We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Flying Club Silver will be the equivalent of SkyTeam Elite, while Flying Club Gold will line up with SkyTeam Elite Plus. A new service to the Maldives will begin from October. I wouldnt mind that simply because every new Hype Blog will scramble to find a different catchphrase to hawk than First Class to Japan for only 55k/60k miles!. What benefits will SkyTeam membership bring, and can we expect to see any new routes as a result? Fly to a number of destinations in the USA, Caribbean and Canada through our joint venture partner Delta Air Lines. Select show price in points when you search. To spend Virgin Points on KLM, book direct with Virgin Atlantic. As the leading global airline, Deltas mission is to create opportunities, foster understanding and expand horizons by connecting people and communities to each other and their potential. Earlier this year, Virgin launched new routes to Austin and Tampa. Flying Club Red and Silver members can access Skyteam member airline lounges when flying in Business or First Class with a SkyTeam member airline. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will enjoy benefits across every airline that's a member of SkyTeam. The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam's first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance's transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports. Spend yourpoints on our KLM reward flights. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Keep in mind that Delta Air Lines has a 49% ownership stake in Virgin Atlantic, and the airline is also in a transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Delta. More Destinations With Seamless Transfers To spend Virgin Points on Delta, book direct with Virgin Atlantic. Terms and conditions | We offer services from London Heathrow and Manchester to Singapore as well as onward travel to Australia from Singapore. Not sure what to make of it but Saudia has recently stopped reciprocating award tickets with any other Skyteam members. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The airline has long worked closely with SkyTeam members Delta and Air France-KLM on codeshares and a co-location at London Heathrow terminal 3 together with other SkyTeam members. Heres how Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss describes this development: SkyTeam shares a customer first ethos that mirrors our own and our entry into the alliance today marks an important milestone in achieving our vision to become the most-loved travel company. Flying with Delta will earn you Virgin Points, which you can redeem on Virgin Atlantic or any other SkyTeam member airline. SkyTeam will soon become more attractive to frequent flyers on both sides of the Atlantic as Virgin Atlantic moves from a close relationship with the airline alliance to full membership in early 2023. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. If you have already booked, you can still add your Flying Club number to your booking before you fly and earn points. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). See Flying with us for SkyTeam benefits when flying with Virgin Atlantic. Still, you can expect to pay less using Virgin points on partner airlines for flights of a similar length, especially in premium cabins. Kyle Olsen is the points and miles reporter at TPG. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. Cookie statement | To use certain cookies that may impact your privacy, we require your consent. Ben Smithson is a travel loyalty expert based in London. Air Carrier Access Act. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. KLM reward flights start from just 4,000 Virgin Points (one way) and can be used across the entire KLM global network. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has two tiers Silver and Gold. Air France also offers first class but restricts redemptions to elite members of its own Flying Blue program. To spend points on SkyTeam airline flights, book directly with Virgin Atlantic. If you have already booked, you can still add your Flying Club number to your booking before you fly and earn points. Virgin Atlantic recently announced its return to Shanghai (PVG), where passengers will now be able to seamlessly connect with fellow SkyTeam member China Eastern Airlines. Agreements are already in place with all SkyTeam members to make customers lives easier with one touch point and a seamless journey on one ticket. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For example, for flights 3,001-4,000 miles long, BAs Executive Club would charge 20,750 for economy, 41,250 for premium economy and 82,500 for business class each way. ***Flying Club Silver and Gold members receive priority baggage handling when flying with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM. And therell be more opportunities to earn and redeem points across member airlines, and access to a network of 760 airport lounges across six continents. In September 2022, it was revealed that Virgin Atlantic would be joining the SkyTeam alliance. Frank Naeve, Vice President of . Terms and conditions | Extra baggage allowance is offered to both Elite and Elite Plus members.SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta* or Aeromexico will have access to Virgin Atlantics renowned Clubhouse at London Heathrow, whilst other SkyTeam Elite Plus members can take advantage of their airline-designated lounge at Terminal 3. No huge surprise here, but the new partner redemptions charts do not include first class. SkyTeams current members are Aeromexico, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle Eastern Airlines, Saudia, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Air. Virgin Atlantic SkyTeam will soon become more attractive to frequent flyers on both sides of the Atlantic as Virgin Atlantic moves from a close relationship with the airline alliance to. Team Lufthansa was founded in 1996 by Lufthansa in the wake of the deregulation of the airline market as new competitors like Deutsche BA challenged established airlines. When Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam next month, SkyTeam elite members will receive their Elite and Elite Plus benefits on the carrier. Book This, Not That: SkyTeam award tickets, Unlock incredible value with Virgin Atlantic points, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Virgin Atlantic is to become the newest member of global airline alliance SkyTeam in early 2023. The airlines Flying Club members can now utilise a raft of new benefits through SkyPriority services.Sustainability remains central to the airline, which is committed to achieving net zero by 2050. "2023 marks the year Virgin Atlantic gets back to its best for our customers and people, and joining SkyTeam is an important milestone." This means you can't redeem your Virgin points for SkyTeam airlines who offer first class Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Saudia and Xiamen. This comes with loads of benefits, including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. I do have some trepidation as to the worth of my 700,000 points with Virgin. Virgin Atlantic also operates an extensive Caribbean portfolio including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas and from November, Turks and Caicos. And thats where our SkyTeam partners swoop in. Mileage upgrades. Already booked? Seamless travel, joined up benefits Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam Alliance LONDON, 27 September 2022 The airline will join the alliance early 2023, enhancing SkyTeam's offering at both London Heathrow and Manchester Airport Customers will benefit from more opportunities to earn and redeem miles, with access to an extensive global route network Tier Points: DL/KL: Up to 200 TP, KE/UX: Up to 75 TP Heres to hoping we dont see these sweet spot redemptions eliminated, in favor of a streamlined award chart, and that we dont see partnerships with non-SkyTeam airlines cut. 1,225 likes. Its an exciting day for Virgin Atlantic as it finally joins one of the Big Three global airline alliances, becoming the SkyTeam member in the United Kingdom. