Years after diving into the factors and miles world, chances are you’ll not notice {that a} loyalty program you had neglected might have been one among your strongest instruments.
I did not take an in depth have a look at Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty program for a very long time as a result of I did not instantly see it taking part in into my rewards journey technique. But Virgin Atlantic gives one thing attractive — one thing changing into rarer with different airline applications these days: engaging companion award charts.
Despite current modifications to Virgin Atlantic’s companion award charts, Virgin factors presently stand out for providing unbelievable worth with many makes use of.
Let’s go over the fundamentals of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and present you the candy spots that make Virgin factors so useful.
How to earn Virgin factors
There are 4 major methods of incomes Virgin factors instantly. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at each.
Flying
You can definitely nonetheless earn factors the old school manner by flying.
If you are flying on Virgin Atlantic, you should utilize the airline’s incomes calculator to find out what number of factors you will earn in your flight. If you are flying one among its companions, reminiscent of Delta, Air France or Hawaiian Airlines, you’ll be able to decide to earn Virgin factors by including your Flying Club membership quantity to your reservation.
You can test your working service and fare class on WhereToCredit for the most suitable choice in your flight.
Related: Banking miles to an airline companion — a reader success story
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Credit card rewards
The solely direct method to earn Virgin Points by bank cards is with the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®. Currently, you’ll be able to earn as much as 50,000 bonus factors throughout the first 12 months:
- 30,000 bonus factors for spending at the very least $1,000 on purchases throughout the first 90 days of account opening.
- 2,500 bonus factors for including a certified consumer (5,000 bonus factors max).
- 7,500 bonus factors every anniversary after you spend at the very least $15,000 throughout your anniversary 12 months.
- 7,500 further bonus factors after you spend at the very least $25,000 throughout your anniversary 12 months.
The data for the Virgin Atlantic card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
50,000 Virgin factors is not a pittance by any means. But there are a lot of different oblique methods to earn this useful foreign money from bank cards which might be far more efficient than the Virgin Atlantic bank card. For instance, you’ll be able to switch rewards from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
If you are on the lookout for a brand new card, take into account the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which presently gives 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred bank card evaluation
You also can switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to Virgin Atlantic at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for transferring at the very least 60,000 factors. In different phrases, 60,000 Marriott factors equal 25,000 Virgin factors.
Between these six applications, it is not troublesome to compile a big steadiness of Virgin factors that can allow you to ebook wonderful candy spots (which we’ll cowl in a bit). However, if you happen to’re nonetheless shy of a fantastic award, you could possibly take into account topping off your account with transfers from World of Hyatt (5:3 switch ratio) or IHG Rewards (5:1 switch ratio).
Related: The greatest airline bank cards
Points Booster
If you’ve got flown a Virgin Atlantic-operated flight — whether or not you paid money or factors for it — you should utilize Flying Club’s Points Booster to attain additional factors for affordable. You normally have the choice of paying 0.010 British kilos (or $0.013) per level, however this system periodically runs bonus promotions. For instance, in late April 2022, we noticed a proposal for as much as 40% bonus factors.
You may even use the Points Booster for flights you will have already taken, as much as six months again.
Other incomes companions
There are a number of companions by which you’ll earn Virgin factors by procuring or touring:
- Car rental companions: Virgin Atlantic companions with Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Sixt to let members earn Virgin factors.
- Heathrow Rewards: You can earn factors for procuring or parking at Heathrow airport after which switch them to Flying Club.
- Rocketmiles: You can earn between 500 and 10,000 Virgin Points per evening for reserving motels by Rocketmiles.
- Shops Away: Earn Virgin factors by making purchases at over 1,000 retailers by Virgin Atlantic’s procuring portal.
- Virgin Group: From Virgin Hotels to luxurious Virgin properties, you’ll be able to earn Virgin factors by a number of Virgin Group companions.
Related: The newbie’s information to airline procuring portals
Virgin Atlantic award chart
Many newbies to award journey could assume that the perfect use of an airline’s miles is for award flights on that airline’s personal flights. That’s not often the case — and Virgin Atlantic is not an exception.
The award costs Virgin Atlantic prices are affordable. Here are the round-trip costs you’ll be able to count on throughout the usual season.
