On Oct. 30, Virgin Atlantic rolled out the long-awaited adjustments to its Flying Membership program, and general, they weren’t as unhealthy as I had feared.
For Flying Membership members, all seats on Virgin-operated flights at the moment are obtainable to e book with Virgin factors, a dramatic shift from the strictly capacity-controlled system this system beforehand operated below. Moreover, the most important program change is that every one award seats at the moment are dynamically priced, with some fare prices lowering and others growing.
The adjustments are a combined bag and really a lot depend upon which kind of traveler you’re. As a versatile traveler with out youngsters, I am pleasantly stunned with the brand new Flying Membership program and pricing — here is why.
The Flying Membership reinvention wasn’t fairly as anticipated
Although Virgin Atlantic launched some info concerning the changes to Flying Membership earlier than it went stay on Oct. 30, as a frequent flyer on the airline, I revealed a want record of adjustments that I felt would hold this system enticing to members and aggressive within the loyalty panorama.
This is a have a look at whether or not these needs have been granted.
- An inexpensive cap on dynamic pricing: I hoped the most costly peak-date fares can be not more than twice the earlier award-chart ranges. Sadly, charges at the moment are as excessive as 350,000 factors per flight, greater than 4 instances the earlier quantities. Whereas that is undeniably a adverse change, many of those excessive award-fare seats would have by no means been supplied for redemptions below the outdated capacity-controlled award system.
- The power to pay surcharges with factors: Whereas this variation has not but been applied, surcharges have been considerably lowered, so I contemplate this a program enchancment.
- Reductions on surcharges throughout off-peak intervals and no elevated surcharges on peak intervals: Flying Membership has applied lowered surcharges throughout all dates, together with dramatically decrease surcharges with the brand new Saver fares. This can be a main program plus in my e book.
- Factors-only upgrades: Sadly, you will need to nonetheless pay the surcharges on award upgrades.
- Continued network-wide reductions on award seats: I contemplate the brand new Saver seats, obtainable on about 75% of all Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, equal to the earlier limited-time-only network-wide reductions.
New Virgin Atlantic Saver fares are a terrific deal
Whereas I hoped for lowered redemption charges on low-demand dates, the brand new Saver fares made my jaw drop, and now provide the bottom charges of any main airline loyalty program for flights to Europe in all courses.
Whereas the supply of those flights is restricted (search for the crimson “Saver” tag when reserving), costs begin from as little as 6,000 Virgin factors in financial system from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Heathrow Airport (LHR), 10,500 Virgin factors in premium financial system and simply 29,000 Virgin factors in enterprise class.
There isn’t any denying these charges drastically enhance the Flying Membership program and are market-leading costs. Nevertheless, since a broadcast award chart not units the pricing commonplace for Flying Membership, being a versatile traveler is vital to snagging a terrific redemption deal now that the provider has switched to a dynamic pricing mannequin.
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Lowered surcharges throughout the community
For years, I’ve complained about Flying Membership’s eye-watering carrier-imposed surcharges, which added greater than $2,000 to the price of a round-trip business-class redemption to Europe. Regardless of holding a wholesome steadiness of Virgin factors for years and being a fan of their premium merchandise, I could not convey myself to pay that a lot money on high of the factors required for an award redemption.
Together with the brand new Saver fares, an actual program enchancment has been the discount of carrier-imposed surcharges. The surcharges are priced dynamically — which is an uncommon idea in itself — however for the most affordable Saver fares, because of this the whole charges, taxes and surcharges payable for a flight to London at the moment are as little as:
- $73 in financial system
- $105 in premium financial system
- $254 in enterprise class
Even on peak journey dates once you’ll pay the very best variety of Virgin factors required, round-trip business-class charges, taxes and surcharges from the U.S. West Coast to London are about $1,350 (notice that this worth could fluctuate, since it’s priced dynamically). Although you continue to could gasp on the worth, it is a discount from earlier surcharges the provider imposed.
Plus, this heftier tax is because of the U.Okay. APD Tax that every one airways move onto customers. Due to this fact, simply know that once you fly from the U.Okay. to the U.S., you’ll pay extra in surcharges.
Capitalize on Virgin Atlantic switch bonuses
Since Flying Membership is a switch companion of many well-liked bank card applications, switch bonuses are a good way to save lots of much more in your subsequent flight.
