Unhealthy information from Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership as this system has simply devalued certainly one of its most coveted candy spots, particularly the redemption for ANA All Nippon Airways First Class award flights.
Virgin Atlantic has carried out the devaluation of the associate award chart with none advance discover to its members following the provider becoming a member of the Skyteam alliance per week in the past.
Many have already feared that it was fairly a risk that Virgin would make amendments to the award redemptions and its quite a few companions now that the airline is a part of an alliance for the primary time.
Virgin Flying Membership has an entire vary of airline partnerships which they shaped out of necessity as a beforehand unbiased (non-alliance) provider. Now that they joined SkyTeam it was feared that these partnerships can be damaged off as soon as the agreements expire.
It hasn’t come that far but, however Virgin has positively taken the knife to the award chart.
ANA First Class was actually the candy spot within the Virgin award chart, see the outdated pricing right here:
Now the ANA award chart (entry right here) has been adjusted to the brand new price:
These charges are for spherical journey awards and a a method may be booked for 50% of the quoted mileage. Tha Enterprise Class Awards weren’t impacted however First Class has taken successful.
For the one option to the U.S. West Coast the speed went up by 17,500 miles per means or 35,000 spherical journey. East Coast & Central U.S. elevated by 25,000 miles per means or 50,000 spherical journey.
Beforehand you can fly in First Class to/from West Coast USA <-> Japan in First Class for under 55,000 a method (now 72,500), which was completely superb and much more so when you’ll be able to pair it with one of many frequent switch bonuses from Amex and Chase.
Here’s a earlier Award Success from once I redeemed certainly one of my Flying Membership tickets in 2022:
Even below the brand new charges, ANA tickets stay an excellent deal when issued below Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, and this might have been a lot worse. I used to be afraid the awards can be discontinued fully or severely elevated. As a substitute, this system didn’t contact the Enterprise Class awards in any respect and First Class solely by a average quantity.
The one draw back is that Virgin costs full charges for gasoline surcharges which have themselves elevated considerably with ANA. Earlier than transferring any miles to Virgin, it’s crucial to maintain these prices in thoughts.
Conclusion
Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership has amended the award redemption chart for ANA associate tickets with none advance discover. Impacted are the First Class flights between Japan and Hawaii, Western, Central, and East Coast USA. Whereas disagreeable, this might have ended up considerably worse than it did.
Generally it’s worthwhile to buy round a bit and preserve your factors as common foreign money till alternative arises to switch them out and ebook one thing. Contemplating the present scenario we’re in I’d say maintain off transferring something and should you maintain any Virgin balances it may be a worthwhile thought to consider redeeming them within the close to future.