Virgin Atlantic is a UK-based airline and is part of the SkyTeam alliance. It is a joint venture between Delta, Air-France, and KLM, which is also part of the SkyTeam alliance. Before joining the alliance, Virgin Atlantic already had some airline partners, some of which still exist. So, there are several airlines that you can book using Virgin Atlantic Points.
Update: Changes are coming to Award Flights.
Virgin Atlantic Airline Partners
Virgin Atlantic has 28 airline partners, of which 26 can be booked with Virgin Atlantic points. Indigo & China Eastern are the two partner airlines you can’t book. Of these 26 airline partners, 18 belong to the SkyTeam alliance.
SkyTeam Partner Airlines
Here is the list of SkyTeam alliance airlines, all of which can be booked with Virgin points, except China Airlines:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- ITA Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudia
- SAS
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Xiamen Airlines
Non-SkyTeam Alliance Partner Airlines
The nine non-SkyTeam alliance partner airlines are:
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- EL AL Israel Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Indigo
- LATAM Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Virgin Australia
Unique Virgin Atlantic Airline Partners
Before joining the SkyTeam alliance, Virgin Atlantic had already partnered with some of the best airlines in the world. All these are unique, too:
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- EL AL
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Virgin Australia
Which Airlines can be booked online using Virgin Points?
Virgin Atlantic allows points redemption on almost all partner airlines; however, not all can be booked online. For some partner airlines, you need to contact their customer support.
Airlines Bookable Online with Virgin Points
You can book these airlines online on the Virgin Atlantic website by choosing the “show price in points” option:
- Aeromexico
- Air France
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- ITA Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudia
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Xiamen Airlines
- EL AL Israel Airlines
- SAS
Airlines Bookable through Virgin Customer Support
You can only book these airlines through Virgin Customer Support:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Air Europa
- China Airlines
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Virgin Australia
Almost all non-SkyTeam alliance airlines are bookable only through customer support.
Airlines Not Bookable with Virgin Points
Only two airlines can’t be booked with Virgin Points, Indigo & China Eastern. You may be able to use Virgin Points for China Eastern Airlines on future dates; however, never for Indigo.
Standard Award Chart
For most of the airlines, Virgin Atlantic uses a standard award chart except for the following airlines, for which it has a specific award chart:
- Air France-KLM
- Delta
- Virgin Atlantic
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- EL AL
- LATAM Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Virgin Australia
Virgin Atlantic Airlines Standard Award Chart for most partners:
Virgin Atlantic Airlines
Similar to British Airways, Virgin Atlantic has peak and off-peak travel dates. The mileage is lower on off-peak travel dates. These dates are updated every year. Here is the Virgin Peak Dates/Season:
- 01 January 2024 – 03 January 2024
- 22 March 2024 – 15 April 2024
- 16 June 2024 – 02 September 2024
- 25 October 2024 – 05 November 2024
- 07 December 2024 – 05 January 2025
- 28 March 2025 – 21 April 2025
- 15 June 2025 – 02 September 2025
- 24 October 2025 – 04 November 2025
- 06 December 2025 – 04 January 2026
Travelling on off-peak dates will result in fewer miles. Here is the Virgin standard round-trip award chart, applicable on off-dates. If you travel on off-peak dates between India & UK, it will cost you 20K points on a roundtrip basis.
When travelling on peak dates, mileage is usually almost doubled for the economy but not by 100% for premium and business class.
From time to time, Virgin Atlantic offers promotional award flight discounts between 25% and 40%, which further reduces the mileage.
If you plan to Travel to the UK from India, it will cost 10K Virgin Points on off-peak dates and 20K on Peak dates in economy cabins.
Even business class mileage is low at 37.5K on off-peak dates, increasing to 47.5K on peak dates. However, Virgin charges one of the highest fuel surcharges in the world.
AeroMexico
You can book Aeromexico flights online, and points are based on a standard award chart. However, availability is an issue; I couldn’t find any availability on multiple dates.
