Whereas Virgin Atlantic will not be at all times my go-to alternative relating to award journey redemptions as a result of its extremely excessive taxes and costs, the service is providing a 50% factors low cost on all flights to London. For bookings made by way of March 20 for journey between March 14 and June 30, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Membership program will scale back the factors wanted for all Virgin-operated flights between the U.S. and the UK by 50% in all cabins.
Sadly, I nonetheless should pay the charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges, however that is nonetheless a wonderful award deal, particularly since I bought an financial system ticket. Hold studying to learn how 5,000 bank card factors saved me greater than $650 on my flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).
How I am flying to London for simply 5,000 factors
Since I have to fly from New York Metropolis again to my dwelling in London in April, this Virgin Atlantic promo deal got here on the excellent second and has helped me lower your expenses on my flight.
A one-way ticket flying in Economic system Gentle (primary financial system) on Virgin Atlantic on my journey dates was priced at $739 after I researched my choices. A ticket for my most well-liked possibility, Economic system Basic, which incorporates seat choice and a checked bag, was priced increased at $829.
Associated: Is Virgin Atlantic premium financial system value it on the A330-900neo?
When you can discover round-trip tickets to Europe for lower than the money worth of a Virgin Atlantic ticket, these fares required a Saturday evening keep, which did not work for me.
Should you assume spending greater than $700 for a one-way flight to Europe in financial system is pricey, check out what it prices to e-book a flight within the different route. You’ll be able to count on to pay thrice this quantity for a comparable itinerary in the other way.
Fortunately, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Membership nonetheless operates utilizing award charts, a rarity amongst loyalty packages. In response to its award chart, Flying Membership prices simply 10,000 factors plus $152.80 in charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges for a one-way redemption from JFK to LHR on off-peak dates.
Whereas different packages do not impose surcharges, different carriers use dynamic pricing, which means you will pay excess of 10,000 factors. For instance, Delta Air Traces’ SkyMiles program is charging 48,000 miles for this Virgin Atlantic flight.
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Figuring out this, I could not ignore this nice 50% factors low cost supply from Virgin. So, I booked my flight to London by way of Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership for simply 5,000 Virgin factors plus $152.80 in charges, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges.
Since Virgin Atlantic award redemptions e-book in Economic system Basic, I am going to be capable to choose a regular seat free of charge and examine a bag in if I want forward of my flight in April. As a result of Virgin Atlantic is a full-service airline, I am going to additionally take pleasure in inflight leisure, plus meals and drinks in the course of the flight.
Associated: TPG opinions all cabins on Virgin Atlantic’s brand-new Airbus A330-900neo
After deducting the $152.80 out-of-pocket price from the identical Economic system Basic money fare of $829, I come to a financial savings of $676 through the use of 5,000 Virgin factors to e-book the flight. This implies I obtained greater than 13 cents from every Virgin level I redeemed, which is sort of 10 occasions TPG’s present valuation of Virgin factors.
Find out how to earn and redeem Virgin Atlantic factors
If you do not have Virgin factors, do not fret. They’re among the many best of any foreign money to earn, as Flying Membership is a switch associate of each main transferable level foreign money, together with:
Understand that Capital One is a switch associate of Virgin Pink, so you will have to hyperlink the 2 accounts (i.e., Virgin Pink and Flying Membership) to switch factors from Capital One to Flying Membership.
Many of those packages supply playing cards that function terrific welcome bonuses. Here is only a pattern of the journey rewards bank cards that earn these transferable factors that may be transformed to Virgin factors:
Backside line
Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Membership has lengthy been an underrated gem. It gives an excellent mixture of airline companions, in addition to varied non-flying redemption choices, together with Virgin Voyages cruises. Plus, this system makes it straightforward to make use of factors because of it being a switch associate with each main transferable factors foreign money.
Whereas the taxes and costs can price you numerous out of pocket, Virgin’s newest award promotion is certainly value contemplating. It is onerous to argue the worth of factors and miles when you’ll be able to switch as few as 5,000 bank card factors to Flying Membership to redeem for a global flight that might in any other case price an additional $676.
To reap the benefits of this wonderful supply, you could e-book on-line by March 20 for journey between March 14 and June 30, 2024.
