Virgin Atlantic redemption schemes
Virgin Atlantic has different award charts for its own flights and every airline partner.
As you already know, some frequent flyer programs are better fit to use on their own metal, while others are better for traveling on the partner airlines. Virgin Atlantic belongs to the latter group. Not that it doesn’t have good redemption values – it has great redemption values in Economy, but the draconian Virgin surcharges destroy that value and make Flying Club miles unusable on its own flights – at least if you have other choices.
However, used on some partner airlines, Virgin Atlantic offers terrific values (of course as long as you can find award space, which is true for all airlines, almost without exceptions).
Virgin Atlantic airline partners:
- Air France / KLM
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Delta Air Lines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Virgin Australia
Fly Delta One (Business Class) to Europe for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points… if you’re lucky!
I try not to dwell much on availability in this guide because it’s a separate (and painful) topic, but I have to warn you that Delta One award space to Europe almost doesn’t exist. Having said that, if you can find it, you might even get one of these door suites, who knows! 🙂
This is Delta One award space to Amsterdam in March 2022 for two people. After that – nada!
I’m posting this screenshot just to prove that finding Delta One flights to Europe is not 100% impossible, so try it. This flight, for example, is on A-350 that features those famous suites with doors. Let’s hope things will get better, but who knows!
Europe is the only region not affected by the huge 2021 Virgin / Delta devaluation. All other regions aside from U.S. to Europe are off limits now (insanely overpriced!).
Fly to Japan on ANA in Business and First from 45,000 miles!
This is probably one of the best sweet spots in the history of frequent flyer programs. You can travel between the U.S. West Coast and Japan for 45,000 Virgin points in Business and 55,000 in First.
The rates from the East Coast aren’t much higher: 47,500 and 60,000 points respectively. The table below reflects the round-trip prices (one-way flights are allowed).
This is an incredible value, especially in First Class and it beats ANA’s own First Class prices.
How to book
To the best of my knowledge, there are only three Virgin Atlantic partner airlines you can book online: Delta, Air France / KLM and South African Airlines. To book other partners call 800-862-8621.