Guide To Redeeming Virgin Atlantic Points On Delta

Typically you’ll discover that the most effective choices for redeeming factors on a selected airline are by way of the frequent flyer program of a associate airline. Really, I’d argue that’s the case more often than not, and it’s the place we see a lot of the best award sweet spots.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership is a program with just a few nice associate redemption alternatives. Whereas my favorite use of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points is for travel on All Nippon Airways, one other probably nice use is for redemptions on Delta. Whereas this chance isn’t fairly as profitable because it was again within the day, there’s nonetheless worth available.

On this publish I needed to take a more in-depth have a look at the present state of this chance. What number of Virgin Atlantic factors do you want, how do you discover award availability, and so on.?

Redeem Flying Membership factors for journey on Delta

In lots of instances Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership has decrease redemption charges than Delta SkyMiles for journey on Delta, assuming there’s saver stage award availability. For instance, in some scenario Virgin Atlantic may simply be charging 50,000 factors, whereas Delta fees over 200,000 factors. Sure, the distinction will be that vital.

On high of that, there are another advantages to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership:

• Virgin Atlantic factors are simpler to return by, for the reason that program companions with Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi, whereas Delta SkyMiles solely companions with Amex
• Virgin Atlantic factors can usually be acquired with a switch bonus, whereas we virtually by no means see a switch bonus from Amex to Delta

With that out of the way in which, let’s have a look at the main points of this chance.

What number of Virgin Atlantic factors do you want for journey on Delta?

When redeeming Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors for journey on Delta, awards fall into one among two classes:

• There’s area based mostly award pricing between the US and Europe
• There’s distance based mostly award pricing for journey inside and between all different areas

Listed here are Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership one-way redemption charges for journey on Delta between the US and United Kingdom:

• 15,000-30,000 Flying Membership factors in Primary Cabin (financial system class)
• 47,500-77,500 Flying Membership factors in Delta One (enterprise class)

Listed here are Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership one-way redemption charges for journey on Delta between the US and Europe (except the UK):

• 30,000 Flying Membership factors in Primary Cabin (financial system class)
• 50,000 Flying Membership factors in Delta One (enterprise class)

All Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership awards on Delta that aren’t between the US and Europe are charged based mostly on the next one-way distance based mostly award chart:

Does Flying Membership have surcharges when redeeming on Delta?

Flying Membership has steep carrier imposed surcharges (sometimes called gas surcharges) when redeeming on Virgin Atlantic, however what about when redeeming on Delta?

• There are gas surcharges for journey on Delta between the US and UK
• There are gas surcharges for journey on Delta between Europe and the US when originating in Europe
• There aren’t gas surcharges for journey on Delta between the US and Europe (except the UK) when originating within the US
• There aren’t gas surcharges for journey on Delta between or inside another areas

So that you don’t have to fret about surcharges for all non-European journey, and likewise don’t have to fret about them for US to Europe journey, except the UK.

How you can e book Delta awards by way of Flying Membership

You’ll be able to search and e book Delta awards straight on Virgin Atlantic’s website. Virgin Atlantic’s web site interface works fairly equally to Delta’s, so it will likely be a well-recognized expertise for those who’re used to looking SkyMiles award area.

Once you go to Virgin Atlantic’s web site, simply search award availability on Delta the identical means you’ll search availability on Virgin Atlantic, and if one thing is obtainable it should mechanically present up. Virgin Atlantic’s web site shows award availability on Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France, and KLM, so at occasions it may be arduous to distinguish between these choices when wanting on the calendar characteristic.

Let’s have a look at how this works in follow, and use a New York to Amsterdam ticket for instance. Simply choose the date, the variety of passengers, then the “Factors” choice, then “Higher Class” for the fare choice, after which “Present versatile dates,” so that you get the calendar view.

The following web page will return a calendar view, and you may view every week of availability at a time. Based mostly on the kind of award I’m looking, I do know that any availability for 50,000 factors and $6 in taxes & charges could be on Delta (the opposite award choices with greater surcharges could be for journey on different airways).

As soon as you choose the date you’ll see the flight choice.

Observe that you could be very nicely search award availability and get a message saying “Sorry, no reward flights can be found on your search.” Sadly that’s not a glitch, there are simply lengthy durations of time with no award availability.

I can’t emphasize sufficient the quirkiness of Virgin Atlantic’s award area on Delta. The candy spot right here is clearly awards from the US to Europe (besides the UK) in enterprise class. Generally you possibly can search months of availability at a time with out discovering a single award seat, whereas at different factors chances are you’ll discover first rate award availability.

Once you do discover area, this pricing will be extraordinarily profitable. For instance, an award that prices 50,000 Virgin Atlantic factors could price 215,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Is it value redeeming Virgin Atlantic factors on Delta?

The way in which I view it, the most effective use of Virgin Atlantic factors on Delta is for journey in enterprise class to Europe (except the UK). You’ll pay simply 50,000 factors for enterprise class one-way, and there aren’t any gas surcharges. That is a tremendous worth, it’s only a operate of discovering award availability.

If you will discover availability, it’s a heck of a deal, although usually I don’t take into account this to be among the many greatest “candy spot” awards on the market, merely due to how sporadic award availability is.

Arguably the subsequent greatest worth when redeeming Virgin Atlantic factors on Delta is for brief haul journey based mostly on the distance-based award chart.

For instance, for 7,500 factors you might e book a one-way financial system award for a flight of below 500 miles, like Tampa to Atlanta.

Or for 8,500 factors you might e book a one-way financial system award for a flight of 501-1,000 miles, like Los Angeles to Seattle.

Redeeming 15,000 factors for a one-way financial system award for flights of two,001-3,000 miles could possibly be a superb deal as nicely, like Los Angeles to Kona.

After all you’ll at all times wish to compare these to revenue tickets, since in some instances these flights may not price all that a lot when paying money.

In lots of instances the primary class pricing will even be advantageous in comparison with reserving by way of Delta SkyMiles. For instance, the above Tampa to Atlanta flight that prices 17,500 Virgin Atlantic factors in top quality would price 40,000 SkyMiles if reserving with Delta.

How you can earn Virgin Atlantic pints

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership is switch companions with all major transferable points currencies, together with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou. Subsequently these are among the many best factors for shoppers to earn.

Traditionally we’ve usually additionally seen switch bonuses from these currencies to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, in order that’s one thing to keep watch over, as it should stretch your factors even additional.

Backside line

Redeeming Virgin Atlantic factors for journey on Delta is usually a good worth. That is very true for enterprise class between the US and Europe (except the UK), the place you possibly can fly for 50,000 factors one-way with out gas surcharges. On high of that, quick haul redemptions on Delta is usually a whole lot, in each financial system and top quality.

The catch is the extremely inconsistent award availability Delta has throughout the Atlantic in enterprise class, as generally Virgin Atlantic may have entry to a good quantity of Delta award area, whereas in different instances you’ll discover no availability for months.

Have you ever ever redeemed Virgin Atlantic factors for journey on Delta? If that’s the case, what was your expertise like?