If you wish to stretch your factors additional between 2023 to 2024, take into account reserving journey throughout the next customary season dates:
| Standard season dates | Caribbean customary season dates |
|---|---|
| Jan. 5-March 23, 2023. | March 6-29, 2023. |
| April 18-June 17, 2023. | April 19-May 28, 2023. |
| Sept. 5-Oct. 19, 2023. | Sept. 5-Oct. 19, 2023. |
| Nov. 1-Dec. 8, 2023. | Nov. 1-Dec. 8, 2023. |
| Jan. 4-March 21, 2024. | March 4-21, 2024. |
| April 16-June 15, 2024. | April 16-June 15, 2024. |
Round-trip costs escalate a bit in the course of the peak season.
Here’s the entire record of peak journey dates to pay attention to:
| Peak season dates | Caribbean Peak season dates |
|---|---|
| March 24-April 17, 2023. | March 30-April 18, 2023. |
| June 18-Sep.4, 2023. | May 29-June 4, 2023. |
| Oct. 20-31, 2023. | July 15-Sept. 4, 2023. |
| Dec. 9-31, 2023. | Oct. 20-31, 2023. |
| Jan. 1-3, 2024. | Dec. 9-31, 2023. |
| March 22-April 15, 2023. | Jan. 1, 2024-March 3, 2024. |
| June 16-Sept. 2, 2024. | March 22, 2024-April 15, 2024. |
| May 27, 2024-June 2, 2024. | |
| July 20, 2024-Sept. 2, 2024 |
Related: How to fly to London with factors and miles
The worth chances are you’ll save by spending comparatively few factors (i.e., 20,000 round-trip between the East Coast and the U.Okay.) you’ll lose on the outrageous gas surcharges Virgin Atlantic tacks onto award flights. Round-trip flights between the U.S. and the U.Okay. normally incur at the very least $450 for financial system flights. Meanwhile, Upper Class seats (Virgin Atlantic’s enterprise class) might have effectively over $2,000 in charges round-trip.
Related: How to keep away from gas surcharges on award journey
There are loads of events the place chances are you’ll discover paid tickets for lower than these gas surcharges, particularly if you happen to aren’t fussy in regards to the working service. Your factors will not prevent cash in these situations. Even nonstop money fares in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class are available for underneath $3,000 spherical journey, so all the time test tickets earlier than committing to these eye-watering surcharges.
Booking one-way award flights as an alternative of spherical journeys will typically cut back the taxes and charges on award flights, probably by a whole bunch of {dollars}. You may profit from reserving Virgin Atlantic flights to London however not from London. Fees are typically greater for flights departing London due to government-imposed surcharges, so if you happen to’ve acquired one other award foreign money you should utilize in your return flight, go along with that.
Related: Save cash on Virgin Atlantic award tickets by reserving one-way flights
Flying Club airline companions
The actual magic of Virgin factors lies in companion award charts thanks to just about two dozen further airways to ebook together with your rewards.
Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam alliance earlier this 12 months. With the present exceptions of China Eastern and ITA Airways (coming later in 2023, in response to Virgin Atlantic), now you can redeem Virgin factors on all SkyTeam airways.
Redemptions on SkyTeam airways are distance-based and you will want the next Virgin factors, every manner, per individual on all dates (no peak/off-peak pricing):
| Flight distance (miles) | Economy | Premium financial system | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-500. | 5,500. | 9,000. | 14,500. |
| 501-1,000. | 7,000. | 12,500. | 15,500. |
| 1,001-1,500. | 10,000. | 16,000. | 21,500. |
| 1,501-2,250. | 11,500. | 22,000. | 35,000. |
| 2,251-3,000. | 15,500. | 26,500. | 40,000. |
| 3,001-4,000. | 20,500. | 37,500. | 60,000. |
| 4,001-5,000. | 25,500. | 47,500. | 75,000. |
| 5,001-6,000. | 31,000. | 57,500. | 85,000. |
| 6,001-7,000. | 37,000. | 70,000. | 100,000. |
| 7,001-12,000. | 50,000. | 95,000. | 140,000. |
You can solely redeem Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, China Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines and Xiamen Air on-line.
Partner redemption charts don’t embody top notch. This means you’ll be able to’t redeem your Virgin factors for SkyTeam airways who provide top notch — which incorporates Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Saudia and Xiamen.
Air France additionally gives top notch however restricts redemptions to elite members of its personal Flying Blue program.
In addition to the 16 SkyTeam airways you’ll be able to redeem your Virgin factors with, you may as well ebook award flights with the next airways utilizing Virgin factors:
You also can earn Virgin factors — however not redeem them — with companions SAS, IndiGo and LATAM.
Each non-SkyTeam companion has a special award chart. Some are distance-based and others are zone-based, so every airline can have completely different phrases and situations. You should name Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500 to ebook award tickets for carriers that don’t seem on-line.
