A devaluation, softened: Virgin Atlantic confirms Delta US to Europe flights will be honored at previous rate

The Points Guy logo

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.

On New Year’s Day, Virgin Atlantic stunned the points and miles world with a sudden and drastic devaluation. At a moment’s notice, the carrier replaced its award chart for Delta partner awards with a distance-based version. With it, it increased the number of Virgin Points you would need for some flights by as much as 175%.

But now, Virgin Atlantic is clawing back some of those changes.

Sign up to receive the daily TPG newsletter for more points and miles news!

As a refresher on Jan. 1, Virgin Atlantic introduced a distance-based award chart for Delta flights. And, unsurprisingly, it completely wiped out some of the great sweet spots that were previously available.

Here’s the new award chart, based on one-way flights.

Under the new chart, rewards from the U.S. to Europe increased from 50,000 Virgin Points to 130,000 Virgin Points. However, Virgin Atlantic says that is no longer the case.

Flights between the U.S. and Europe and U.K. will be honored at the previous, lower rates.

This chart now applies to one-way direct U.S. to U.K. flights:

Standard seasonStandard seasonPeak seasonPeak season
Route (U.S. to U.K.)Delta Main CabinDelta OneDelta Main CabinDelta One
East Coast (Boston, New York) to U.K.10,000 Virgin Points + $262 tax47,500 Virgin Points + $643.50 tax20,000 Virgin Points + $262 tax57,500 Virgin Points + $643.50
Central U.S. (Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis) to U.K.12,500 Virgin Points + 262 tax47,500 Virgin Points + $643.50 tax22,500 Virgin Points + $262 tax57,500 Virgin Points + $643.50 tax
West Coast U.S. (Salt Lake City) to U.K.15,000 Virgin Points + $262 tax67,000 Virgin Points + $643 tax25,000 Virgin Points + $262 tax77,500 Virgin Points + $643 tax

Video: Boeing’s 737 Max flies U.S. passengers for first time since worldwide grounding (CNBC)

  • a woman holding a sign in front of a building: The week leading up to Christmas is typically a busy time for bars and restaurants, but traffic this year was down double digits. CNBC's Kate Rogers reports.

    Restaurants record worst week for sales and foot traffic since June

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • Sharon Epperson sitting in front of a book shelf: The inherent biases we possess impact many aspects of our work lives, including hiring, team building, management, and technology development. In this interactive session, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania's Stephanie Creary joins Sharon Epperson for this CNBC @Work Summit session.

    Inequality Equation – Stephanie Creary at CNBC @Work Summit

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a woman sitting at a table using a laptop: When you get you unexpected corporate bonus, here are the smartest and dumbest ways to use it.

    The smartest and dumbest things to do with your unexpected corporate bonus

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a person posing for the camera: Dr. Tarika Barrett, COO at “Girls Who Code,

    Girls Who Code COO on diversity and inclusion in tech space

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a person posing for the camera: More and more people are freelancing, but it can be time-consuming and confusing when it comes to doing your own taxes. Employers ensure their staff paychecks have taxes withdrawn automatically, but this isn't the case for freelancers. We provide some simple tips to make the process easier.

    Paying taxes as a freelancer is confusing — here's how to do it correctly

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a person in a blue car: In 2020, Chinese automaker Nio became the fourth most valuable automaker globally, surpassing General Motors and Daimler by market capitalization. CNBC's Timothyna Duncan explains Nio's meteoric rise.

    Why this company is called China's Tesla

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a man holding a sign: Anthony Pompliano, Morgan Creek Capital, on bitcoin's latest jump. With CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Fast Money traders, Guy Adami, Tim Seymour, Karen Finerman and Dan Nathan.

    Bitcoin rallies to yet another record

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • John Saddington in a car: Cryptocurrency investors use a variety of terms. Bitcoin enthusiast Peter Saddington explains what some mean.

    'HODL,' 'whale' and other cryptocurrency slang terms explained

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • Kevin O'Leary wearing a suit and tie: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary discusses some of his thoughts of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

    Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary: Bitcoin is a 'useless currency'

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • Sharon Epperson sitting in front of a book shelf: CNBC's senior personal finance correspondent Sharon Epperson reports on how the stock market is disconnected from U.S. news and what that means for individual investors.

    Behind the market disconnect: Experts advice against making emotional investments

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a man in a blue shirt: James Gilligan, one of the final contestants on the final Jeopardy! hosted by Alex Trebek, joins Shep Smith to discuss the game show host's legacy. Trebek passed away on Nov. 8, 2020.

    What is Alex Trebek's legacy?