Air France-KLM
Virgin Atlantic has a specific award chart for Air France-KLM. It is distance-based for short-haul flights and region-based for long-haul flights.
Short Haul
The short-haul award chart is based on off-peak and peak flights. This award chart makes Virgin Atlantic one of the cheapest ways to book Air France-KLM flights within Europe.
For Example, a Paris-Warsaw flight in the economy will always cost 7.5K points on off-peak dates if booked with Virgin points. However, since Air France-KLM has dynamic awards, the mileage may vary. Business Class may also sometimes be cheaper.
Long Haul
Here is the Economy Cabin Award Chart applicable to Air France-KLM. If you book within time, the maximum mileage you will pay with Virgin points is 65,500 for off-peak dates & 75,500 for peak dates in the economy cabin. And we all know Air France-KLM sometimes has higher mileage.
There is a separate award chart for premium economy & business class, which you will find here, along with zone information.
So, if you wish to travel from anywhere in India to Amsterdam or Paris, it will cost 15K Virgin Points on off-peak dates since India is in Zone 5, whereas Western and Central Europe is in Zone 1. The same flight on Flying Blue costs much more. If you go ahead with Flying Blue, you will pay lower taxes.
Here is something interesting: if you have a UK tourist visa, you may spend fewer Virgin Atlantic points, as India to London costs 10K points on off-peak dates, and then from London to Amsterdam or Paris, it will cost an additional 4K points. The good thing is that Virgin Atlantic charges on a segment basis, so you can even break the INDIA-LONDON flight and LON-AMS/CDG flights and still pay 14K points.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is one of the biggest airlines in the world. It travels to several destinations, but not to India. Virgin also has a specific award chart for Delta Airlines, not one, but many.
Award Chart for flights between the UK & US on Off-Peak Dates:
Virgin Points for flights between the UK & US on Peak Dates:
For Flights from the US to anywhere in Europe except UK:
For Flights from the US to anywhere in the world except UK & Europe:
To give you perspective, if Delta Airlines plans to fly from its hub in Atlanta to New Delhi, it will cost 65,500K virgin points in economy and 165000 in business class.
Garuda Indonesia
It is Indonesia’s flag carrier, with hubs in Jakarta and Bali. You can book an award flight on Garuda Indonesia online, and Virgin uses the standard award for it. However, Flying Blue could be better for long-haul flights like those to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, etc. For example, flights from Jakarta to Hong Kong cost 11.5K points in economy and 35K in business class, whereas flying Blue would only cost 11K and 22 K.
ITA Airways
ITA Airways joined SkyTeam a few years back, and Virgin Atlantic enabled award booking for this airline last year. Virgin Atlantic has better availability than flying blue. However, mileage is almost similar.
You can travel to Italy from Delhi, in 60K virgin Points and low taxes.
Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways is one of the biggest airlines in Africa. Virgin Atlantic is one of the best ways to book this airline. Travelling from Mumbai to Nairobi on Kenya Airways Business Class will cost just 40K points. However, taxes could be a bit higher.
Korean Air
Virgin Atlantic has one of the best Korean Air options available. Even Air-France doesn’t have a good Korean Air option, especially in Business Class. Plus, the mileage is also great and a sweet spot.
Flying from Delhi to South Korea in Korean Air Business Class will only cost 40K Virgin Atlantic Points.
Saudia
If you plan to book Saudia, Virgin Atlantic Points is an excellent way to do it. Yes, Saudia Miles are even better. However, you won’t mind using Virgin Points as mileage is good.
SAS
SAS Joined SkyTeam on 1 September. However, it was already a partner of Virgin Atlantic. You can book SAS online, and Virgin Atlantic uses a standard award chart. Virgin Points aren’t the best way to book long-haul SAS points. Except if you want to book a SAS Premium Economy flight.
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines has one of my favourite liveries. The cabin experience on its domestic flights is good. Since it has started flying bigger jets to India, you will have a better experience than I had.
