V-Flyer

posted on both the following bloogs it looks like next week is the start of being able to both earn and burn VS miles on AF/KL though redemption details not fully known yet.

One Mile At A Time

Head for Points

Great news. Happy to see the partnership vesting.

One thing I don't understand is the restricted 'codeshare flights only' rule. If AF or KLM has a route that VS don't fly/ compete with, why not give it a VS coding right away, (and vice-versa) so VS can offer that destination to its customers and get the sale? A win-win for the alliance, and steals the customer away from rivals like BA.

In other words: why not codeshare every flight they offer, rather than a cherry picked few?

narikin wrote:
One thing I don't understand is the restricted 'codeshare flights only' rule. If AF or KLM has a route that VS don't fly/ compete with, why not give it a VS coding right away, (and vice-versa) so VS can offer that destination to its customers and get the sale? A win-win for the alliance, and steals the customer away from rivals like BA.

That’s how it is at the minute i.e. the AF or KL flight has to be a codeshare flight op’ing using a VS flight number to earn VS miles/TP’s at the minute, however, by all accounts, after Jan 15 ALL flights regardless the VS/DL/AF/KL flight number should earn VS miles/TP’s across the entire VS/DL/AF/KL network. The same rule will also apply to all DL, AF & KL frequent flyers too.

Will be interesting to see what La Première earns with VS.

More info released today about this. See this page

It basically all starts from Feb 13th including full earning/spending FC miles across the JV network.

Other enhancements will also include things like ability to check-in and select seats using any of the JV airline mobile apps or websites.

And yet even with this expanded network opportunity still no codeshares to any middle or Far East destinations like DXB they seem to be focusing on North America and Europe.

Not quite in time for my NWI-AMS-VIE-AMS-NWI trip later this week, but will certainly be a nice addition for my Euro hops in the future

flyingfox wrote:And yet even with this expanded network opportunity still no codeshares to any middle or Far East destinations like DXB they seem to be focusing on North America and Europe.

Well it is a Transatlantic joint venture!

I think we might be in luck, we're flying to MEX for work in March on KLM (LBA - AMS - MEX - AMS - LBA) and it looks like all flights are a VS codeshare Fingers crossed From my rudimentary calculations it looks as though this might earn us 280 TP each (Z fare).

So, is my reading of this right? From the 13th Feb, *any* AF or KLM flight, codeshare or not, will earn Flying Club miles and tier points?

Starting from 13 February, enhanced customers benefits will kick in meaning that loyalty programme members will be able to earn and use miles or enjoy elite benefits for flights on any of the four airlines’ worldwide operations, including a trans-Atlantic trip, intra-Europe hop, or domestic U.S. journey, offering more opportunities to quickly move through loyalty tiers and reach a higher status. Eligible elite loyalty programme members can also enjoy priority boarding and relax in over 100 airport lounges when travelling internationally.

I need to book a trip to Bogota and back from Mexico City for the week after next, and I’ve been looking at routes on VS metal via JFK, ATL or MIA, so that I get status benefit for most of the journey. However, the flight times and connections aren’t ideal. Going via CDG outbound and inbound would be much better *if* I get lounge access, miles and points.

So it does appear that we can earn miles on all KLM/AF flights according to the updated info on the VS site ;

“As a Flying Club member you can earn on all KLM routes”

https://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... s/klm.html

Great news

I phoned Flying Club on Monday, before booking my flights to BOG with AF, and after the agent put me on hold to go away to speak with someone else (because 'the system hadn't been updated with the relevant information yet'), I was told that all AF flights would earn VS miles and tier points, regardless of whether or not it was a codeshare flight.

I've since contacted AF on Facebook, and had it confirmed that I will travel as the equivalent of Flying Blue gold (this seems ok, as the practical differences between gold and platinum seem minimal).

This status isn't reflected in the AF app for my booking, although on the AF website it does list :

Frequent flyer card : Flying Club 100xxxxxxx

All looks promising, but I'll know for sure on Monday, when I fly. No Clubhouse at Heathrow unfortunately, as I depart from T4, but a significantly better route/connection.

Ok, so for those that are interested, my trip on AF metal with an AF ticket went reasonably well, and the product (I was travelling in PE for this trip) is very good too.

