First in-flight social network launched by Virgin America

California-based airline Virgin America is launching the first in-flight social network at 35,000 feet. The "first-ever" in-flight social network was developed with Gogo Wifi and the Here on Biz geo-location app. Business travelers can download the free Here On Biz app from the Apple App store before their flight and use it in the air to locate LinkedIn connections on their Virgin America flight, at the airport or en route to a conference.

Relying on the airline's fleetwide Gogo In-Flight WiFi network and purpose-built APIs that identify an aircraft's location in the air, Here On Biz's geo-location technology offers travelers the chance to connect via the app with guests on their specific flight, guests on other Virgin America flights in the air, or fellow travelers at their destination.

This month through July 2014, guests on all domestic Virgin America flights can access the Here On Biz app for free through the Gogo network.  App users can manage their privacy settings, so that travelers can shut off or limit their visible connections to others onboard.

Here is the how the Virgin America-Here on Biz In-Flight network works:
1. Download the new Here On Biz iOS app from the mobile app store before your flight.
2. Register a new account using your LinkedIn profile.
3. Rolling out to all domestic flights by the end of February, guests can start connecting when they log in at a gate or onboard at 35,000 feet via Gogo on Virgin America. App users will be able to connect with other Virgin America guests traveling on their particular flight, other travelers on any Virgin America aircraft currently airborne, or fellow Virgin America guests at their destination.

To kick off the new program, the carrier is launching a "Network on the Fly" fare sale with Main Cabin fares from $69* for travel March 4-29, 2014 (restrictions apply). Tickets are on sale today on the airline's website (www.virginamerica.com) and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN.**  Main Cabin Select business class fares start from $99*** (restrictions apply).

As a reminder, In May 2009, Virgin America became the first airline to offer fleetwide WiFi and today remains the only U.S airline to offer WiFi on every flight. In 2011, the airline became the first carrier to launch Gogo's improved ATG-4 WiFi service on select flights. The ATG4 technology increases WiFi capacity by approximately four times the current performance through the addition of directional antenna, dual-modem and EV-DO Rev. B technologies.  The airline intends to complete its fleetwide installation of ATG-4 in 2014.  Virgin America is further investing in the connectivity of its fleet as the launch partner for Gogo's next generation Ground to Orbit satellite WiFi technology. With power outlets at every seat, Virgin America regularly sees more than one-third of guests logging on to in-flight WiFi on its more popular long-haul flights.