Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for Indians – CardExpert

Flying Membership is the frequent flyer program of Virgin Atlantic, which is a member of “Sky Crew”. Flying membership is a well-liked program amongst small set of Indians particularly with these flying to London and connecting to European nations.

One of many causes to do the in-depth protection on Virgin now could be to assist a few of the Citi Credit score Card holders who’re planning to maneuver their factors out earlier than Axis merger.

In the event you’re new right here, please take a look at the Intro to airmiles article for higher understanding. Right here’s every thing it’s good to know in regards to the Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Membership program as an Indian,

Overview

Decrease miles requirement on economic system is the USP of Virgin in the meanwhile, for instance, it solely prices 10K miles for London on Financial system.

Why Flying Membership?

Most common household (or) enterprise travellers want taking direct flight to the vacation spot with none cease overs. It’s an extra benefit if this system had superb availability and decrease miles requirement.

That is the place Flying Membership comes useful, particularly when travelling from Bombay/Delhi to London. We personally see travellers want with this feature, particularly for London as even the final minute availability (1~2 weeks) is fairly good.

On high of it, availability for a number of passengers are additionally superb, as many a occasions you’ll find 3+ seats obtainable in economic system.

Membership Tiers

Flying Membership is a 3-tiered membership:

1. Purple
2. Silver
3. Gold

Each time you fly with Virgin Atlantic or its airline companions, you’ll additionally earn Tier Factors. And with three tiers of membership, the upper you go, the extra advantages you’ll take pleasure in.

We’re not going to speak extra on this, as there isn’t a main candy spot with the advantages on larger tiers.

Intro to SkyTeam

SkyTeam is one of many world’s three main airline alliances. Based in June 2000, SkyTeam was the final of the three alliances to be shaped, the primary two being Star Alliance and Oneworld, respectively. 

Here’s a record of Sky Crew members:

Taxes & Gas Surcharge

Gas Surcharges are handed on to the redemptions for Virgin Atlantic flights nonetheless they don’t seem to be handed on to a few of the companion bookings like Delta.

Miles required are comparatively lesser than different packages however Gas surcharge does add up quite a bit when redeeming for premium cabins.

Incomes Miles

1. Citi Financial institution: Status and Premier Miles
2. American Categorical India: You could switch factors from Amex at 2:1 within the blocks of 800 MR : 400 miles
3. Marriott Bonvoy: Switch at 3:1 and (get 5k extra on each switch of 60k Marriott Bonvoy factors). As Axis don’t immediately switch to Virgin, you could first switch to Marriott (or to ITC after which to Marriott) after which to Virgin.

In the event you want to e-book fast, Amex is the choice for you because it lets you immediately hyperlink & switch, identical to Marriott Bonvoy.

In the event you’re trying to accumulate Amex MR factors, Amex Gold Cost & Amex MRCC will assist with small month-to-month milestones however when you don’t have time for that, Amex Platinum Cost is probably the one possibility.

And when you’re excessive on Axis factors steadiness due to Axis Magnus for apparent causes you could undergo the Marriott Route as talked about above.

Whereas its not quite common, virgin does come out with switch bonus infrequently when transferring factors from bank cards.

Notice: Accor transfers solely to Virgin Australia and never Virgin Atlantic. Difficult names, watch out!

Redeeming Miles

In an effort to seek for award flights, when you login you must click on on superior search and select “factors”. Listed below are the sequence of pages you’ll undergo:

So when you take a look at it intently, you’ll discover a new time period known as “Higher Class” which is the Virgin’s manner of calling “Enterprise Class”.

Together with it you’d additionally discover that taxes improve with the category of cabin. That is unhappy to see, because it makes enterprise class a pricey affair even with decrease miles requirement.

Peak Season: Notice that Virgin has peak season dates & charges where-in you’ll want to spend so much extra factors for the seats, normally 2X the common factors charge.

Ideally, it’s a standard sense to keep away from these dates except you’re sitting on lot’s of miles.

Apart from that, Virgin has just lately launched a brand new instrument known as Reward Seat Checker which can assist one to have a chicken’s eye view of the award availability for the whole month.

It’s much like the month-to-month calendar view on United Mileage Plus, however right here it’s bit higher because it exhibits cabin sensible availability.

The one flipside with this instrument is that you would be able to solely examine award availability for flights both to or from UK.

Companion Redemptions

Virgin Atlantic has launched a brand new Sky Crew award chart. Award prices are distance primarily based and one-way prices will be discovered on their web site.

Companion Airways bookable on-line: Delta, KLM, Air France, China Airways, Korean Air, Center East Airways, Xiamen Air.

ITA Airways and China Japanese redemptions will likely be obtainable for redemptions by late 2023.

Redemption Concepts

India to UK (London)

In commonplace season, you’ll want as little as 10,000 factors for an Financial system Traditional a technique flight to London, and in peak season you’ll want 20000 factors in Financial system.

