Any minimum requirement of VS metal flights to maintain FC

Just out of interest and possible use give a certain pipeline, long term dream to move to the US permanently for work....is there any required amount of VS metal flights per year to maintain you VS Flying Club account? If I am in New York, most domestic flights would be on Delta which could top up my VS FC account, but say if in a year (or few years) I have no VS flights, only DL, would my FC account continue sustain itself?


Many thanks and happy daydreaming,

FLYERZ

nope, you can earn VS status without stepping on a VS aeroplane

Indeed - unlike BA you can attain VS Silver or Gold purely by accruing tier points via partner airlines or the US credit cards.

Bear in mind though that only TPs earned by flying on VS metal count towards the 300 TP requirement for Lifetime Gold if that's your long term aim.

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Lifetime Gold....now that really would be a pipeline dream!


And what about redeeming VS points for DL flights? Is this only achievable by phoning up?

Yes you have to call FC. And I believe you can only redeem miles for round trips on DL, no one-way redemptions allowed.

If you are moving to USA wouldn't it make more sense to collect Delta SkyMiles? You can even redeem these for tax-free travel on VS.

Here are two costed examples of flights on Virgin Atlantic from the US to London:

New York to Heathrow – economy

17,500 Virgin Flying Club miles + $135

30,000 Delta SkyMiles + $5

New York to Heathrow – Upper Class

40,000 Virgin Flying Club miles + $420

62,500 Delta SkyMiles + $5

Source: http://www.headforpoints.com/2015/01/06/delta-one-way-virgin-atlantic-redemptions-no-taxes/

That Upper Class JFK-LHR for miles and a mere $5 sure does look tempting.

Thanks! I never realised it was tax free. And is the possibility of a miles transfer from VS to DL account even vaguely likely?

It's only tax free ex-US, UK departures will still pay UK APD but it's still an epic deal.

There's no method to transfer VS to DL that I know of. Burn them and credit all future flights to DL would be my advice.