Roughly a year ago, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club launched a status match campaign, intended to get people to switch their business from competitors. Initially the status match was exclusively available to British Airways Executive Club members. Then in late 2021 the status match opportunity was extended to elite members with several more airlines, and now the list of airlines has been extended even further.
In this post:
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club status match basics
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is now offering to match the following elite tiers:
- Air New Zealand Airpoints Gold & Elite Plus members
- Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold & MVP Gold 75K members
- American AAdvantage Platinum Pro & Executive Platinum members
- British Airways Executive Club Silver & Gold members
- Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Gold & Diamond members
- EL AL Matmid Gold & Platinum members
- Emirates Skywards Gold & Platinum members
- Etihad Guest Gold & Platinum members
- Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles Gold & Platinum members
- Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings Gold & Platinum members
- Iberia Plus Gold & Platinum members
- Lufthansa Miles & More Senator & HON Circle members
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold & Platinum members
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold & Platinum members
- Scandinavian Airlines SAS EuroBonus Gold & Diamond members
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Silver & Gold members
- South African Airways Voyager Gold & Platinum members
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Miles Elite & Elite Plus members
- United MileagePlus Premier Platinum & Premier 1K members
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold & Platinum members
In order to take advantage of this offer, you need to have a revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic::
- To become an instant Gold member you need to prove you have top tier status with any of the above programs, and you need to have a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in either business class or premium economy
- To become an instant Silver member, you need to prove you have second tier status with any of the above programs, and you need to have a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic in any class
Once matched, Flying Club status will be valid for 12 months.
How to request a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club status match
To request a status match, go to the form on this page, where you’ll need to do the following:
- Join Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (if you’re not already a member)
- Provide your Flying Club membership number
- Provide proof of your elite membership with one of the above programs, with a photo or screenshot of your membership card
- Provide the booking reference for your upcoming Virgin Atlantic flight
Once your status match is requested, your status will be upgraded within 30 days, and will then be valid for 12 months.
Is a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club status match worth it?
While this status match is now open to frequent flyers of several more airlines, the major catch is that you need to have a revenue ticket booked in order to take advantage of this, which is a major restriction.
For context, Virgin Atlantic’s status requirements are ordinarily as follows:
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver status requires 400 tier points every year (in 2022 that has been lowered to 300 tier points)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold status requires 1,000 tier points every year (in 2022 that has been lowered to 800 tier points)
Virgin Atlantic’s elite benefits mostly include priority services, from check-in, to lounge access, to boarding, to seat selection. The reality is that if you’re flying Upper Class anyway, you might find that the perks are rather limited, since there’s very little you’re getting that isn’t already included, perhaps aside from some bonus Virgin points.
Still, a lot of people just like to have status in general, and the soft treatment may be better. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to book a Virgin Atlantic ticket to take advantage of this, if I were planning on booking a ticket like this anyway, I’d absolutely take advantage of the status match opportunity.
Bottom line
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is offering a status match for elite members of roughly 20 frequent flyer programs, including most major airlines in the United States (minus Delta, since it’s a partner). The catch is that you need to have a future revenue flight booked with Virgin Atlantic to take advantage of this.
I’m sure this will be worthwhile to some people, though the requirement to book a flight will be the major limiting factor here.
Does anyone plan on taking advantage of this Virgin Atlantic status match opportunity?
Did the status match with my British Airways Silver and was given Gold status. I thought it would have been Silver status myself. I do have a revenue flight booked with them in Upper Class in 4 weeks back to the States. So that maybe had something to do with it? Maybe they didn't have any many people do the status match as they anticipated? Either way, Score!
Maybe the status gets you something with Delta? Otherwise, the only benefit I see is if you match to gold & if that status grants you a visit to the clubhouse prior to an intra-Europe economy flight. (I’m not sure if the club is only before longer flights though.) I’ve an award ticket London already & would consider VS for such a flight ex-LHR, but I’ll only match to Silver, so not worth it. I’ve...
Maybe the status gets you something with Delta? Otherwise, the only benefit I see is if you match to gold & if that status grants you a visit to the clubhouse prior to an intra-Europe economy flight. (I’m not sure if the club is only before longer flights though.) I’ve an award ticket London already & would consider VS for such a flight ex-LHR, but I’ll only match to Silver, so not worth it. I’ve been to the club, it ain’t that cool. Do like their upperclass across the pond though
AY expressly left out.. oh well
Great info! Do you know how long the status match offer will be running I need time to reach Gold status on a partner) ?
Can't you just book a flex ticket and cancel once the status is matched?
Last year they matched with any flight (revenue or miles). It's now a bit more restrictive. I primarily matched for (a) the ability to pool miles in one account, (b) gifting status to my spouse and (c) the ability to reach gold renewal on just cr. card spend given they extended status expiration by a year (which then comes with a number of extras including a complimentary companion or upgrade voucher on any Virgin route).