For instance, the next switch bonuses are at the moment being supplied:
You probably have transferable Chase and Citi bank card factors at your disposal, you’ll be able to e book a business-class flight to London beginning at 21,000 Chase Final Rewards factors or 23,000 ThankYou Rewards factors with the bottom Saver charges.
That is an astonishing worth level as even well-liked applications like Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue begin from 50,000 miles when reserving a one-way business-class seat from the U.S. to Europe.
Flying Membership peak charges are tremendous costly
Although Flying Membership has applied many constructive adjustments to its program, there are some drawbacks if you wish to journey throughout well-liked intervals. Throughout your award search, chances are you’ll discover that many dates have priced business-class flights at 350,000 factors per flight.
In the identical approach my jaw dropped at how low the brand new Saver charges are, it was the same shock to see how disappointingly excessive peak charges have turn out to be. Whereas I anticipated costs to rise on peak dates, I didn’t anticipate they might be priced this excessive.
I’d not advocate anybody redeem their Flying Membership factors at these charges. If you wish to journey throughout peak season, you’ll be able to possible discover a significantly better deal by way of different applications or by reserving a money fare. This particularly holds true when you think about that TPG values 700,000 Virgin factors at $9,800 per our November 2024 valuation of Virgin factors.
Even if you wish to e book an financial system ticket for 150,000 factors every, that is unreasonable, and I’d not advocate redeeming your Virgin or bank card factors this manner.
Virgin Flying Membership award price discrepancies
With the current program adjustments, I’ve observed that the brand new dynamic pricing generates odd charges. For instance, this one-way financial system ticket from Miami to London prices 161,000 factors, whereas the premium financial system ticket prices simply 43,500 factors. The price of the financial system ticket is sort of 4 instances the price of a premium seat. Is that this a technical glitch?
Moreover, I’ve seen skewed pricing during which a Saver fare is obtainable for an financial system seat, whereas premium and Higher Class are priced dynamically. I believe it is unlikely anybody can be keen to pay virtually 27 instances the variety of factors to e book a premium financial system ticket over an financial system ticket on the identical plane.
I would not panic simply but over these award pricing discrepancies, as I count on Virgin remains to be determining the right way to worth its seats, and these charges will most probably modify and turn out to be extra wise over time.
Even with switch bonuses from bank cards, I would be shocked if many Flying Membership members are keen to pay 250,000 factors for a premium financial system flight, particularly after they understand it is very a lot financial system plus and never a business-class seat.
Associated: Is Virgin Atlantic premium financial system value it on the A330-900neo?
If no one pays these steep costs and the flights usually are not full, I’d count on to see lowered charges. In spite of everything, it is hardly enticing to potential program members in the event that they solely see these most charges when deciding whether or not to switch bank card factors to Flying Membership.
Moreover, I am excited to see if last-minute Saver fares will probably be launched to fill planes with loads of spare seats, even on peak dates. This might imply glorious offers for spontaneous vacationers like myself.
Even Delta’s SkyMiles program and its infamous dynamic pricing do low cost redemption charges sometimes.
Methods to earn Virgin Flying Membership factors
Virgin factors are simple to earn, with Flying Membership being a switch companion of each main transferable foreign money:
It is value noting that Capital One miles switch to Virgin Purple, not on to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to simply use your Virgin Purple account factors with Flying Membership.
Take a look at these card choices in which you’ll earn reward factors and miles to e book Flying Membership award seats. Plus, these playing cards all provide terrific welcome bonuses:
As all the time, TPG recommends discovering award availability earlier than transferring your bank card factors.
Backside line
With Virgin Flying Membership switching from award charts to dynamic pricing, some folks, particularly vacationers who fly to London throughout peak intervals, reminiscent of throughout the summer season months, could also be a bit disenchanted with the current adjustments, as charges on peak dates have considerably elevated.
Nevertheless, when you’ve got flexibility in your journey plans and love a terrific flight deal (like myself), the Flying Membership adjustments are way more palatable. The network-wide surcharge reductions are simple program enhancements, and the brand new Saver pricing is spectacular, particularly once you think about frequent bank card switch bonuses.
Significantly, paying below 30,000 factors for a lie-flat seat to Europe is difficult to say no to, and for my journey habits, I am glad with the brand new Flying Membership program adjustments.