You can fly to Vietnam with 11.5K points in economy and 35 K points in Business class. Economy class mileage is the cheapest, whereas business class would be cheaper with Flying Blue.
Air New Zealand
You can use Virgin Points to book flights to Air New Zealand with a specific region-based award chart. And you can’t book Air New Zealand flights online at the moment.
If you look at the award chart, the mileage for the business is outstanding. Travelling to Asia or the US in business class with Virgin Points is cheap.
ANA Airlines
Virgin Points is one the best way to book ANA flights specially, premium cabins. You fly from India to Japan in 37.5K virgin points in ANA Business Class. And, between Japan & USA in 85K points in first class.
EL AL
Virgin Atlantic have a distance based award chart for EL AL. Its award flight can be booked online. However, it is expensive.
You can also book EL AL with Qantas Points.
Hawaiian Airlines
Alaska Airlines recently acquired Hawaiian Airlines. And, Alaska Miles can also be used to book Hawaiian Airlines award flights. However, Virgin Points are one of the best to book it and only be booked with Customer Support.
Hawaiian Airlines’ mileage is excellent. You can fly between Asia and Hawaii in just 65K in its business class. It also flies to Japan and South Korea.
LATAM Airlines
Virgin Atlantic has a hybrid award chart for LATAM Airlines: a distance-based award chart, most likely for intra-Brazil flights, and then an international region-based award chart. Since LATAM Airlines also partners with Oneworld Airlines, you may get better redemptions from using Avios.
Singapore Airlines
We all know that Singapore Airlines has a great frequent flyer program, Krisflyer. So, you most likely save miles and taxes when booking Singapore Airlines with Krisflyer miles, as they are easier to earn in India.
Virgin Atlantic is not a popular way to book Singapore Airlines, as you cannot access premium cabins outside Asia. However, you fly fewer miles with Virgin Atlantic on Singapore Airlines Premium cabins but at higher taxes. For Example, Singapore to Japan costs 50K points for first class, whereas Kris Flyer miles are 77K. Check here for the Virgin Atlantic region-based award chart for Singapore Airlines.
South African Airways
Another Star Alliance airline is South African Airways, one of the biggest airlines in Africa. Virgin Points doesn’t disappoint. For example, South African Airways flies from Johannesburg to Perth, and you fly in its business class for 55K Virgin Points. That is the cheapest way.
It also costs 55K in Business Class to fly to South America and 25 K to Mauritius.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia offers only economy flights to Virgin Atlantic. Similar to Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia has many airline partners. Plus, it is a niche airline that flies to Australia, New Zealand, and a few international destinations. You can also book Virgin Australia with Aeroplan points & United.
Changes & Cancellation Changes
You pay GBP30 for flights in the UK and USD50 for flights from anywhere else. Whether you make changes or cancel an award flight, the charges are the same.
Timelimit to book Award Flights
Not all flights are bookable if they depart within 24 hours. There is also an airline time limit for booking an award flight.
- 48 Hours Before Departure:
- All Partner Airlines except Below
- 3 Hours Before Departure:
- Virgin Australia
- 72 Hours Before Departure:
- Delta Airlines (Routes: Africa, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Israel, Russia, Singapore, Vietnam)
- LATAM Airlines
- 5 Days Before Departure:
- South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic Customer Support
You can call
- India: +91-1244693030
- UK: 03442092722
- USA: +1-8008628621
In other countries, customer support can be found here.
How to Earn Virgin Atlantic Points?
There are three ways to earn Virgin Atlantic Points:
- Buy Virgin Points During Promotions
- Transfer Via Marriott in 3:1 Ratio
- Get an Amex Card and transfer in 2:1 ratio
Bottomline
Virgin Points are valuable miles currency and have excellent airline partners. Most of these are bookable online, barring a few. There are lots of opportunities to put on use of your virgin points with these airline partners.
