Virgin Atlantic news for frequent flyers: on every flight minimum 12 award seats
When a loyalty program announces changes one must be ready for anything, even the worst. Today, however, we are not telling about a [...]
Virgin Atlantic
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When a loyalty program announces changes you have to be ready for anything, even to the worst. Today, however, we are not telling about a feared devaluation; rather, we are talking about a series of changes to the Flying Club that improve Virgin Atlantic's loyalty program and give more opportunities to status holders in this company.
At the moment I have the Silver level, I had obtained this status. thanks to a status match campaign. I have also recently taken flights with this company, but I have always preferred to load the points onto my Flying Blue card for reasons of expediency.
What changes in the program
The carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson that has Delta as a partner at 49% has announced two changes to benefit loyalty program members:
- The minimum number of award seats on each flight
- Endless award spots for Gold members
Minimum number of guaranteed places
Each company has its own rules when it comes to award tickets, as of How far in advance are award tickets made bookable and how many places are put at disposition of partner carriers.
British Airways, last year, had made a similar promise. However, it must be said that we were in the midst of a pandemic, and today things would seem to be different from what was announced.
Now it's Virgin Atlantic's turn, which is then the British flag carrier's number one competitor, the announcement details the type and number of minimum award seats available on each flight.
It is good to remember that VS operates only on a fleet of wide-body aircraft: A330, B787 and A350/1000 and only for intercontinental connections from the London base
Effective immediately VS has made the new stock of award seats available on all flights as follows:
- Two seats in upper class, that's what the business on board Virgin planes is called.
- Two seats in premium economy
- Eight seats in economy
This means that numerous award seats could pop up on flights departing these days, just because of the increase in available seats.
Endless prize places for those with gold level
The second new feature is for the exclusive use of Gold level holders, the highest level in the Flying Club. Starting immediately, holders of this card will be able to reserve any seat using frequent flyer points. There is a but, however: all seats are bookable, but they will be bookable at twice the price in terms of points.
Virgin Atlantic's premium economy
The novelty is called Gold Reward Seat. In practice, a Gold user will be able, at least 60 days in advance, to call the call center and book a seat in business, premium or economy even if there are no award seats available, at a cost of twice the points needed to book a standard award ticket.
In conclusion
When I chose not to go for Virgin Atlantic status, it played a big part in the fact that by not participating in any alliance, having an elite level in VS does not bring much benefit.
There are benefits when you fly Air France or Delta, but it's not enough to justify the status. Today this benefit improves the value of status, but it is still difficult for us Italian users to take advantage of the benefits and points. However, I think this move is interesting, as innovation pushes all competitors to take countermeasures, so now we wait to see what other European carriers will do.
- 6,000 Mile Registration Bonus
- Collect miles WITH EACH PURCHASE
- Your miles with no expiration*
- No fees for ATM withdrawals and foreign purchases
- Without having to change banks
- Autonomous card activation
- Multi-function mobile application
- Free travel insurance
- Free credit for up to 7 weeks
- Contactless Payment
- Mastercard® SecureCode
- 20€ discount directly in your statement by spending €60 in one or more transactions with Carta on Italotreno.it
- Free fee the 1st year. From the 2nd €5.50 per month
- You can choose to pay in full or in installments
- Premium level of the Italo Più program
- 4 Vouchers per year for access to Italo Club Lounges
- Preferential Access to Italo's Fast Track at the station
- For every 5 purchases of Italo ticketing and/or onboard services made with Italo American Express Credit Card you will receive 1 voucher for room upgrade
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 Volare points upon reaching 6 thousand in spending in the first 3 months after card issuance
- Accumulate 1.5 qualifying Volare points for every euro spent, accumulate an additional 3 non-qualifying Volare points ( for a total of 4.5 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing purchases and other services offered by ITA Airways
- Access to the Premium Club of ITA Airways' Volare program.
- ITA Airways Lounge Access
- Free excess baggage
- Points Back