You can nonetheless seek for availability on different web sites, nonetheless. For instance, the United Airlines web site is great for locating obtainable seats on Star Alliance carriers. Once you discover what you need, word the journey dates and flight numbers. Then name Virgin Atlantic and feed that data to the customer support consultant.
Related: How to ebook Virgin Atlantic companion awards
Best makes use of of Virgin factors
With 23 completely different airline companions, these are the perfect methods to make use of your Virgin factors:
SkyTeam airways
If you wish to fly from North America to Europe, strive discovering availability on Air France or KLM. This is as a result of you will want fewer Virgin Points than different SkyTeam airways require.
SkyTeam is robust in Asia with members like Korean Air, China Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Air flying nonstop between the United States and Asia. You can fly from the West Coast of the United States to Korea with Korean Air in enterprise class for 85,000 Virgin Points every manner, plus charges, taxes and surcharges. This is a good redemption, although see beneath for the improbable ANA candy spot to Japan.
Remember, Virgin prices per section, not per journey, so if you’re connecting on, say China Airlines from New York (JFK) by to Bangkok (BKK) by way of Taipei (TPE), you’d be charged a whopping 160,000 factors every manner in enterprise class, which isn’t a fantastic redemption.
So, when redeeming on SkyTeam airways, goal for direct flights and reduce connections to save lots of factors.
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Virgin Atlantic’s unbelievable redemption charges for ANA-operated flights ought to all the time be thought of if you wish to get between the U.S. and Japan. This route is likely one of the greatest award journey candy spots and certain the one greatest use of Virgin factors — even with this 12 months’s devaluation of first-class pricing.
Related: The new gold customary: Review of The Room, ANA’s new enterprise class on the Boeing 777-300ER
Take a have a look at Virgin Atlantic’s award chart for ANA flights. These costs are for round-trip journey. Open-jaw bookings are allowed, so you’ll be able to test award availability on different routes in case your most well-liked route is not obtainable. It’s additionally value noting you can ebook one-way awards for half the round-trip ticket price.
If you have been to ebook a round-trip, first-class seat to Japan in one among ANA’s fancy suite seats, you’d spend simply 170,000 factors for a seat costing $20,000 or extra. Business class can be a wonderful deal at simply 95,000 factors.
It’s additionally value noting that round-trip award flights are extremely low-cost for infants underneath two years previous who do not want a seat of their very own:
- Economy seats price 2,000 factors.
- Business-class seats price 10,000 factors.
- First-class seats price 14,000 factors.
Air France-KLM
Virgin Atlantic has pages and pages of award charts for each KLM and Air France. You can go to this web page to see all of them. It divides the world into ten zones and calculates your award value primarily based in your origin and vacation spot zones. Here are some highlights from the U.S.:
- One-way financial system flight to Europe from the West Coast for 15,000 factors.
- One-way financial system flight to the Middle East from the East Coast for 25,000 factors.
- One-way enterprise class flight to Europe from the East Coast for 48,500 factors.
- One-way enterprise class flights from the East Coast to Northern Africa for 66,500 factors.
You’ll typically incur gas surcharges in your flights, however they are not practically as excessive as for Virgin Atlantic awards. In my expertise, surcharges are just below $300 for a one-way business-class ticket from the U.S. to Europe, making Air France-KLM a less expensive possibility for business-class redemptions to Europe.
These costs are all for traditional season journey — not peak dates. Standard dates are as follows (Virgin has not but printed dates past June 2023):
- Jan.5-March 23, 2023.
- April 18-June 17, 2023.
If you are flying inside Europe, you will not be topic to this zone pricing. Virgin Atlantic has a simple chart to comply with.
Virgin Australia
The Virgin Atlantic award chart for Virgin Australia flights is usually distance-based, which means it may very well be worth for brief and costly intra-Australia flights. Virgin Australia has discontinued long-haul service, together with flights to and from the U.S.
This present award chart signifies you can now solely ebook financial system seats. However, it does value toddler rewards at 2,000 factors in financial system and 10,000 factors in enterprise class. You could have to achieve out to Virgin Atlantic when reserving your flight to be taught the business-class value of your route.
Less useful Flying Club companions
While having an extended record of incomes and redemption companions is nice, some key companions do not present a lot redemption worth for Flying Club members.
- Air New Zealand: Releases nearly no award area to companions like Virgin Atlantic.
- Delta Air Lines: Typically solely releases financial system class area to Virgin Atlantic, and this redemption misplaced a lot of its worth in early 2021.
