Virgin Flying Club

jtr2803

Hi all,

Hope this is the right place...

Have been looking at various travel reward schemes over the past few days as really want to do some travelling when I am debt free . I looked at airmiles as I can convert my tesco clubcard vouchers into miles but I wouldn't get much at all and their partner miles rewards seem very minimal.

Whilst I was looking at virgin flight prices I noticed their flying club, I then checled out their reward partners and noticed that (for example) for each pound spent with the body shop you get 9 reward miles? It seems a little too good to be true so I am wondering if it is. I have had a scout through the FAQ's and T&C's as I was wondering if a 'mile' claimed in this way doesn't equate to an air mile, I hope that makes sense.

I wondered if anyone else here was a member and if it is worthwhile trying to rack the miles up?

Thanks in advance

Jody

Caz3121

the problem with many of these programs is the fact that for redeeming for economy tickets they are pretty poor value as you still need to pay the taxes. For example LON-JFK with Virgin for a random date next March is £355 of which £230 is taxes. To redeem miles for these flights is 29,500 miles + £230 taxes...the schemes can be good if you earn miles through travel and redeem in business/first - I have done this and ended up paying the equivalent of an economy fare for a first class ticket. Virgin also allow you to upgrade with miles so you could buy an economy ticket and upgrade to Premium economy for 20,000 miles per person for a return
The advantage of airmiles (as oppose to BA miles) is you do not pay taxes on top however availability can be a struggle

this will let you see how many miles are needed for which routes
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/spendmiles/rewardflights/index.jsp

malkie76

Most mileage earning programmes are not interchangable - think of them as currency, with each programme having different rates, but you can't swop one currency for another.

ie Virgin miles are different to BA Miles are different to Airmiles

9 Virgin miles are 'worth' far less than 9 Airmiles due to them being different currencies.

The overally tip is to pick one programme and stick with it - be aware that airlines have 'alliances' meaning you can earn (or spend) miles for one programme with a different airline in the same alliance.

johnnyroper

i have virgin miles account and find it really good for upgrades from economy to premium for 20k miles.
i go through the account for all internet purchases and build miles fairly quick.

i also have airmiles account to convert clubcard vouchers and use them for days out etc as well as europe trips.

jtr2803

Thank you all for your replies.

The Virgin club seems to have a lot more 'appropriate' partners for me personally so I think between msyelf and my partner we could accumulate quite a few miles, I suppose it won't hurt to give it a whirl as it will only be an additional reward for things we would have been buying anyway .

I would like to do NY & Vegas at some point in the next 12-18 months so it might help!

LEJC

In our family we all have a VA Account....we are not really frequent travellers but as they are the airline we use for long haul holidays we all gain miles when we fly...We have just returned from a caribbean holiday and each earned 3000 miles for the flight...anyone over the age of 12 can apply so that means that all 3 of us can earn miles... we exchange 12000 miles for a £50 virgin voucher....not a great incentive but an incentive all the same..I think you may also be able to transfer miles between accounts.

Vikki_74

If you do go down the Virgin route, it's also worth checking their "miles + money" fares as a way to use your miles. We never have enough for an upgrade from economy as we don't always fly with Virgin and only ever go away once a year but only used 2000 miles each to get a decent amount per person off our flights to San Francisco for later this month.

terriandaaron

LEJC wrote: »

In our family we all have a VA Account....we are not really frequent travellers but as they are the airline we use for long haul holidays we all gain miles when we fly...We have just returned from a caribbean holiday and each earned 3000 miles for the flight...anyone over the age of 12 can apply so that means that all 3 of us can earn miles... we exchange 12000 miles for a £50 virgin voucher....not a great incentive but an incentive all the same..I think you may also be able to transfer miles between accounts.

How do you exchhangemiles for £50 voucher i never knew you could do that, i have rakes of miles, never seem to be any m and m ones available for when we wnat to go.......