Can I move my Flying club miles to?....
Apr 4, 2020, 4:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 91
Can I move my Flying club miles to?....
I accumulated many Flying Club miles a number of years ago, being Gold member for over 7 years. Since 2008, I have been with other airlines (corporate choice), but have regularly topped up from my Amex account to keep miles alive. I have occasionally flown Virgin as a humble Red, using miles over the last 5 years, but I still have over 400,000 miles in my account.
Although I hope VA survives the current problems, I am nervous of loosing them as they were to be for travel in my retirement. (Yes, strange pension pot!!).
Is it possible to use their value elsewhere, by moving them, even if their conversion rate is poor?
Thanks for any advice
Although I hope VA survives the current problems, I am nervous of loosing them as they were to be for travel in my retirement. (Yes, strange pension pot!!).
Is it possible to use their value elsewhere, by moving them, even if their conversion rate is poor?
Thanks for any advice
Apr 4, 2020, 5:04 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,040
Hilton or IHG are the usual suspects.
Hilton = 1 mile -> 1.5 points
IHG = 1 mile --> 1 point
People have different valuations, but a Hilton conversion destroys roughly 40% of the value of your VS miles. IHG roughly 60%.
But of course your VS miles could become worthless in a liquidation scenario.
I'm not aware of any reasonable way to convert VS miles into miles from a different airline.
Hilton = 1 mile -> 1.5 points
IHG = 1 mile --> 1 point
People have different valuations, but a Hilton conversion destroys roughly 40% of the value of your VS miles. IHG roughly 60%.
But of course your VS miles could become worthless in a liquidation scenario.
I'm not aware of any reasonable way to convert VS miles into miles from a different airline.
Apr 4, 2020, 5:47 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,189
You need to look at the partners pages on the VS website to see that options are available to 'spend' your miles that suit you and also maintain as much of their value as possible.
But aren#t VS miles held in a separate company jointly owned by VS and DL rather than by VS itself?
But aren#t VS miles held in a separate company jointly owned by VS and DL rather than by VS itself?
Apr 4, 2020, 9:41 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
It is honestly a bad idea to hold on to any loyalty currency long term. The risk of loss and even more so devaluation over time is rather high. I am also sitting on a six figure balance of VS miles (VA is Virgin Australia) but that was only because I was earning points (across many programs) faster than I could burn them.
Apr 4, 2020, 9:43 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
They are but it is not clear this effectively makes much difference. While as far as I know the figures are not available the assumption is this separate entity is probably only funded to account for the normal in and out flows of points and cash and is not funded to survive a run on the the VS point bank.
Apr 4, 2020, 11:21 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,040
And airline partnerships are usually reliant on netting off of miles and rewards - i.e. ANA members earning/redeeming on VS metal to offset VS members earning/redeeming on ANA metal - take away Virgin Atlantic and there's very little reason for those airline partnerships to last long.
Apr 4, 2020, 12:57 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: TPA / JFK / LAX
Programs: DL 360, UA 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 304
Unless VS ceases to exist, I suspect the miles will stay. It's almost unprecedented for an airline to undergo bankruptcy, reemerge, and alienate their frequent travelers from the outset.
Apr 4, 2020, 9:39 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 91
It is honestly a bad idea to hold on to any loyalty currency long term. The risk of loss and even more so devaluation over time is rather high. I am also sitting on a six figure balance of VS miles (VA is Virgin Australia) but that was only because I was earning points (across many programs) faster than I could burn them.
Aug 2, 2020, 9:49 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
Any one have any recent experience for a VS miles --> Hilton transfer? I did one a few months back practically emptying my balance and seemed to work out fine (all accomplished via text!). But was going to liquidate out my Citi ThankYou Rewards points (not much else for me to use them for) so was going to do a CITI --> VS --> Hilton transfer. I assume that does give VS some incremental income in the process too.
Yes I do believe that VS FF program is owned by Virgin Group and Delta as a separate company officially.
Yes I do believe that VS FF program is owned by Virgin Group and Delta as a separate company officially.
Aug 3, 2020, 2:46 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 2,069
It is honestly a bad idea to hold on to any loyalty currency long term. The risk of loss and even more so devaluation over time is rather high. I am also sitting on a six figure balance of VS miles (VA is Virgin Australia) but that was only because I was earning points (across many programs) faster than I could burn them.
Major airlines I see as minimal risk and retirement use is a good option.
Aug 3, 2020, 5:31 am
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Will be interesting to see how things play out with Virgin Atl. & Flying Club (Virgin Group) down the line! I knew they would power through the short term with a rescue package, however will be interesting see what the mid to long term looks like for them, they are definitely on softer ground than say BA
Aug 3, 2020, 6:26 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: LH *G (SEN), VS Silver, BA Silver, Goldpointplus Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor silver, *ACP
Posts: 443
However the final VS text said "it could take up to 30 days for HH to accept this transaction" and as of now (day 25) the points have not yet arrived in my HH account. On day 31, I will be getting in touch with HH and VS if the points haven't landed.