Asiana’s New First Class and Virgin America’s New Elite Levels

This isn’t quite ‘bits ‘n pieces’ with only two items that I’m sharing, they struck me as worth noting but also not things I was inspired to offer longer treatments on. Still, worth passing along.

  • Asiana is introducing a new first class seat – true suites with doors and a 32″ television. This is apparently going into their 777 aircraft, and the Chicago – Seoul route is having first class re-introduced and award space appears possible. I really enjoy the food, service, and amenities on Asiana but the seat is a full generation behind so this is really good news. Lucky links to a video in Korean that shows off the new seat.

  • Wandering Aramean reports on Virgin America’s new silver and gold elite levels. The co-branded credit card lets you get halfway to silver or 20% to Gold after $25,000 in spend. Status comes with the standard priority check-in and security and free checked bags. It also comes with space available “Main Cabin Select” seatings and the ability to buy up to first class 24 hours in advance for Golds and 12 hours out for silvers. And the customer who spends the most in the program in its first year (well, August 8, 2012 through August 7, 2013) wins a Virgin Galactic trip.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Comments

  1. It looks like the new flights are loaded for ORD but not SGN. Any idea when ICN-SGN starts with the new birds?

  2. Are the new seats already in place for those routes? I am flying ICN-ORD in first on OZ on Aug 6th, I am hoping to experience them.

  3. “And the customer who spends the most in the program in its first year wins a Virgin Galactic trip.”

    Considering the VftW lessons of “there are different cards to get for signup bonuses, benefits, and spending” and “the best use of miles is for aspirational travel” this seems about as aspirational as it gets!

Comments are closed.