Virgin America is a much better name for an airline than Alaska Airlines.  It literally has the name "America" in it while Alaska used to be part of Russia.

Can we really be sure we are safe from Putin when there is a Russian-proxy airline operating in the USA?

From an airline experience, Virgin America offers a better product (Airbus > Boeing), VA's pilots are much better, VA's flight attendants are much hotter, the uniforms for VA are superior in every way (no hats or ties!).  From the sticks up their butts, it seems like Alaskan pilots want to work for Delta.

The name, culture, uniforms, livery, and experience of Virgin America should survive this merger and the racist vestiges of Alaska Airlines should be sent to boneyard.