I have an upcoming trip on Virgin Atlantic and I am debating whether to book it on VS or DL. The same ticket as $100 cheaper if I book it on the VS Website. The Delta website is clear as mud about earning miles on VS ticketed trips credited to Delta. I also searched this forum and couldn't find a discussion on this.

Anyone have any experience with this?

The DL website is, indeed, quite unclear. I've attached the screenshot from https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-partners.html that should show your earnings based on fare class. You should be able to get an estimate from the DL website with regards to what you'd earn booking through DL - the MQMs will likely be the same (as the lowest they go is 100% regardless of fare class), but I would imagine that the base miles for discount economy would be different.

Ultimately you need to look at what the booking class on Virgin Atlantic is and on DL and see. Keep in mind that the base miles are a percentage of distance flown, and not ticket fare. Also keep in mind that you're only earning eligible on certain flights (i.e. the ones over the pond), and not any VS flight.

You will earn based on miles flown after Jan 1 according to chart below. You will also earn bonus RDM on the base mileage shown in the chart at: Diamond - 120%; Platinum - 80%; Gold - 60%; Silver - 40%
Which part is unclear? For example, JFK-LHR is 3452 miles, so a VS N/O fare would earn 3452 MQM's, 1898 RDM's (25%base miles + 120% bonus for DM), and 173 MQD's each way.

LBJ, the chart you and manacit posted is very clear. here is what I found on the DL website that led to my question. Not sure where you found the chart, thanks to both of you for posting the chart.


Virgin Atlantic-marketed flights in the following fare classes are eligible for accrual based on the percentages in the table below, multiplied by the flight distance (as determined in Delta or the partner carrier’s sole discretion)1.



MILEAGE EARN ON/AFTER JAN. 1, 2018Class Exclusions: If a class is not listed, no miles are earned.

Other Exclusions: Accrual is only eligible for flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Delta Shuttle� or Delta Connection�

(1) Partner-marketed flights will earn miles based on a percentage of distance flown* as determined by the fare class paid. Unless otherwise noted, mileage credit is only applicable to Delta partner flights that are marketed and operated by that partner or Delta.
(2) Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) are used as a counter to determine SkyMiles Medallion status. Flights and itineraries eligible for MQMs will earn a minimum of 500 MQMs per segment.
(3) Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) apply to Medallion qualification. Flights marketed by the partner will earn MQDs based on a percentage of distance flown* as determined by the fare class paid.
(4) Medallion Mileage Bonus is based on Base Miles earned: Diamond - 120%; Platinum - 80%; Gold - 60%; Silver - 40%

*For purposes of calculating mileage credit and MQDs, "distance flown" means the calculated distance between origin and destination, as determined by Delta in its sole discretion, regardless of the actual distance traveled on any individual flight.

In cases where these changes result in a loss of redeemable miles for tickets booked prior to 10/26/17 and flown after 1/1/18, customers may request mileage credit through the Mileage Request Form after all travel on a given ticket is completed.

You need to click the square box that says "MILEAGE EARN ON/AFTER JAN. 1, 2018". It's a link to the chart.

Has anyone had experience with buying on Virgin website and then applying DL SM # to reservation?

Yes, during the booking process there is a place to enter your SM number.

VS and DL use the same booking tool so it should look very familiar if you are used to booking on DL.com

Thanks!

Exactly. Delta's web page update (last month) effectively hides the earning charts until you think to click on the box. Not intuitive at all.

i don't think that's true. The website makes no mention of excluded flights, only stipules that the flight be operated by VS or DL.

OK, closest thread I can find.

I am looking PHI-SFO next month sometime. Delta shows only connections, however Virgin has direct flights. So I'm thinking its on a partner, but is it a codeshare and does that matter?

So..... basic question can I book on Virgin, but choose to accumulate skymiles vs whatever Virgin uses?

If it does work does Delta gold get me anything on Virgin in terms of upgrade status (I assume main cabin select=delta comfort?)

PHL-SFO would be Virgin America, not Virgin Atlantic. Completely different airline, and Virgin America has no partnership with Delta.

Well that shows my level of ignorance. Thanks for the clarification.

This is the most recent relevant thread I can find m I'm looking to book a trip. JFK ->lhr, LIS->JFK

If I search on Google flights I see a great flight Delta on the out bound, AF on the return. The Virgin Atlantic price is 200 dollars cheaper than Delta, the air France price is 100 dollars cheaper. Assuming I am ok with differences in rdms, is there any reason not to use Virgin (as a Delta diamond traveling with a group)? And can in actually book this with Virgin? It won't let me use Lisbon as a destination on the Virgin website.