The good:

• Granted access to the Sky Team lounge in LHR T4 without question. The lounge is pretty ok too. Not the clubhouse, of course, but quite, comfortable and a good selection of help-yourself food and drink downstairs. I didn't go upstairs, where hot food was available.
• Granted access to the AF lounge in CDG T2E, Gates K. Initial the receptionist said no, both outbound and inbound, as my status wasn't appearing in the system, nor was I listed as a passenger with access. A quick flash of the Flying Club gold card, and I got an 'Ah, Virgin - welcome to our lounge'
• PE seats are very nice. They don't recline in the normal way, but the seat bottom slides forward, and the back slides down and tilts all within a fixed outer frame. You therefore do not tilt back into the passenger space behind you. There is also an integrated foot rest, and the overall tilt very good. Got some of the best sleep I've had in PE seating! These were on a Dreamliner out, and an A380 back. The Dreamliner seat was slightly better, and I think a new generation version of the seats.
• Main meal was excellent - very French, and served well cooked.
• The cabin crew were excellent, all spoke good English and switched to it when I struggled with my (now ancient) school French
• Tier points and miles for the first leg were credited yesterday. I was expecting to have to chase this.

The bad:

• I was denied access to the lounge (The Grand Lounge Elite) in MEX. My status wasn't showing on the system, they didn't recognise the FC gold card and calling AF in departures, they also said I didn't have access. The only option I was offered was to go to the AF desk to try to sort it out, but I was air-side and the desk in departures. I called FC, and they were helpful, but could only apologised and said they couldn't do anything directly or quickly, to resolve it before I flew. Promised to escalate it internally, and to complain to AF. I also tried calling AF, but there were no numbers that appeared open - this would have been around 11PM UK / midnight CET. I gave up, which is a shame, as my longest wait was MEX, and the air-side there isn't that great for extended waits.
• The WiFi I paid for on the flight from CDG-BOG was unusable. I'll be trying to get a refund for that.
• The AF lounge in CDG T2E, K is nothing special. Similar to Delta lounges in much of the US. I'm not sure if VS status will give access to La Premiere lounge, and I couldn't see where it was! Next trip via CDG, I'll try harder to find it, and get access

Overall, a positive experience, and I'll fly AF again where Virgin don't offer a good option. I walked through the Business cabin, which looked ok, but isn't VS UC. 2+2+2 configuration, with more distance between rows to allow a lay flat seat configuration, but not ideal since not everyone will have aisle access. Climbing over, or being climbed over with the seat flat doesn't appeal, unless I was missing something on how the seats would work.

Outbound I was offered an upgrade from PE to Business for £200, which looks good value, but I declined as I wanted to experience the PE product.

For me this is definitely a good addition to the VS family, and will allow me to get to more destination with the benefits of my Flying Club status. I'd recently begun pushing my BA status due to needing to get to destinations not served by VS, but this will now change.

Hi Guys,

Ok so I’m a little confused. I booked KLM and flew on the 14th Feb. AMS-ABZ. Cost me nearly £500 for effectively a one way. However needs must. I entered my FC number into the booking and then had a look at the VS website to see the earning levels. It clearly shows the Under 600 miles earned on a few classes including X and O with T being the lowest earning, then the small print suggests no earning on classes X and O? Then why include in the chart? Bit confusing, to top it all, my booking class was W which does not even appear in the chart? Any ideas? Thanks guys.

Ok so it gets even more confusing. I’m looking at flying business from ABZ-DXB next month with KL. I’ve read a lot online that the O class is not actually economy but a previous reward business class that is now used as a discounted business fare that possibly is not eligible for any mile or TP’s. It’s all just a bit much really that a lowest class economy earns and a business fare might not? The first sector is ticketed in J (seems quite normal for that to happen) and the longer haul leg is an O. I just got completely burned flying SYD-HKG with VA and paid $1000 to upgrade at the airport assuming i’d get 100 TP’s only to find that the policy that applies to VS does not apply to partner airlines. I was assured at the desk I would get credited and it’s 100% the reason i did it.
I don’t want to think i’m earning as per the table published to then find I get nothing again after another circa £1100 uplift spend. It really putting me off booking tbh till it’s clear. Can anyone shed any light? Thanks

Can I use my KLM Flying Blue miles to purchase Virgin Atlantic flights in full or part?
If so can anyone share the "how to" details?
thanks

Update..... despite my booking class with KLM (W) being not listed, I was credited for 10 TP’s. I
I do have a question regards SkyTeam and earning...... I’m bookimg ABZ - AUH return this week in business and it is putting me in a J class and then a Z and vice versa on the return, however the AUH - AMS is on Etihad metal under a KLM codeshare and flight number. How will that impact the miles and TP earnings. Does this mean the whole SkyTeam alliance opens up to earn on as long as it’s booked through AF/KLM?

I’m just going to be close to AU again and don’t want to find out i’ve missed out again when I return.

Thanks Guys.