Though there are methods to maximise Delta SkyMiles on Delta-operated flights, the variety of miles required for award bookings might be unpredictable. In spite of everything, Delta makes use of dynamic pricing for SkyMiles redemptions.
Nonetheless, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, a SkyTeam associate of Delta, presents an answer. With Virgin Atlantic factors, you may e book Delta flights at set charges based mostly on Virgin Atlantic’s Delta-specific award chart. In lots of circumstances, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership’s award charges for short-haul flights are decrease than what you’d pay for those who redeemed by Delta’s SkyMiles program.
Better of all, incomes Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors is comparatively straightforward. So, let’s dive in and discover some great benefits of utilizing Virgin factors to e book short-haul Delta flights.
Why it is particular
Virgin Atlantic presents extraordinarily aggressive award charges for short-haul Delta flights. Virgin Atlantic costs awards operated by Delta based mostly on the gap you fly and the variety of segments you fly.
Take a look at the next chart to see how a lot you may pay per section while you e book Delta flights by Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. Observe Delta flights to and from the UK and different elements of Europe use a unique award chart.
Route distance flown | Fundamental cabin economic system | Firstclass/Delta One |
---|---|---|
500 miles or much less | 7,500 factors | 17,500 factors |
501 to 1,000 miles | 8,500 factors | 27,500 factors |
1,001 to 1,500 miles | 11,500 factors | 40,000 factors |
1,501 to 2,000 miles | 12,500 factors | 45,000 factors |
2,001 to three,000 miles | 15,000 factors | 52,500 factors |
3,001 to 4,000 miles | 22,500 factors | 80,000 factors |
4,001 to five,000 miles | 27,500 factors | 105,000 factors |
5,001 to six,000 miles | 35,000 factors | 130,000 factors |
6,001 or extra | 45,000 factors | 165,000 factors |
Delta principal cabin economic system award flights have a candy spot for nonstop flights as much as 1,000 miles, whereas Delta One and First Class flights are perfect for nonstop fights as much as 500 miles.
Take into account a selected instance: a nonstop Delta flight from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX). This Delta flight is 337 miles, so you may anticipate to redeem 7,500 factors for principal cabin economic system and 17,500 factors for firstclass for those who e book by Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.
Nonetheless, for those who e book the identical flight by Delta, you’d must redeem 12,000 Delta SkyMiles for principal cabin economic system and 19,000 SkyMiles for firstclass.
Award charges by Delta range for the reason that program makes use of dynamic award pricing. Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership will not at all times come out forward, nevertheless it’s value evaluating costs each time you e book a Delta award ticket.
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Associated: Do not forget to maximise Virgin Atlantic factors on 22 airways
Tips on how to e book
Virgin Atlantic makes use of a distance-based award chart for short-haul Delta flights. So, begin by estimating the gap of your flight by getting into your origin and vacation spot airports into Nice Circle Mapper.
On this story, let’s seek for a flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP) to Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT).
Now, head over to the Virgin Atlantic web site. It’s essential to log in to your Virgin Atlantic account to e book an award flight, however you may seek for flights with out logging in.
Enter your origin, vacation spot, dates and different required info. Be sure you’ve toggled the value to “Factors.” In case your dates are versatile, tick the “Present versatile dates” field.
The Virgin Atlantic web site is a bit quirky in that it will not present any availability except the date you search incorporates out there awards throughout the identical week. So, it can save you your self a little bit of trial and error for those who start your search on the Delta web site since Delta’s value calendar helps you to see a month of availability. Dates marked with “Lowest” are almost certainly to be out there by Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership (though this is not a assure).
As soon as you discover availability by Virgin Atlantic, a calendar week will seem. Hopefully, your required dates can be found.
Observe: You possibly can view Virgin Atlantic availability in one-month increments, although you may must tamper with the web page’s URL. Change the phrase “dates” to “calendar,” as first advised by Frequent Miler.
This journey between Minneapolis and Charlotte is a nonstop flight of 930 miles. Which means you may pay 8,500 factors in economic system and 27,500 factors in firstclass.
Should you booked the identical flight by Delta, you’d must redeem 17,000 miles for principal cabin economic system or 25,000 for firstclass.
So for those who needed to fly in principal cabin economic system, you’d come out considerably forward by redeeming Virgin factors as an alternative of Delta miles. Nonetheless, for those who needed to fly in firstclass, you’d come out forward by redeeming Delta miles.
Associated: When and the right way to e book Delta awards with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership
Tips on how to earn factors for this award
Should you’re low on any of those versatile factors, think about including one of many following playing cards to your pockets:
Signing up for a brand new card now will not get you rewards instantly. Nonetheless, doing so might assist you construct your stability for a future redemption.
Associated: Why transferable factors are value greater than different rewards
Backside line
Earlier than reserving a brief flight with Delta utilizing SkyMiles, verify Virgin Atlantic’s award charges.
Nonetheless, it is essential to notice that Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership would not at all times supply the bottom award charges. Delta typically presents extraordinarily low-priced award charges cheaper than you may e book by Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. For instance, you would possibly sometimes discover flights for as little as 4,000 Delta miles one-way. So, examine costs with each applications earlier than reserving.
Further reporting by Kyle Olsen.