When the new kid on the block pushes into your territory, you push back – especially if that newcomer is consummately capable. American Airlines, loathe to lose customers at one of its main hubs, is laying on loads of inducements to keep passengers from migrating to discount airline Virgin America.The high-frills low-fare carrier begins Chicago flights to San Francisco and Chicago flights to Los Angeles this week.Here’s what American is trotting out to stem any exodus. Between May 23 and May 27, AA travelers flying in either direction gets one of these goodies:

A $100 discount for travel booked at American.
5,000 bonus AAdvantage frequent flyer miles.
A $150 voucher for use at AAVacations.com.
An Admirals Club guest pass, as well as a voucher for $50 off a one-year membership.

To sweeten the deal for flyers out to gain elite AAdvantage status (upgrades, faster ‘free’ trips and such) American is doubling their elite qualifying miles. Book an American Airlines Chicago flight to Los Angeles or Chicago flight to San Francisco in either direction and complete the trip by Aug. 31, 2011.
While never mentioning Virgin America’s new flights, Rob Friedman, American’s vice president marketing says,These giveaways are our simple way of saying thank you for flying with American Airlines.It will be instructive to see how large a piece of the Chicago West Coast pie majors such as American and United retain now that Virgin America is putting its marker on the board.