Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club updates introduce dynamic pricing

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Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club updates introduce dynamic pricing

Research

Danyal Ahmed Credit card writer | The Points Guy

By Sky Industry News

Nov 4, 2024

Virgin Atlantic has introduced changes to its Flying Club program, which took effect on October 30. The revisions have shifted the way members can book flights using Virgin points, with all seats now available for booking and award seats priced dynamically. This is a significant departure from the previous capacity-controlled system.

The modifications offer mixed results depending on travel preferences. "As a flexible traveler without children, I'm pleasantly surprised with the new Flying Club program and pricing," stated Ben Smithson of The Points Guy.

A key aspect of the overhaul is dynamic pricing, where some fare costs have increased while others decreased. A notable downside is that peak-date fares can now reach up to 350,000 points per flight. However, under the old system, many high-award-fare seats were unavailable for redemption.

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One positive change includes reduced surcharges across all dates. New Saver fares provide lower rates for flights to Europe in various classes: as low as 6,000 Virgin points in economy from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Heathrow Airport (LHR), 10,500 points in premium economy, and 29,000 in business class.

Smithson noted that these rates improve the program significantly: "There is no denying these rates greatly improve the Flying Club program and are market-leading prices." However, flexibility remains crucial due to the lack of a published award chart.

Transfer bonuses present an opportunity for savings when transferring credit card rewards to Flying Club points. Current offers include a 40% bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards and a 30% bonus from Citi ThankYou Rewards until late November.

Despite these advantages, there are concerns about high peak rates reaching up to 350,000 points per flight. Smithson advised against redeeming at such high values: "If you want to travel during peak season... by booking a cash fare."

Smithson also observed oddities in pricing discrepancies between economy and premium tickets due to dynamic pricing adjustments. He expressed optimism that these inconsistencies would be resolved over time.

Overall satisfaction with the new program depends largely on individual travel habits and flexibility: "For my travel habits, I'm satisfied with the new Flying Club program changes," Smithson concluded.