Jumping ship from BA - better to use VS flying club or DL Skymiles?
Jun 5, 2017, 3:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Geek platinum
Posts: 2,004
Jumping ship from BA - better to use VS flying club or DL Skymiles?
I'm planning on switching (or at least spreading) my allegiance a bit when travelling for work. I'm a BA gold at the moment, doing 100k+ miles a year, mostly in Y with some W and a little J thrown in, mostly transatlantics and I'm trying to figure out if it is best to sign up to flying club or DL skymiles.
The advantage of the latter is that I can get a status match to platinum of course but equally I would be interested to know if there are any thoughts on the relative merits of either program. I guess I'm likely to fly virgin a little more than delta, at least for the TATL legs. Any pro's/con's of one vs the other?
The advantage of the latter is that I can get a status match to platinum of course but equally I would be interested to know if there are any thoughts on the relative merits of either program. I guess I'm likely to fly virgin a little more than delta, at least for the TATL legs. Any pro's/con's of one vs the other?
Jun 5, 2017, 5:54 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Programs: VS Gold
Posts: 512
This is a very broad question, so you may have to do some research of your own of each programmes benefits:
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club.html
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles.html
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/...rtnership.html
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ntic-faqs.html
These are some links to get you started. Without summing up the entire thing, here are some points that come to mind:
If you get a status match to DL PM you could immediately start using the VS Clubhouses even when in Economy/PE, and get a few reciprocal benefits on VS metal, i.e. free extra legroom/exit row seats in Economy.
Needless to say the Clubhouses will knock the pants off of any BA lounges you will have been to :P
I hear Skymiles are not too valuable and Delta don't publish reward charts. Besides that I don't know a lot about it.
VS are not in an alliance and so have limited earning/spending partners. Delta are of course in Skyteam and so there would be benefits there as well.
You'll find that VS PE is much nicer than BA PE.
Delta do not offer a Premium Economy on Transatlantic routes currently.
If you fly flexible tickets you'll rack up a considerable number of VS miles easily and grab Gold in no time.
I'm sure others will have thoughts to add! It might be worth asking the same question on the Delta forum as well
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club.html
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles.html
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/...rtnership.html
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ntic-faqs.html
These are some links to get you started. Without summing up the entire thing, here are some points that come to mind:
If you get a status match to DL PM you could immediately start using the VS Clubhouses even when in Economy/PE, and get a few reciprocal benefits on VS metal, i.e. free extra legroom/exit row seats in Economy.
Needless to say the Clubhouses will knock the pants off of any BA lounges you will have been to :P
I hear Skymiles are not too valuable and Delta don't publish reward charts. Besides that I don't know a lot about it.
VS are not in an alliance and so have limited earning/spending partners. Delta are of course in Skyteam and so there would be benefits there as well.
You'll find that VS PE is much nicer than BA PE.
Delta do not offer a Premium Economy on Transatlantic routes currently.
If you fly flexible tickets you'll rack up a considerable number of VS miles easily and grab Gold in no time.
I'm sure others will have thoughts to add! It might be worth asking the same question on the Delta forum as well
Last edited by SlimpyJones; Jun 5, 2017 at 6:25 am
Jun 5, 2017, 6:03 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Geek platinum
Posts: 2,004
This is a very broad question, so you may have to do some research of your own of each programmes benefits:
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club.html
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles.html
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/...rtnership.html
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ntic-faqs.html
These are some links to get you started. Without summing up the entire thing, here are some points that come to mind:
If you get a status match to DL PM you could immediately start using the VS Clubhouses even when in Economy/PE, and get a few reciprocal benefits on VS metal, i.e. free extra legroom/exit row seats in Economy.
Needless to say the Clubhouses will knock the pants off of any BA lounges you will have been to :P
The only downside is that I have Skymiles are not too valuable and Delta don't publish reward charts. Besides that I don't know a lot about it.
VS are not in an alliance and so have limited earning/spending partners. Delta are of course in Skyteam and so there would be benefits there as well.
You'll find that VS PE is much nicer than BA PE.
Delta do not offer a Premium Economy on Transatlantic routes currently.
If you fly flexible tickets you'll rack up a considerable number of VS miles easily and grab Gold in no time.
I'm sure others will have thoughts to add! It might be worth asking the same question on the Delta forum as well
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club.html
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles.html
http://www.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/...rtnership.html
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ntic-faqs.html
These are some links to get you started. Without summing up the entire thing, here are some points that come to mind:
If you get a status match to DL PM you could immediately start using the VS Clubhouses even when in Economy/PE, and get a few reciprocal benefits on VS metal, i.e. free extra legroom/exit row seats in Economy.
Needless to say the Clubhouses will knock the pants off of any BA lounges you will have been to :P
The only downside is that I have Skymiles are not too valuable and Delta don't publish reward charts. Besides that I don't know a lot about it.
VS are not in an alliance and so have limited earning/spending partners. Delta are of course in Skyteam and so there would be benefits there as well.
You'll find that VS PE is much nicer than BA PE.
Delta do not offer a Premium Economy on Transatlantic routes currently.
If you fly flexible tickets you'll rack up a considerable number of VS miles easily and grab Gold in no time.
I'm sure others will have thoughts to add! It might be worth asking the same question on the Delta forum as well
Jun 5, 2017, 6:26 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: UK
Programs: VS Gold
Posts: 512
VS Gold sits fairly low in the pecking order, but both times I've booked Delta Main Cabin I've been given upgrades to Comfort+... so I'm currently at a 100% success rate which may not be accurate!!
I've had maybe 20% success rate in going from Comfort+ to First.
I've had maybe 20% success rate in going from Comfort+ to First.
