One of the most underrated independent loyalty programmes out there is Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club, which has chosen the day after the US opened up to the UK again to revamp the programme to make it even better. The moves could even be linked. Who knows.

Virgin Atlantic updates Flying Club.

As the British get out there again, and so does the rest of the world, Virgin Atlantic has decided to make far-ranging changes to the programme, which will make it easier to get status and give more perks once you get there.

On this occasion, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented:

We know our Flying Club is the best in the business and the raft of new measures we’ve announced today brings fresh benefits to our existing members and new customers who are looking for something more rewarding. All customers can now maintain or improve their tier status’ in the most accessible way possible – something they’ve told us is important to them, as they plan their future journeys with Virgin Atlantic.

 Following the successful reopening of the Transatlantic corridor on Monday, we’re ready to welcome customers back on board to all of our destinations, as we fly them safely around the world once more.

Let’s take a look at the upgrades to the programme which have been announced.

Easier to get Status with Lower Tier Thresholds

Virgin Atlantic has reduced the number of tier points you need to go from Red Tier to Silver and Silver Tier to Gold in the Flying Club. Remember, Virgin Atlantic is the only programme (at least I know of) in which flying a Virgin Atlantic redemption ticket (booked with Virgin miles) also gets you the opportunity to earn tier points.

• Red Tier to Silver Tier: Effective April 2022, members will only need to earn 300 tier points instead of the current 400 tier points to reach Silver Tier from Red in a rolling 12 month period. Once a Silver tier member, you get free seat selection in Economy Light, premium check-in and 30% bonus miles on flights.
• Silver Tier to Gold Tier: To get to Gold from Silver Tier, only 800 tier points are needed (effective April 2022), instead of the current 1000 Tier Points. Gold members get access to the Clubhouses and the arrival lounge at Heathrow, and the use of business-class check-in counters, apart from additional luggage allowance and 60% bonus miles on flights.

Lounge Access perk for Silver tier added.

Hereon, Silver Tier members will receive a lounge access voucher for one-time access to the Virgin Clubhouses, good for themselves and one guest. This is good even when you are flying economy class.

Silver members will now be able to have a household account.

While the Gold members of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and all British Airways Executive Club members have had the family pooling feature, it has not been made available to other members of Flying Club, at least till now. In the future, silver members of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club will be allowed to open a household account, with up to nine members being able to pool in their points. This update is effective immediately.

There is still some way to come up close with British Airways, but it is a start.

Bonus 20,000 Virgin Points for flying by March 2022

Virgin Atlantic is celebrating the updates to the programme by offering all Flying Club members an opportunity to earn 20,000 bonus Virgin Points by March 31, 2022. To receive these bonus points, you need to do two return flights in Premium or Upper Class (Business Class) between November 9, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

As per the T&Cs, the flight needs to be booked directly with Virgin Atlantic. Multiple sectors for one destination, in this case, count as a full trip flown one way. For instance, DEL-LHR-JFK and return will count as one round trip, and so will DEL-LHR-DEL. The promotion is valid on all Virgin Atlantic routes.

Bottomline

Virgin Atlantic has made its move, and it is a pretty amazing one. They have dropped the bar on becoming a Silver or Gold Tier member in the Flying Club programme and offer more family pooling options. Not just that, if you fly with them by March 31, 2022, in a premium cabin, you have an opportunity to earn up to 20,000 bonus Virgin points as well.

Your move, Executive Club? What do you all make of the changes to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?

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