- Singapore Airlines: Only permits a restricted variety of routes to redeem Virgin factors on and you’ll solely redeem in financial system.
- Hawaiian Airlines: Requires charges just like Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue — so there’s little purpose to ebook it with Virgin factors. Business-class awards price 40,000 factors every manner between Hawaii and the West Coast or 65,000 factors every manner between Hawaii and the East Coast.
Related: Best methods to redeem factors and miles on Hawaiian Airlines
Unique Virgin Points redemptions
If you end up with a whole bunch of hundreds (or tens of millions) of Virgin Points, you’ll be able to commerce them in for a rare degree of luxurious — or altitude:
- Virgin Voyages: Watch for occasional discounted cruises the place you’ll be able to sail as much as 12 nights for as little as 80,000 Virgin factors.
- Necker Island: Stay at Richard Branson’s non-public island dwelling for 4 nights for 540,000 Virgin factors, plus $5,400.
- Mont Rochelle: Stay at Sir Richard Branson’s Cape Town vineyard for 3 nights for between 120,000 and 200,000 factors.
- Kasbah Tamadot: Spend three nights in Branson’s Atlas Mountain retreat in Morocco for between 240,000 and 280,000 factors.
- The Lodge: Stay three nights in a single bed room of Branson’s nine-bedroom Swiss Alpine resort for 380,000 factors.
- Mahali Mzuri: Spend three nights in a “luxurious tent” at a Kenyan safari camp for 600,000 factors or 5 nights for 950,000 factors.
- Ulusaba Private Game Reserve: Use 600,000 factors for a three-night keep for 2 individuals in a Safari Lodge room or 950,000 factors for a five-night keep for 2 individuals in a Safari Lodge room.
Or, you’ll be able to enter a raffle for an opportunity to fly in area on Virgin Galactic for a cool 2,000,000 factors — however all of these factors should have been earned from Virgin Atlantic flights.
How to redeem Virgin Points
Now that you recognize why you must care about Virgin factors, let’s present you redeem them for award flights. You can simply seek for seats and on Virgin Atlantic’s homepage. Just click on “Advanced Search” after which choose the “Points” possibility.
You’ll then be proven availability on the date you chose, in addition to three days on both facet.
Where there’s a couple of flight obtainable in your chosen day, you’ll be able to select the schedule and service that fits your wants after which proceed to ebook on-line, paying charges, taxes and surcharges on the similar time.
This course of could seem extremely simple, however that is not all the time true. Regarding companion award searches, the Virgin Atlantic web site can fall brief. Virgin Atlantic solely permits you to search award flights to/from airports loaded into its system — and plenty of of its companions aren’t bookable on-line. Remember, you will must name to ebook flights reminiscent of ANA, Singapore Airlines and a number of other SkyTeam airways.
If you’ll be able to’t discover what you are on the lookout for, head to a different web site that does present availability for that airline. For instance, the United Airlines web site exhibits Singapore Airlines and ANA flights. Once you discover what you are after, copy the flight data and journey date and name Virgin Atlantic to ebook.
The small print
There are a number of basic phrases and situations for award flights booked with Virgin factors — together with partner-operated flights — to remember:
Award flight modifications
Travelers can change their journey date, routing and/or class of service earlier than journey for a service payment of simply $50 (plus mileage distinction, if relevant) for flights originating within the U.S.
Award ticket cancellation coverage
You can cancel your ticket and obtain all of your factors again for a cancellation payment of $50 for flights originating within the U.S. so long as you cancel at the very least 24 hours earlier than departure. Once you are inside 24 hours, factors turn into non-refundable.
Open-jaw and stopovers
Flying Club costs one-way awards at half of the award chart value for many companions. This contains ANA flights, which used to require round-trip bookings.
If you’ll be able to’t discover award availability each methods on the route you need, you’ll be able to ebook an open-jaw award — which suggests you are flying into or out of a special airport in your return leg. There’s no penalty for doing this and the mileage costs out as half of the round-trip price for every of the 2 legs booked.
As Flying Club prices for every flight section individually, you’ll be able to construct in a stopover in a connecting metropolis. However, reserving an award with a connection or stopover might not be value the additional mileage price.
Bottom line
Virgin Atlantic is intricate — and a few of its luster has disappeared after devaluations and diminishing availability from its companions. But this system remains to be extremely useful for worldwide journey, notably for flying ANA, Air France or KLM in premium cabins when you could find availability. The current addition of SkyTeam companions additionally provides engaging new redemption alternatives.
And as a result of this system has so many switch companions, its factors are simple to earn.
Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.