One of Delta’s primary focuses over the past few years has been building their joint ventures in various regions. With a joint venture, airlines work closely together and align schedules, pricing, etc., allowing them to dominate markets.
Delta does a good job of offering SkyMiles Medallion members benefits when they’re flying on a joint venture partner, to create as much “metal neutrality” as possible (meaning that Delta frequent flyers should be happy flying Delta or one of their joint venture partners).
One of Delta’s joint venture partners is Virgin Atlantic, and the airlines has just announced some additional benefits for elite members.
New Silver Medallion benefits on Virgin Atlantic
Delta Silver Medallion Members flying on Virgin Atlantic are now eligible to receive priority check-in and priority boarding on all Virgin Atlantic operated flights.
With this, Silver Medallion members can check-in at the premium economy check-in desk, and board with priority boarding.
This is in addition to the benefits Delta has offered SkyMiles Silver Medallion members in the past. As of November 2018, Silver Medallion members receive a free checked bag on all Virgin Atlantic operated flights. With this benefit, Silver Medallion members get one extra bag over the standard allowance, regardless of the cabin booked.
Virgin Atlantic 747
Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion benefits on Virgin Atlantic
These Silver Medallion benefits on Virgin Atlantic are in addition to the other benefits that are offered to Delta passengers and SkyMiles members when flying Virgin Atlantic, including:
- Delta One customers get access to the Upper Class Wing, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, and Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3
- Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get access to the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge, and either the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse or No.1 Lounges Heathrow Terminal 3
- Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can use Upper Class check-in lines, Upper Class security, receive Upper Class priority baggage handling, and get priority boarding
- Gold Medallion members can use premium economy check-in lines, Fast Track security, and receive premium economy priority baggage handling, and get priority boarding
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Heathrow
When will Virgin launch a decent European operation? I would love to fly Virgin to Europe, but they dead end in London. Why don't they do a feeder network?0
@Lucky
"Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get access to the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge, and either the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse or No.1 Lounges Heathrow Terminal 3"
When I first read this, I thought its a great devaluation. I just looked after it, turns out nothing has changed, so here is the actual, true loung access methods:
(flying in economy or premium eco)
-Diamond/Plat: All VS lounges (including LHR, LGW), but NO access...
@Lucky
"Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get access to the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge, and either the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse or No.1 Lounges Heathrow Terminal 3"
When I first read this, I thought its a great devaluation. I just looked after it, turns out nothing has changed, so here is the actual, true loung access methods:
(flying in economy or premium eco)
-Diamond/Plat: All VS lounges (including LHR, LGW), but NO access to No.1 Lounge in T3 (who cares, if you can use the clubhouse)
-Diamond/Plat: Vs revivals lounge.
-Gold: VS lounge only in US airports.
-Gold: No.1 Lounge in LHR
-Gold: what if you fly from LGW? I have no idea. they have a clubhouse, but I guess they won't let you use it, as its outside of the US. probably you get entry to a contract lounge?
@Dave.
Thats not true. All VS operated flights are eligible for SkyMiles earning, regardless the booking method, if it is VS-marketed.
What I think you mean is that VS flights marketed as AF/KL are not eligible.
For example, VS001 (LHR-EWR) has the following codeshares:
(AF) 6750
(DL) 4380
(KL) 4818
(SQ) 2581
On the DL partner earnings site its clearly listed that KL-marketed flights are only earning...
@Dave.
Thats not true. All VS operated flights are eligible for SkyMiles earning, regardless the booking method, if it is VS-marketed.
What I think you mean is that VS flights marketed as AF/KL are not eligible.
For example, VS001 (LHR-EWR) has the following codeshares:
(AF) 6750
(DL) 4380
(KL) 4818
(SQ) 2581
On the DL partner earnings site its clearly listed that KL-marketed flights are only earning miles if its SkyTeam-operated. However, on AF it is written that any AF-marketed flight earns, except a few exceptions, but VS is not listed among those. So if you fly VS-operated AF-marketed flight, and credit them to DL, and they don't give you the miles, you can refer to their website, because according to it, you shall receive them.
And otherwise, no matter where you book, if its VS-operated and marketed, you always get your DL miles.
VS recently started partnership with many many airlines, (BE,BA,TK,AZ,AF,KL,EI etc) to fill their longhaul routes. I always fly BUD-LHR (on BA), LHR-JFK (on VS). Its on the same ticket, issued by British Airways, but since they have no codeshare on VS, the transatlantic sector is marketed by VS. And I always earn miles for DL, and I can use the lounges (I am SkyMiles plat.). I can even ask the check-in agent to manually enter my Alaska MVP number to the BA-operated (and marketed) segment, and the Skymiles number to the VS-operated segment.
What happened to James the contributor on this blog? He just vanished and has never been mentioned again.
Yeeaaa, more benefits for Delta FFs while Delta gives Virgin's FC Gold even less! Great deal, Virgin! <-------sarcasm
Are you sure platinum/diamond Skymiles elites have access to the Revivals lounge? I thought that was only available to Upper Class/Delta One, (and Virgin flying gold members)...?
But be very careful how you book. If you book with a Skyteam member other than Delta but fly on Virgin, you will not get credit for mileage. Only Delta ticketed flights are eligible for Delta medallion and base miles when flying on Virgin. Virgin is not aSkyteam member.
For Gold Medallions, there’s also lounge access (all Clubhouses in the US plus the No.1 Lounge at T3 in Heathrow).
Great news. Thank you for sharing it.