Traveling Like a Star on Virgin America (No Autographs, Please)

Flying as a member of the press has certain advantages—like skipping the check-in line and getting to wear a badge that makes everyone who passes by assume that you’re incredibly important. It does not, however, exempt you from taking off your shoes to go through security.

For the inaugural flight down to Palm Springs, Virgin America outfitted the gate area with a bar serving champagne and cosmos, and passed around fancy finger foods for all of us anxious travelers. If there’s one thing that makes air travel more bearable, it’s free booze.

Nothing like a little one p.m. cosmo to get the day going!

Virgin’s known as the airline with swagger, and the gate area was alive with the music of the Rat Pack—Frank, Sammy, and Dino even made an appearance.

Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard Branson made an appearance to kick off the service to Palm Springs and cut the ribbon. He took the flight with us—in first class, of course—and even made the P.A. announcements on the plane. When Richard Branson tells you to return your seatback trays to the upright and locked position, you do it.

Flying on Virgin America is tough. Do I use the in-flight Wifi, watch some cable TV, or kick back with a cocktail? Decisions, decisions.

Bye bye San Francisco…

Hello, Palm Springs!

We stepped off the plane right onto the red carpet, complete with more cocktails.

A rockin’ party awaited us at the gate in Palm Springs, complete with delicious appetizers, a well-stocked bar, and beats from DJ Lunatik.

Virgin put us up at the fabulous Riviera Resort & Spa, which used to be the go-to hideaway where the Rat Pack rehearsed before their shows in Las Vegas. Nowadays, the resort captures the midcentury modern aesthetic with décor that instantly transports visitors back to the ’50s, but with all the comforts of 2011.

The weather was a bit chilly, but the luxurious pool area, complete with fire pits and private cabanas, made me consider taking a polar bear plunge.
Photo credit: 2006 Kevin Syms

Just walking through the mirrored lobby area of the Riviera made me feel like a celebrity.

What says “Hollywood” more than a blinged-out pool table?

Yet another round of cocktails and tasty treats awaited us at the Riviera’s Starlite Lounge—Virgin America sure knows how to throw a party!

In addition to pork buns and a fresh poke station, the build-your-own-sundae bar—complete with schmancy toppings like pistachio brittle, dried strawberries, and blackberry compote—was the ultimate end to an amazing evening.

But when I saw how luxurious my hotel room was, I couldn’t go to sleep right away…I had to stay awake and enjoy it. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.