Airline Starts Taking Passengers To The Movies

Most airlines these days provide some decent on-board entertainment, such as a selection of movies, depending on the duration of the flight. (Except maybe those cheap, no-frills ones like Ryanair or easyJet.)  Well, while they might make for strange bedfellows, airlines are starting to partner with the entertainment industry.

Namely, Virgin America is inviting their Visa cardholders to a screening of the upcoming film, Valentine’s Day. The screening is free for one cardholder and a complimentary guest (doesn’t have to be a date, especially since it is on February 11).

The catches?

1. You have to be a Virgin America Visa cardholder and receive an email invitation.
2. You have to be somewhere near San Francisco (unless there are more screenings that I’m not aware of, but that makes sense given they’re based out of SFO.)

Oh, and you have to sit through another ensemble romantic comedy right before Valentine’s Day, which could be good or bad, depending on your mood and situation. But it is an intriguing partnership. I wouldn’t sign up for a credit card to get such a deal, but little perks like this do keep me happy.

But which partner will benefit more? The airline for treating its cardholders, or the studio by getting some extra viewers into cinema seats to spread reviews of the film by word-of-mouth? (Given that the film is any good…)