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a screen shot of a person: Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra expressed an optimistic outlook for 2021, adding that he expects the growth opportunity to extend into 2022 and post-covid.

    Micron Technology CEO: Tightness in DRAM market presents growth opportunity

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • graphical user interface: Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra joined Jim Cramer on

    Micron Technology CEO talks Q1 earnings, DRAM market and digital transformation

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a man standing in front of a brick wall: During the House Antitrust subcommittee hearing Wednesday, a number of Republican lawmakers suggested Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg are biased against conservatives. John Matze, founder and CEO of social media company Parler, joins

    Parler CEO on fact-checking social media content

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • text: Shepard Smith reports Twitter has permanently suspended President Trump's account. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board has also called for Trump's resignation stating,

    Twitter has suspended President Trump permanently due to the risk of further incitement of violence

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • Kayla Tausche, Joe Manchin are posing for a picture: CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports on Senator Joe Manchin's comments today about stimulus checks. With CNBC's Melissa Lee and the Fast Money traders, Guy Adami, Steve Grasso, Brian Kelly and Cate Faddis.

    Sen. Joe Manchin throws cold water on hopes of a $2K stimulus

    CNBC Logo

    CNBC

  • a woman holding a sign in front of a building: The week leading up to Christmas is typically a busy time for bars and restaurants, but traffic this year was down double digits. CNBC's Kate Rogers reports.
    Restaurants record worst week for sales and foot traffic since June
    The week leading up to Christmas is typically a busy time for bars and restaurants, but traffic this year was down double digits. CNBC's Kate Rogers reports.

    CNBC Logo
    CNBC

  • Sharon Epperson sitting in front of a book shelf: The inherent biases we possess impact many aspects of our work lives, including hiring, team building, management, and technology development. In this interactive session, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania's Stephanie Creary joins Sharon Epperson for this CNBC @Work Summit session.
    Inequality Equation – Stephanie Creary at CNBC @Work Summit
    The inherent biases we possess impact many aspects of our work lives, including hiring, team building, management, and technology development. In this interactive session, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania's Stephanie Creary joins Sharon Epperson for this CNBC @Work Summit session.

    CNBC Logo
    CNBC

  • a woman sitting at a table using a laptop: When you get you unexpected corporate bonus, here are the smartest and dumbest ways to use it.
    The smartest and dumbest things to do with your unexpected corporate bonus
    When you get you unexpected corporate bonus, here are the smartest and dumbest ways to use it.

    CNBC Logo
    CNBC

UP NEXT

For travel from U.S. to Europe (non-U.K.), award flights will continue to be honored at the following rates one-way:

Route (U.S. to Europe)Delta Main CabinDelta One
Eg. Boston to Amsterdam, Atlanta to Paris30,000 Virgin Points50,000 Virgin Points

This is good news for travelers who look forward to redeeming Virgin Points for travel between the U.S. and Europe. The airline will continue to honor one of the best ways to book Delta One flights with miles. Though note that this only applies for flights across the Atlantic.

All other Delta-operated routes — including transpacific and domestic U.S. flights — will be honored at the new, increased rate detailed in the distance-based award chart above.

For example, a one-way flight from the U.S. to Asia previously cost 60,000 Virgin Points in Delta One. Now, however, those rates have increased. For example, a one-way flight in Delta One from Atlanta (ATL) to Tokyo (HND) will cost 165,000 Virgin Points.

For that return ticket, you’re now looking at 330,000 Virgin Points to fly in Delta One. This, as opposed to 120,000 Virgin Points at the old rates. That’s a 175% increase.

This is still a huge devaluation. However, the blow has been slightly softened by the fact that U.S. to Europe awards are no longer included in it.

Using Virgin Points — formerly Flying Club miles — has long been one of the best ways to book Delta flights, especially in Delta One. Because Delta got rid of its award chart years ago, booking through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club allowed travelers to redeem points for Delta flights at fixed — and often much lower — rates than booking through Delta itself.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles get a new name, no longer expire

“We recognize how much our members value the extensive range of redemption partner options available through Flying Club, including flights with our joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines,” a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said in a statement. “The recent changes contribute to some considerable savings on reward seats, meaning members can go further for fewer Virgin Points. Across all classes, the redemption pricing remains competitive.”

Delta owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic. And while Flying Club has kept this sweet spot in its program, it looks as though Delta has finally aligned its close partner in Virgin Atlantic with the likes of its own redemption values.

If anything, this revelation is a great reminder in the value of building points balances that are in a transferable currency, such as American Express Membership Rewards.

Featured photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

SPONSORED: With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Source: Read Full Article