I travel on planes a lot and consider it a necessary evil to get across the country.  I surrender to and mentally prepare myself for all the stress of getting through security, standing behind the people who are traveling for the first time and don’t have their act together, my disgust at the unsanitary conditions of walking shoeless thru the detector, and just the stress of hurry up and wait.

But today I was really excited (like a kid going to Disney World for the first time) about traveling for 6 hours on Virgin America to Las Vegas via San Francisco for the first time.  I excitedly headed over to JFK airport from New Jersey and made sure I had ample time to check in and EXPERIENCE Virgin America - the best domestic airline in America given all the bad news about the airlines cutting back on everything due to skyrocketing fuel prices, including not topping off the fuel to fly us safely across country…just in case there is a delay and we have to circle…

I studied their website at www.VirginAmerica.com and was intrigued by all the cool features they touted:  the mood lighting, the RED Interactive Environment, the leather seating and whatever other things Richard Branson and his team came up with. I was especially excited about having an outlet right below my seat so that I could plug in my laptop and write this blog post!  First time getting THAT on any airline in coach!  By the way, their fleet of planes are new.

Virgin Baggage check was uneventful…but I was really looking forward to getting on their plane…Suffered through the security line when the security person checking IDs felt she had to comment on everyone’s picture and hairstyle.  She wasted many minutes with her commentary and was totally oblivious to all the evil looks from those of us waiting in line.  This is not the time for friendly, leisurely customer service. 

Just get me on the plane please!  Then an elderly gentleman tried to push a small tree (no exaggeration) through the baggage xray channel.  And he forgot to take off his metals.  Lost 7 minutes with him sorting himself out.

Okay, made it on the plane.  Pleasant greeting from staff.  Plane is clean and has that “new” look.   Cool blue mood lighting in the ceiling.  Nice firm leather seats with headrest.  Comfy. No smelly, dingy fabric on the seats.  I was immediately intrigued with the RED Interactive system on the seat back and went through all the menu options.

Hmm…checked out the movie listings. Good stuff but I am not a movie buff. Picture Menu of food & drink options.  I can order food from my seat with just a swipe of my credit card.  Will try that later. 

The diverse music selection of the some of my favorite artists of all time got me hooked for life…I searched through the entire menu of music listings and saw so many of my all time favorite artists:  Jill Scott, Billy Joel, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran, Sting, James Brown, Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Beethoven, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Kanye West, Miles Davis, Willie Nelson, Prince, Ray Charles, Ravel, U2, The Temptations, Stan Getz, Lenny Kravitz, J Lo, Marvin Gaye, John Legend, INXS, Mariah Carey and Amy Winehouse. (Yes, my taste in music is quite diverse)

I figured out how to create my own playlist of my favorite songs from all of these artists, old and new.  Great listening and head-bopping all the way ‘cross country.  Sweet!  I was in music heaven! 

So much for listening to the stuff I brought on MY cd player.  This is great entertainment! They got me hooked. Heck, if I could just buy this great custom playlist that I created…I would have.  Where is Itunes in via satellite? 

Got my great BOSE headphones out & plugged them in and literally listened across the country to my favorite songs while working on my laptop without worrying about my laptop battery running out.  What peace of mind this is!   

Hmm, why didn’t any other domestic airline think of these simple things for our comfort and pleasure? 

I ordered a pesto wrap from my seat just to see how quickly I would get it and how fresh it would taste.  Surprisingly Delicious…and I got my Wrap with Ghirardelli chocolate bars in less than 5 minutes.  I had no qualms about paying $9 for a sandwich as I was really digging the Virgin Experience.

By the way, throughout the flight if you want anything to drink or eat at anytime you simply order on your screen and they will deliver to your seat!   I asked for water and was told that I had to order on my RED screen. I felt like such a newbie!  Wow, no more pressing the overhead attendant call button then hoping and praying that you will get the flight attendant’s attention!  Neat.

Kudos to Richard Branson & Virgin for always daring to be different, doing what most people say can’t be done, and never settling for mediocrity.  Bottom line:  Virgin America has a new fan and anytime I have to travel to any of its destinations, that’s my airline, no matter the cost.  It’s just too cool…I guess until I get my own private jet!  

I always travel Continental, my favorite domestic airline of them all out of Newark…but Virgin America certainly takes the cake!  I will stick with both.

Do check out Virgin America at least once.  It’s worth whatever they are asking just to experience what all domestic airlines SHOULD be doing for us weary and jaded travellers who have such low expectations of them. 

For the record, in all my years of travelling around the world on numerous airlines, I have never listened to my favorite music and worked on my laptop during the entire trip while feeling so relaxed and at peace.  I felt like I was at home…