Air travel has become the safest means of sky transportation, supplanting being launched by a catapult while wearing a plush animal costume and riding a racehorse tethered to a kite. Soar safely with today's Groupon: for $7, you get $77 toward round-trip travel between San Francisco and Chicago or Los Angeles and Chicago with Virgin America. The $70 savings gets you 35% off Virgin America's special introductory round-trip price of $198, which it will offer until at least Feb. 21. Those fares are subject to availability, and other fares go up from there depending on flight dates and advance-booking time. All fares are subject to restrictions, taxes, and fees (which vary but typically run about $60 for a standard roundtrip with one checked bag).

Named the best domestic airline for three consecutive years by both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, Virgin America today announced the start of its reliable, stylish service at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Beginning May 25, Virgin America will fly daily nonstop routes from O'Hare to both Los Angeles International (LAX) and San Francisco International (SFO) airports.

Virgin America's all-new Airbus A320 and A319 planes house a cavalcade of cabin comforts, including custom leather seats with a spacious 32-inch pitch in economy class, and international-grade white leather seats with a 55-inch pitch in first class. All seats also come equipped with 9-inch video touchscreens with keyboards and remote controls, 110-volt power outlets, and almond-butter churns. A pioneer of in-flight WiFi (for an additional fee), Virgin America allows tech-loving travelers to stay connected while lapping up the luxury of the airline's 12-shade cool pink-and-blue mood lighting, which creates an atmosphere that the Los Angeles Times compared to "an airborne discotheque."

Virgin America passengers also bask in a bevy of on-board amenities, including the innovative Red entertainment system, which allows guests to control what they eat, watch, and listen to via a touch-screen monitor and remote control. With a few taps on a screen and the entry of pi to 20 decimals, gain access to more than 20 complimentary TV shows, or sample a variety of on-demand movies, premium television (for additional fees ranging from $5 to $12), video games, and a foot-tapping library boasting thousands of MP3s. If rumbling bellies begin to drown out the sound of the engine, use Virgin America’s open-tab service to purchase a gourmet meal or snack (for additional fees ranging from $3 to $10), such as an artisanal cheese and fruit tray or curry chicken salad sandwich, or a chilled spirit from the drink menu.

Reviews

Zagat named Virgin America the top-rated midsize domestic airline for premium and economy seating in 2010. The Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Bloomberg Businessweek recently featured Virgin America. More than 82,760 Facebookers are fans of the airline.

• Known for planes outfitted with mood lighting and touch-screen menus for snacks and drinks, Virgin America has long planned...on flights from Chicago to San Francisco and Los Angeles. – Julie Johnsson, Chicago Tribune