This was sure to occur, although it’s a disgrace that no discover was given of this in any respect (and for that matter the change hasn’t even been introduced). On the plus facet, I believe this devaluation may have been loads worse.
Virgin Atlantic will increase All Nippon Airways award prices
For the previous a number of years, arguably the very best airline award ticket candy spot has been redeeming Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors for journey on All Nippon Airways (ANA). Not solely does the Japanese Star Alliance airline have phenomenal new top quality and enterprise class merchandise, however the redemption charges via Virgin Atlantic have been the very best within the trade.
Nicely, that’s not the case anymore, at the very least to not the identical extent as earlier than, as famous by Thrifty Traveler. Virgin Atlantic now has a brand new award chart for journey on All Nippon Airways, which applies instantly. Right here’s the brand new Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership award chart for journey on ANA:
As some extent of comparability, right here’s the previous Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership award chart for journey on ANA:
All these costs are roundtrip, and one-ways might be booked for half the price of a roundtrip. Curiously enterprise class and economic system class redemptions haven’t modified in any respect, whereas top quality redemptions have elevated by as a lot as 42%. For instance, a one-way top quality award from the East Coast of america to Japan used to price 60,000 factors, and now prices 85,000 factors.
This might have been a lot worse, in my view
A devaluation with none kind of advance discover is irritating. The timing of this roughly coincides with Virgin Atlantic having joined the SkyTeam alliance, and having added redemptions on SkyTeam companions. Many people questioned if this might have implications for Virgin Atlantic’s different partnerships, so I can’t say I’m that stunned to see these modifications.
No devaluation is nice information, although dare I say that I’m pleasantly stunned that it isn’t worse?
- Enterprise class award prices haven’t modified, so these stay a spectacular worth; 45,000-47,500 Virgin Atlantic factors for a one-way enterprise class award from america to Japan is a deal
- Even the primary class redemption charges are nonetheless among the many finest within the trade, so may nonetheless be price it
- Understand that Flying Membership companions with main transferable factors currencies, together with American Categorical Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, and Citi ThankYou; better of all, we regularly see switch bonuses, which may stretch your factors even additional, particularly for redemptions like this
Backside line
Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership has elevated award prices for All Nippon Airways top quality redemptions with out advance discover. Costs are rising by as much as 42%. Sadly this modification was made with none discover.
That being stated, if that is the extent of the deliberate devaluation to those awards, I’d say that I’m not that upset. ANA enterprise class awards proceed to stay an exceptional worth, and given the frequent Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership switch bonuses we see, that is nonetheless an effective way to e-book top quality.
What do you make of those modifications to ANA awards?