Virgin America ending partnership with Virgin Atlantic on November 13th
Nov 1, 2016, 2:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 17
Virgin America ending partnership with Virgin Atlantic on November 13th
I wrote an email to Virgin America Elevate to try to find out more about when I would be able to book a partner award on the new Virgin Atlantic SEA-LHR flight that starts in March 2017, and received the following response in return:
"Thank you for contacting Virgin America Elevate Desk. My name is LaShanda and I will be assisting you on this matter. In regards to your request, beginning on November 13, 2016 Virgin Atlantic will no longer be a partner of Virgin America. It is mostly not showing on the web as our Partner Award travel due to this fact.
We do apologize about the inconvenience, if you have any other additional questions please feel free to contact us at 877-359-8474 and we will be more than willing to assist you."
I wrote back to ask if any other partner changes are happening on 11/13, but haven't heard back yet. Looks like the next 12 days may be the last change to book partner awards on Virgin Atlantic.
EDIT: The rep wrote back and said that there are no changes planned for any other partners - just Virgin Atlantic.
"Thank you for contacting Virgin America Elevate Desk. My name is LaShanda and I will be assisting you on this matter. In regards to your request, beginning on November 13, 2016 Virgin Atlantic will no longer be a partner of Virgin America. It is mostly not showing on the web as our Partner Award travel due to this fact.
We do apologize about the inconvenience, if you have any other additional questions please feel free to contact us at 877-359-8474 and we will be more than willing to assist you."
I wrote back to ask if any other partner changes are happening on 11/13, but haven't heard back yet. Looks like the next 12 days may be the last change to book partner awards on Virgin Atlantic.
EDIT: The rep wrote back and said that there are no changes planned for any other partners - just Virgin Atlantic.
Last edited by mipaho; Nov 1, 2016 at 2:34 pm Reason: Added info
Nov 1, 2016, 2:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferably waiting for takeoff
Programs: AA EXP, MVPG, DL Silver, United Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 458
Had the merger already gone through this response wouldn't have surprised me. Alaska controlled Virgin American not getting along with Delta partnered Virgin Atlantic - no love loss there.
But the merger hasn't even been approved yet. To have this change this early seems that VS must have pushed for it with their recent (and I'm sure Delta influenced) update to their Flying Club program.
How soon before access to the SFO, JFK and IAD Clubhouses goes away.
But the merger hasn't even been approved yet. To have this change this early seems that VS must have pushed for it with their recent (and I'm sure Delta influenced) update to their Flying Club program.
How soon before access to the SFO, JFK and IAD Clubhouses goes away.
Nov 1, 2016, 2:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
I would guess Virgin Australia and all other Virgin related brands would be next on the chopping block.
They haven't even updated their website yet and it is only 12 days away. Basic things just are not happening these days at Virgin America. They don't have very many partners to begin with and they don't even bother to give people warning when they eliminate one.
They haven't even updated their website yet and it is only 12 days away. Basic things just are not happening these days at Virgin America. They don't have very many partners to begin with and they don't even bother to give people warning when they eliminate one.
Nov 1, 2016, 4:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: VS Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 73
As I've often credited my flights on Virgin America to Virgin Atlantic in the past, this came as rather troubling news, so I called Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to ask them - they said they hadn't heard anything about this, or any other changes to the airlines that they partner with, aside from all the changes that have recently been announced. Not sure what that's worth but I guess we may have to wait for something official.
Nov 1, 2016, 4:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferably waiting for takeoff
Programs: AA EXP, MVPG, DL Silver, United Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 458
As I've often credited my flights on Virgin America to Virgin Atlantic in the past, this came as rather troubling news, so I called Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to ask them - they said they hadn't heard anything about this, or any other changes to the airlines that they partner with, aside from all the changes that have recently been announced. Not sure what that's worth but I guess we may have to wait for something official.
Nov 1, 2016, 6:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Plat, UA GS
Posts: 238
No more redemption's on virgin atlantic, non-existent inventory for SQ in premium cabins, and inability to book in advance on virgin australia...
Guess I'll just hope my points transfer to Alaska at a decent ratio.
Guess I'll just hope my points transfer to Alaska at a decent ratio.
Nov 2, 2016, 2:47 am
#7
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 378
All but one of those is (potentially) within VX's control. They don't have control over OA award space.
Nov 2, 2016, 8:58 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Plat, UA GS
Posts: 238
Not a single date available in all of 2016 or 2017.
If your partners are not releasing availability to you (while releasing it to other partners), you need to remove their redemption's in the advertising of how you can use your points.
Nov 2, 2016, 10:26 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Issue is that it is advertised as a benefit to the program. Like a sucker, I looked at their award chart thinking that if I was flexible enough, I'd be able to fly in SQ premium cabins from the West Coast to Asia.
Not a single date available in all of 2016 or 2017.
If your partners are not releasing availability to you (while releasing it to other partners), you need to remove their redemption's in the advertising of how you can use your points.
Not a single date available in all of 2016 or 2017.
If your partners are not releasing availability to you (while releasing it to other partners), you need to remove their redemption's in the advertising of how you can use your points.
Nov 2, 2016, 7:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
Well, that tears it. Gentlemen (and ladies), it's been fun, but there is now a good chance I've spent my last dollar on VX.
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
Nov 2, 2016, 11:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Plat, UA GS
Posts: 238
Well, that tears it. Gentlemen (and ladies), it's been fun, but there is now a good chance I've spent my last dollar on VX.
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
The thing is, all other loyalty programs have hoops to jump through but things are possible with patience and flexibility. With VX, they are advertising benefits that are literally impossible (like a flight on SQ in premium cabins).
Nov 3, 2016, 3:52 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: Virgin America Gold, Virgin Atlantic Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, B6 Mosaic, HHonors Gold
Posts: 215
Well, that tears it. Gentlemen (and ladies), it's been fun, but there is now a good chance I've spent my last dollar on VX.
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
(On the SQ front...given the extreme lack of availability, VX really should have looked to cut that tie...or at least de-list F/R awards...long ago.)
As the folks at VX have been saying, "'till the wheels fall off." The wheels have fallen off.
Nov 3, 2016, 5:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
Agree on both points. My main regret is that the 20K I spent on VX this year would have gone a long way to getting me GS on UA.
The thing is, all other loyalty programs have hoops to jump through but things are possible with patience and flexibility. With VX, they are advertising benefits that are literally impossible (like a flight on SQ in premium cabins).
The thing is, all other loyalty programs have hoops to jump through but things are possible with patience and flexibility. With VX, they are advertising benefits that are literally impossible (like a flight on SQ in premium cabins).
Nov 3, 2016, 7:41 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Unlikely. VS is now cutting off the partnership as of 12 November. AS is partners with BA and VS is nearly half owned by DL. BA and VS obviously do not exactly love each other. DL has no interest in helping AS so neither AS nor DL want any money to be spent to update the IT infrastructure to keep the partnership between VX/VS going only to dissolve the relationship when the merger goes through. The Virgin Group will not be getting any money from AS once the Virgin name is dropped. Thus VX has a lot stacked against it. If the merger falls apart, things may change. Otherwise, we are watching a slow motion train wreck.