Flying Club partners now lists AF and KL
Mar 3, 2019, 6:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, VS Gold
Posts: 95
Flying Club partners now lists AF and KL
These are for earn only (no spending). AF page says one can only earn on VS-marketed, AF-operated flights. KL page https://www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/partners/airlines/klm.html is contradictory - at the top it says all KL flights can earn, but in the T&Cs it says only on VS-marketed codeshares.
I hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to earn on AF and KL marketed/operated flights without ambiguity!
I hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to earn on AF and KL marketed/operated flights without ambiguity!
Mar 4, 2019, 3:14 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
These are for earn only (no spending). AF page says one can only earn on VS-marketed, AF-operated flights. KL page https://www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/partners/airlines/klm.html is contradictory - at the top it says all KL flights can earn, but in the T&Cs it says only on VS-marketed codeshares.
I hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to earn on AF and KL marketed/operated flights without ambiguity!
I hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to earn on AF and KL marketed/operated flights without ambiguity!
Mar 4, 2019, 10:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, VS Gold
Posts: 95
Apparently the codeshare agreement was announced today: https://www.airfranceklm.com/en/news...re-partnership =
Mar 6, 2019, 12:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
The spending options should go live once the JV is fully approved, which shouldn't be too much longer hopefully. Other than ANA and DL I do find VS redemption partners underwhelming - I wish you could redeem premium cabins to Singapore instead of just economy.
Mar 6, 2019, 5:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
I was hoping for earn and burn option as well... so disappointed. Maybe AF/KL doesn't want non ST members to get access to their award inventory..
Mar 6, 2019, 5:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
Once the JV is fully approved (it hasn't been as of yet, because US regulators haven't approved it), it's pretty certain you'll be able to redeem on AF/KL. All they've done is launch a codeshare ahead of the JV getting final approval. They could always have just waited so that we couldn't even earn miles with AF/KL until the summer instead. 
Mar 6, 2019, 9:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
Once the JV is fully approved (it hasn't been as of yet, because US regulators haven't approved it), it's pretty certain you'll be able to redeem on AF/KL. All they've done is launch a codeshare ahead of the JV getting final approval. They could always have just waited so that we couldn't even earn miles with AF/KL until the summer instead.
Even after the JV approval, I think FC miles will only allow to redeem on the codeshare routes similar to the CA partnership.
Mar 7, 2019, 12:22 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
Hmm, I don't think so. CA don't own a significant chunk of VS, aren't in a JV with VS, and nor are they closely tied up with VS's largest ownership stake in DL. I'm expecting to see pretty wide ranging redemption similar to what is currently available on DL, and I'll be disappointed if there's less than that. If you can only redeem on codeshares it would make the whole process and 31% stake a bit of a waste of time.
Mar 7, 2019, 2:15 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,192
Some people are a little too impatient.
The full benefits of the JV will only come once the US Authorities have approved it.
VS and AF-KL obviously feel comfortable taking this first step based on the EU approval but not the full step of earn and spend until the US comes through.
Having shares in an airline is not required to have code shares or to earn miles. VS has an earn agreement with SAS for example and an earn and spend with Air New Zealand yet does not codeshare with them.
The full benefits of the JV will only come once the US Authorities have approved it.
VS and AF-KL obviously feel comfortable taking this first step based on the EU approval but not the full step of earn and spend until the US comes through.
Having shares in an airline is not required to have code shares or to earn miles. VS has an earn agreement with SAS for example and an earn and spend with Air New Zealand yet does not codeshare with them.
Mar 7, 2019, 2:19 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 242
Some people are a little too impatient.
The full benefits of the JV will only come once the US Authorities have approved it.
VS and AF-KL obviously feel comfortable taking this first step based on the EU approval but not the full step of earn and spend until the US comes through.
Having shares in an airline is not required to have code shares or to earn miles. VS has an earn agreement with SAS for example and an earn and spend with Air New Zealand yet does not codeshare with them.
The full benefits of the JV will only come once the US Authorities have approved it.
VS and AF-KL obviously feel comfortable taking this first step based on the EU approval but not the full step of earn and spend until the US comes through.
Having shares in an airline is not required to have code shares or to earn miles. VS has an earn agreement with SAS for example and an earn and spend with Air New Zealand yet does not codeshare with them.
Mar 8, 2019, 4:15 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
You can IF you book the Virgin flight with a KLM flight number via the KLM website.
If your ticket has a VS flight number you won't earn anything YET. You need to wait until the US Government approves the joint venture agreement, at which point it will be possible.
If your ticket has a VS flight number you won't earn anything YET. You need to wait until the US Government approves the joint venture agreement, at which point it will be possible.