by Krish Patel

Virgin Atlantic is one of Delta’s core partners, however, its Flying Club program isn’t as well known as other SkyTeam loyalty programs. While it may not be very well-known compared to Delta SkyMiles, Virgin Flying Club offers several great partner redemptions that are much more affordable than what their partners charge for the same flight. If you’re looking to save your Delta SkyMiles and fly domestically or internationally with the airline, then using Flying Club points to book is the way to go.

The Flying Club Delta Award Chart

Delta got rid of its award chart years ago and now uses a dynamic pricing model. However, Virgin Atlantic has maintained its award chart for Delta-operated flights.

On Virgin’s website are three award charts for Delta flights. The award charts are for nonstop flights between the U.S. and the U.K., the U.S. and Europe (excluding the U.K.), and all other Delta award flights. Note that the award chart only shows the prices for Main Cabin and Delta One. 

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Award Charts for Travel Between the U.S. and U.K.:

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Award Chart for Travel Between the U.S. and Europe (Excluding the U.K.):

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club award chart for all other Delta flights includes all U.S. domestic flights and flights within North America and to the Caribbean. As far as international routes, this chart includes flights to Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Australia. Note that this third award chart is distanced-based and not on off-peak and peak travel times. 

Virgin Atlantic charges far fewer points than Delta SkyMiles for many of the same flight redemptions, therefore, you can get more value when booking through Flying Club. 

Note that fuel surcharges are imposed on travel between the U.S and Europe (including the U.K.), however, they aren’t imposed for all other travel on Delta in other regions. 

Redemption Sweet Spots

One of Virgin’s biggest sweet spots are Main Cabin awards on Delta for flights to London. Regular Main Cabin flights to Europe are more expensive than flights to the U.K. On off-peak dates, Delta Main Cabin awards offer some terrific value, with prices starting at 15,000 points and going as low as 10,000 Virgin points. For the same Delta Air Lines flight, SkyMiles charges about 60,000 miles. While you’ll be charged less Virgin Atlantic points to fly to the U.K. in Delta Economy Class, the taxes are somewhat high on the London routes when compared to other European flights. 

Searching for Flights on Virgin’s Website

Simply head to Virgin Atlantic’s website and hit the “Search for Reward Flights” button. You’ll need to  log in and enter your Flying Club number. Once you’ve logged in, you can search for flights. Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles (via Virgin Red) can be transferred to Flying Club. Note that you might need to log out and then return to be able to use your updated points balance.

Conclusion

Delta has eliminated its award charts years ago and now has high award prices. However, paying the high prices for these expensive fares can be avoided if you book through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, where plenty of points can be saved.