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. The service will launch on March 30, 2022 and operate three-times weekly (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) according to the following schedule: LH466 - Depart Munich 12:30pm, Arrive San Diego 3:30pm. Canadian tariffs | Note that you can already redeem Flying Club miles on Air France, KLM and Delta due to existing partnerships. Preferred seats. If you're a Flying Club Gold member, you'll enjoy Elite Plus status when flying with any SkyTeam airline. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Virgin Atlantic Officially Joins SkyTeam Alliance, Virgin Atlantic joins the SkyTeam alliance, What Virgin Atlantic joining SkyTeam means for travelers, My take on Virgin Atlantic joining SkyTeam, ITA Airways is now technically in SkyTeam, Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York (JFK), New Virgin Atlantic Ad: See The World Differently, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: A Gem Hiding In Plain Sight, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members now receive reciprocal elite recognition when flying with other SkyTeam member airlines; Gold members get, Other SkyTeam member airline elite members receive reciprocal elite recognition when flying with Virgin Atlantic, including reciprocal lounge access, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members are able to earn and redeem points for travel on all SkyTeam member airlines (more on that below), Members of other SkyTeam loyalty programs are able to earn and redeem points for travel on Virgin Atlantic, We may see more codeshare agreements put in place with other SkyTeam member airlines, though that remains to be seen, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses outside of the UK can be used by SkyTeam international business class passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members on international itineraries, even when not flying Virgin Atlantic, The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses London can be accessed by SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico, or Delta; the exception is that Delta Gold Medallion members cant use the Heathrow Clubhouse, SkyTeam member airlines arent as good as oneworld and Star Alliance member airlines at making reciprocal award seats available. You can only access the lounges in the terminal you are departing from. Accessibility | Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. The sky's the limit. Virgin Atlantic already has codeshare agreements in place with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines. For Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses outside the U.K., any SkyTeam Elite Plus members can access these lounges when flying on a SkyTeam airline in any class. As a comparison, Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is under 2,000 miles, while LHR to Cairo International Airport (CAI) is just over 2,000 miles. It'll be the only British airline in the alliance. CEO Shai Weiss confirmed the date of March 2 to The Points Guy. With Virgin Atlantic joining SkyTeam, a whole new world of route possibilities, ease for customers and value from the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has emerged. You can expect 10/25 Tier points in economy (under 2,000/over 2,000 miles), 20/50 in premium economy, 30/75 in business class and 40/100 in first class. We'll have an interline agreement with all of them, which means you can book your whole trip with connections on two (or more) SkyTeam airlines with less hassle than booking each one separately. The members are Aeroflot (suspended), Aerolneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and XiamenAir.media@skyteam.com. Journalist - Steven has a varied background in communications, and it was this passion for writing combined with his in-depth knowledge of the aviation industry that led him to Simple Flying. KLM is the oldest airline still operating under its original name and aims to be the leading European network carrier in customer centricity, efficiency and sustainability. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders will be recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, and Gold Card members will become Elite Plus. If you would like to know more about cookies and wish to change your cookie settings, please go to our Cookie Policy. The U.K. is a key market for SkyTeam and with Virgin Atlantic on board, customers can look forward to more opportunities to earn and redeem miles as they fly, enjoying the iconic travel experience that makes our newest member a globally loved airline.. Bookings made by credit card or debit card no longer incur a fee. Finally, today, Thursday, March 2, the time has come for Virgin Atlantic to join the SkyTeam Alliance. Delta reward flights start from just 7,500 Virgin Points (one way) and can be used across the entire Delta global network. Canadian tariffs | Virgin Atlantic will officially enrol in SkyTeam in early 2023, at which point we will offer eligible customers, such as SkyTeam Elite Plus customers, access to our Clubhouse lounges, and in return eligible Virgin Atlantic customers can enjoy the lounges of SkyTeam and its member airlines. Refer to the information provided by your frequent flyer programme. Flying Club members can enjoy various perks when flying with SkyTeam airlines like earning Virgin Points. SkyTeam is a global partnership of like-minded airlines, working together to power the most seamless travel experience, no matter where in the world youre headed or the connections you make to get there. They might offer connections with AF, KL and RO to Paris, Amsterdam and Bucharest, respectively. What do you think of Virgin Atlantics decision to join SkyTeam? Barcelona to Barbados? When flying with Virgin Atlantic, the following benefits are not available: You can book Reward Flights online with the following airlines: Air France, China Airlines, Delta, KLM, Korean, Middle East Airlines and Xiamen Air. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. If you've already booked, you can still add your Flying Club number to your booking before you fly and earn points. For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic. Check here before booking an award fare. Final Approach. Flying Club Silver members will have access to Elite benefits. For example, perhaps our favorite sweet spot is booking ANA business class for just 90,000 miles round-trip from the U.S. West Coast to Japan. However, today it welcomes several new partners. For SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus customers travelling with us, we offer the following benefits: ^Booking outside 24 hours before departure. Ultimately airlines joining global alliances is always great for frequent flyers in terms of reciprocal elite recognition and the ability to earn and redeem points.