We’ve seen London route already above, however right here’s yet another with Air France.

India to Europe

Whereas the provision to London is nice due to direct flight from India, the provision with their companions usually are not that nice.

India to USA

Cease Overs

Flying Membership doesn’t enable Cease Overs. Flying Membership costs one-way awards at half of the award chart value for many companions. As Flying Membership prices for every flight section individually, you’ll be able to construct in a stopover in a connecting metropolis.

Nonetheless, it is probably not price the additional mileage price to e-book an award with a connection or stopover.

Cancellation / Date Change Charge

Date Change: You could amend your journey date, route or class of service previous to journey for an modification price of £30 for adjustments to worldwide flights originating within the UK, US$50 for adjustments to worldwide flights originating within the US or native foreign money equal of US$50 for adjustments to flights originating in another area.

Cancellation: If for any motive a flight Reward is cancelled by the Member outdoors 24 hours of the outbound flight, 100% of the Virgin Factors will likely be re-credited to the Member’s account. A cancellation price of £30 for adjustments to flights originating within the UK, US$50 for adjustments to flights originating within the US or native foreign money equal of US$50 for adjustments to flights originating in another area will apply.

Toddler Ticket

Whereas most airways cost 10% of income fare on worldwide routes, Virgin Atlantic prices a flat charge primarily based on companions. They cost a small quantity of miles for infants, as beneath:

• 1000 miles on Financial system
• 2000 miles on Premium Financial system
• 5000 miles on Higher Class (enterprise)

There may be large saving right here and for illustration right here is the miles required with Toddler from Bombay to London for varied cabins

To incorporate toddler all you want is so as to add below “Lap Infants” whereas selecting the variety of passenger. It’s an excellent easy course of. Want all air-miles comply with Virgin for this matter.

Different issues to notice

Household Pooling

That is potential just for members holding their highest tier. As one of many perks of Gold elite standing with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, members can create a family account and add as much as 9 people to pool their Virgin Factors.

Miles earned via flying will likely be robotically pooled into the household account.

Redeeming for Buddies & Household

You may e-book in your mates & households utilizing Virgin Atlantic account.

Award Ticket maintain

Flying Membership lets you have a maintain of 24 hours on award stock for Virgin Atlantic flights. For this you’ll must name the Virgin’s buyer care.

Different Redemption Choices

What else can I do with my Virgin Atlantic factors in addition to flights? This wouldn’t be an entire information to Virgin Atlantic if we additionally didn’t share a few of the extra distinctive redemptions of Flying Membership factors.

• Convert factors to accommodations: Members could trade their factors with Hilton Honors (2:3 ratio) or IHG Rewards Membership (1:1 ratio).
• Sizzling air balloon rides: Redeem 30,000 factors per particular person for a sizzling air balloon experience over the English countryside (U.Ok. members solely).
• Chauffeur service to or from the airport: When flying on Virgin Atlantic, you’ll be able to e-book chauffeur service to or from the airport utilizing factors.
• Sir Richard Branson Personal Retreats: Guide stays at unique resorts in Morocco, Switzerland, Kenya or South Africa.
• Fly into house: Members with two million factors earned on Virgin Atlantic flights can enter a drawing to redeem factors for a visit into house on Virgin Galactic.

Private Expertise

I (Puneet) did journey on Virgin in 2019 and tried their Higher Class on A340. It prices about 37,500 miles + 363 GBP in tax.

The bottom expertise at Heathrow was fairly good as that they had a devoted check-in facility for higher class passengers. All higher class passenger get entry to their signature lounge at Heathrow terminal-3 known as Membership Home.

Not like a lot of the different lounges nothing right here is self-serve aside from bread, pastries, chilly objects and many others. One can order from the menu and it will likely be served sizzling to you identical to the American Categorical Lounge in Mumbai.

They used to supply a 15 minutes complementary spa however this appears to be just lately reduce.

Talking of the product, Cabin was organized in a 1-1-1 herringbone configuration with the centre and lefthand seats going through one another till Row 7 and the righthand and centre seats going through one another from there to the again of the cabin.

The privateness was respectable, however I didn’t just like the arduous product particularly in comparison with the likes of SQ and different Center Japanese airways.

Help

• India:  +91-124-4693030 (9:15 am to five:15 pm)
• UK: 0344 209 2722

They’ve a chat assist with reside agent & I just lately had to make use of it for a motive. It took about 5 minutes to get linked to an agent however as soon as linked the agent was in a position to assist shortly with my question.

Bottomline

Whereas Virgin is already in style for its low miles requirement and having a direct connection to London from India, we obtained extra alternatives now to redeem on many companions without having to name the assist line.

From Indians perspective, the way forward for Virgin Atlantic’s FF program is determined by their capacity so as to add SkyTeam companions to their on-line reserving system, as in any other case their routes are fairly restricted in comparison with the massive gamers within the business.

Have you ever redeemed your miles on Virgin? Be happy to share your expertise within the feedback beneath.