 baseball season, one lucky flyer per month will score a free roundtrip anywhere Virgin America flies and one grand prize winner will also get 2013 Virgin America Club Level passes.

For official contest rules see: http://www.virginamerica.com/html/sf-giants-fly-the-beard-twitter-rules.pdf.

Virgin America is also launching a Giants channel fleetwide on Red™, the airline’s state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment platform. Currently, every Virgin America flyer can already enjoy a live satellite television channel line-up that features a range of live news and sports – including nationally televised Giants baseball games on FOX.  The new Giants channel launching onboard flights in April, will also house behind-the-scenes fan content, including highlights from 2012 Spring Training and 2010 season footage.  In addition, Giants fans can grab some ballpark inspired menu pairings while watching a Giants game at 35,000 feet, via the airline’s unique on-demand menu.  The Giants-inspired menu options will roll out fleetwide on Virgin America in April, including:  the “Double-Play Snack” (Emerald Nuts and beer) and the “Triple Play Meal” (Virgin America’s mile-high club sandwich with turkey breast, crisp lettuce and roma tomatoes piled high on sliced sourdough with feta cheese spread , alongside Emerald Nuts and a beer).

As the “Official Airline of the San Francisco Giants” since 2008, Virgin America also extended a special 20 percent flight discount offer to Giants season ticket holders which was included in their season packets.  In 2011, Virgin America renewed and expanded a multi-year multi-million dollar partnership with the Giants from 2012-2015.  The partnership includes unique stadium branding, experiential promotions during select games, in-flight entertainment integrations and more.  Last year, the airline  transported the World Series Trophy (in Virgin America’s First Class cabin) across the nation for various events with team leadership.

The San Francisco Giants of the National League is one of the oldest franchises in Major League Baseball.  Boasting a 130-year history, the team moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958 playing a total of 42 years in Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park before moving to AT&T Park in 2000.  The franchise was named 2010’s Sports Organization of the Year by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal Daily. Since opening its gates, AT&T Park has become internationally-renowned as a premier venue in the world of both sports and entertainment.  On the diamond, more than 37 million spectators have witnessed a number of magical moments and four playoff appearances, including in 2010 when the Giants became the World Series champions for the first time since moving West.  In 2008, the Giants celebrated the team’s 50^th year in San Francisco and it was the center of the baseball universe when it hosted the 78^th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 10, 2007.  AT&T Park has also played host to some of music’s biggest acts, including the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band and Green Day.

Copyright Photo: Virgin America. Airbus A320-214 N623VA (msn 2740) has become “Fly Bye Baby”.

Virgin America Slide Show: CLICK HERE