Jun 5, 2017, 6:40 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
Thanks, yeah I will stick this on the DL forum as well and see what they think. I'm leaning towards skymiles at the moment but it kinda depends on the reciprocal benefits, specifically economy comfort and how likely you are to get it as a flying club member. I understand that it is done by some kind of priority now and I wonder where VS members sit in the pecking order. It also looks like VS gold might be easier to get/maintain than DL platinum.
Jun 5, 2017, 6:49 am
#6
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If you even remotely value redeemable miles for reward flights, don't choose Skymiles. On the other hand, Flying Club isn't much better after the big devaluation of Business Class rewards.
On the status side, if you can get a match, great, but you're probably still better off earning VS miles from flights (building up to Gold) whilst showing a DL card to get into the Clubhouse.
I know BA is disappointing, but at least you can spend Avios outside of the BA network (IB, Oneworld, etc.). I'm happy to have BA Gold as my main FF status, with most of my flights on AA, IB, CX, etc.
On the status side, if you can get a match, great, but you're probably still better off earning VS miles from flights (building up to Gold) whilst showing a DL card to get into the Clubhouse.
I know BA is disappointing, but at least you can spend Avios outside of the BA network (IB, Oneworld, etc.). I'm happy to have BA Gold as my main FF status, with most of my flights on AA, IB, CX, etc.
Jun 5, 2017, 7:34 am
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Geek platinum
Posts: 2,004
There is that but equally with all the "enhancement" going on at BA I'm not sure it is worth my while constraining my travel to just them. Silver is probably the sweet spot in terms of status and I can get that easily with a couple of TATLs and flights in Europe.
Jun 6, 2017, 4:29 pm
#8
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A minor data point if you're going to do any flying in VS PE: Skymiles will give you an extra 25% bonus in the lowest fare classes (K, H) in PE, over Flying Club.
Last edited by knit-in; Jun 6, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Jun 7, 2017, 8:29 am
#9
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Jun 7, 2017, 8:39 am
#10
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Unless you have a special deal as part of a corporate contract, don't expect a status match from DL. DL has been granting status challenges. I'm not sure whether BA Gold would get a GM or PM challenge.
With a UK address, you're exempt from MQD requirements for status, but you'll also find it harder to get DL affiliated AmEx credit cards to earn MQMs and RDMs.
I'd compare the list of DL and VS partners carefully, although if you need USA domestic connections beyond where the DL/VS TATL flights land, it's probably better to have status on the airline you actually fly, which would be DL. However, don't expect lots of free elite upgrades as a PM.
With a UK address, you're exempt from MQD requirements for status, but you'll also find it harder to get DL affiliated AmEx credit cards to earn MQMs and RDMs.
I'd compare the list of DL and VS partners carefully, although if you need USA domestic connections beyond where the DL/VS TATL flights land, it's probably better to have status on the airline you actually fly, which would be DL. However, don't expect lots of free elite upgrades as a PM.
Jun 7, 2017, 10:27 am
#11
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Jun 8, 2017, 2:09 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,607
What is worth quantifying is the alliance versus single airline benefits. You can also see the likes of this with BA/Oneworld vs the likes of Emirates.
For BA, you seem to be quite unlikely to get an upgrade because of your status. Never seen it myself in a few years of Gold and Silver, and GGL's have spoke of it rarely. They've often seen non status friends upgraded in overbooked, just to give them a taste of the product, rather than Gold.
Whereas a standalone airline such as VS or Emirates, they seem to be more keen on upgrading their status passengers in hierarchy of status. I know someone on Emirates who regularly gets upgrades.
Then again, flying domestically in the US, you might be on the front of the Y upgrade list with Delta status. I believe VS status does offer a chance, but not a priority. Not flown domestic F, but might make a big difference to you...
For BA, you seem to be quite unlikely to get an upgrade because of your status. Never seen it myself in a few years of Gold and Silver, and GGL's have spoke of it rarely. They've often seen non status friends upgraded in overbooked, just to give them a taste of the product, rather than Gold.
Whereas a standalone airline such as VS or Emirates, they seem to be more keen on upgrading their status passengers in hierarchy of status. I know someone on Emirates who regularly gets upgrades.
Then again, flying domestically in the US, you might be on the front of the Y upgrade list with Delta status. I believe VS status does offer a chance, but not a priority. Not flown domestic F, but might make a big difference to you...
Jun 8, 2017, 2:15 am
#13
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I'm planning on switching (or at least spreading) my allegiance a bit when travelling for work. I'm a BA gold at the moment, doing 100k+ miles a year, mostly in Y with some W and a little J thrown in, mostly transatlantics and I'm trying to figure out if it is best to sign up to flying club or DL skymiles.
The advantage of the latter is that I can get a status match to platinum of course but equally I would be interested to know if there are any thoughts on the relative merits of either program. I guess I'm likely to fly virgin a little more than delta, at least for the TATL legs. Any pro's/con's of one vs the other?
The advantage of the latter is that I can get a status match to platinum of course but equally I would be interested to know if there are any thoughts on the relative merits of either program. I guess I'm likely to fly virgin a little more than delta, at least for the TATL legs. Any pro's/con's of one vs the other?
What are your objectives from a ffp?
Generally you are better with the ffp of the airline you fly most. But that is not set in stone
Look here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
The DL forum thread on this topic http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...a-refugee.html
Jun 8, 2017, 4:05 pm
#14
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Jun 8, 2017, 4:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
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Posts: 4,682
I am wondering if the redeemable miles earned on DL ticket stock, whether on DL metal or partner metal, are based on distance flown or price of the ticket, for Skymiles members residing outside of the US.