I thought I’d found an Upper Class sweet spot for Virgin Points, but I was wrong

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• Greenpen says:

  15 Dec15 December 11:41

  BA also play the no return availability game. I can often find the going sector but not a suitable return redemption.

  • memesweeper says:

    15 Dec15 December 18:07

    … and this problem is particularly acute from the US to the UK, as is the case with Virgin here.

    • Mikeact says:

      15 Dec15 December 19:31

      That’s what comes of the US credit card industry, issuing tons of points……these changes are aimed squarely at the US market and the rest of us are part of the collateral damage it’s caused and if that means many (?) decide to walk, who cares….certainly not Virgin.

      • Ramsey says:

        15 Dec15 December 22:43

        Yes, the lack of regulation on the fees USA credit card companies can charge vendors, means they can offer massive points sign on bonuses to prospective customers. Of course, these fees are one of the contributing factors to the sky high prices all USA consumers now pay. I’m old enough to remember when things were really cheap in the USA.

      • john says:

        16 Dec16 December 12:27

        But that doesn’t make sense. The americans still have to get home again, so why are there seats available for them to do that but no seats going the other way?

        • Mikeact says:

          16 Dec16 December 17:02

          Of course it makes sense, they pay 100+ points to get over here, and it’s easy for them to select a homeward journey.
          Think of us and BA, US/WC…perhaps, and I say perhaps, it’s relatively easy to get WC/CW awards, but you try getting CW to get back…the US have grabbed them to get over here.

• PeterF says:

  15 Dec15 December 13:31

  Thanks Rob for another well researched article and to the reader who flagged up the potential to travel from Manchester to Atlanta.
  I am hoping that if sufficient exposure is given to how unfair the Virgin change to dynamic pricing is, they will realise that their previously loyal customers are not as gullible as they think we are.
  As with the BA Brunch fiasco, if our efforts can bring about a wider exposure in the Times or Telegraph, it may result in a re-think.
  The problem with Virgin Atlantic is that they believe in their own SPIN!
  The points changes are clearly made for financial reasons, but rather than being upfront and admitting they need to improve profitability or create a war chest for the next aviation downturn, suggesting that the changes are a result of customer feedback or to improve customer choice is to insult people’s intelligence.
  My own experience of contacting Shai Weiss directly is that you get a reply based on “computer says no” and everything is controlled by their revenue management team, who are bean counters, and take no account of past or future loyalty.
  Although I have not flown on BA since 2006, as a direct result of these changes and a generous sign-up Avios bonus on the BA Amex card, I am travelling on BA to Miami in February instead of Virgin.
  I appreciate BA are not without their problems (punctuality and aircraft shortages being two of them) and I will miss the Upper Class Wing and Clubhouse but if people do not feel valued they go elsewhere.

  • Mikeact says:

    15 Dec15 December 19:23

    You don’t think Delta Airlines aren’t behind this..’You’re happy with our 49%, now do as you’re told’. ?

    • paul says:

      15 Dec15 December 21:55

      Yep, the cringe wrinkly old guy is selling up it seems

• Paul R says:

  15 Dec15 December 13:55

  I am looking with increasing trepidation re my chances of using the VA companion voucher either return on Man- MCO return or Cape Town one way.
  Having spent an inordinate amount of time on the Man-Atl route over the past 30 years I am betting the connections from MCO are soaking up the turn availability. That routing always used to be a weird mix of business traffic and returnees from the land of Mickey.

• Paul (another one) says:

  15 Dec15 December 17:42

  +1 for finding out what Virgin Red think. I had a look at some alternative uses for my stash and, as others have said, cruises have gone up a lot (plus many are now ex US).

  Which leaves the O2 and (at a stretch) some of the bearded one’s hotels.. which come in at 0.5p.

  I think it means that all the “aspirational” elements of VR are just too expensive; and with the VR advertising of VS flights too complicated; Virgin Red must be seeing the impact already.

• Ross says:

  15 Dec15 December 18:19

  I am guilty of often upgrading the return only. An extra legroom seat out and PE or Upper return is preferable to PE both ways and can save a chunk, especially with a family of 5 where the kids save full UK air duty at 240ish each, so assuming this is a common tactic naturally the re-eye leg is going to be more saturated on any route.

  Also lamenting the changes although i was able to get a Vegas return for 65k points total recently, I have diverted most points to BA for the family trips.

• jamestg86 says:

  15 Dec15 December 19:04

  TBH… this was coming. My Virgin balance is now 7 points, and I did 3 cruises at no cost whatsoever over the last few years.

  And let’s face it, BA will follow fairly soon, Get spending is my advice. I GUARANTEE I’m right on this one…

• jamestg86 says:

  15 Dec15 December 19:26

  Just to add, as a Manchester based flyer, the way Virgin have screwed us, driven Thomas Cook out of business by flying the exact same routes, then pulled the majority of the routes. I’ll never touch Virgin again. Now we have nothing from Manchester unless you want Orlando, pretty much.

  Let’s not start on the promised Clubhouse. Vile company, and people are so sucked in by the marketing. Ridiculous. Crap food, Tarty trolley dollies who thing they’ve achieved something working for Delta on minimum wage, and tacky old planes from the outstations.

  • executiveclubber says:

    15 Dec15 December 20:03

    Do you usually resort to sexism to make a point?

  • AL says:

    15 Dec15 December 21:15

    First and foremost: your comment about their staff is unfair – you may not like the Virgin brand, or VS’ current business model, but references to their staff’s looks aren’t on.

    There has been a steady increase of modern airframes over the past year, I’ve found, especially during peak season. I suspect we’ll see more of this, and new deliveries bolstering numbers, until the eventual hand-back of the A333 fleet to the lessors.

    Personally, I find catering on VS to be hit-and-miss, but it’s usually more consistent in J than, say, BA. And, yes, the lack of Clubhouse investment is disappointing. MAN is a leisure-heavy airport – it’s developed its reputation as “high volume, low cost”. It is, therefore, going to attract leisure destinations more than, say, LHR or LCY might. There are more routes than MCO, though – ATL, JFK and the Caribbean spring to mind.

  • lochan says:

    20 Dec20 December 18:13

    I don’t think virgin will mind you not being a customer given your sexist and angry remarks. God forbid someone has to sit next to you though, that sounds like punishment for that person

• Jan says:

  15 Dec15 December 20:31

  I usually travel Manchester to Atlanta then Delta to Fort Myers. (Return). All booked through the Flying club
  Due to dynamic pricing I saw outward bound journey to Atlanta October 2025 for 22,000 points. I spoke to flying club team explaining I needed the transfer to Fort Myers. They informed those dates were not available to them yet and I would have to book direct with Delta. As I take 2x 23kg bags this would mean paying for extra baggage both outward and inward. I decided to fly to Orlando and drive to my destination. Orlando to my destination 4.5 hours. Fort Myers to my destination 30mins. I have paid £398.63 in taxes plus 26000 points for a premium seat. I can’t book a return flight until beginning of January. I haven’t a clue how many points I will need or how much the taxes will be.
  My decision to continue saving virgin points will depend on cost of taxes and points for return flight

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