Virgin Atlantic is extending the timeframe for customers to maintain their tier status by an additional three months, as the airline continues to increase flexibility for its Flying Club members. Virgin has consistently led the way for renewing members status but in small increments, once it becomes clear that members will struggle. This is in contrast to BA who has been late to the table and recently angered around 50% of its members when they decided to only renew status for people whose status ended in July to December 2021. This left many with only 6 months to achieve 75% of a full years tier points which is pretty much impossible due to the fact that virtually no long haul routes are viable for UK citizens.
In recognition of the continued impact Covid-19 has had on its customers’ ability to travel, the airline is offering an extra three months for Gold and Silver members to maintain their tier status. This latest move marks the fourth extension for Flying Club members throughout the pandemic. It means in total all members will have been given an extra eighteen months to maintain tier status.
In addition to tier extensions, Companion, Upgrade or Clubhouse vouchers, will be extended further, totalling 18 months.
Changes have been automatically applied to members accounts. Customers will not need to call to update their status, as the airline is extending automatically. Members will be able to download or print their digital membership card from the Virgin Atlantic website or app.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented;
“As international travel gradually resumes, we understand our customers may need increased flexibility as they navigate the easing of restrictions and make plans to travel in 2021 and beyond. We appreciate how important Flying Club is to our valued members and we’re committed to rewarding those who choose to fly with Virgin Atlantic, so I’m delighted we can reassure our customers with an additional three months validity on their accounts.
“It’s now essential UK Government plays its part in ensuring a meaningful resumption of international travel by adding low risk countries, including the United States, to its green list, providing consumers and businesses with confidence to book ahead. There is no reason to delay, given that economic recovery and 500,000 jobs are at stake.”
Gold & Silver tier extension
Gold and silver members need to earn 1000 tier points (Gold) and 400 tier points (Silver) to maintain their status for another year. These members will have an additional three months added to their membership year to ensure they have extra time to achieve the required tier points. Members can login to their Flying Club account online to see how many tier points they have and the new end date of their membership year.
You also now earn tier points on redemptions on Virgin Atlantic flights which makes life easier as well.
Voucher extension
Vouchers that are valid as of 13 March 2020 will be extended further, to a total of 18 months for customers to redeem them, which will already show in members’ accounts. This includes Companion, Upgrade or Clubhouse vouchers.
In a further bid to increase flexibility for its customers, Virgin Atlantic has introduced unlimited free date and flight changes for new bookings but you may still need to pay a difference in fare. Alongside the improved changes policy, the rebooking horizon has been extended for all customers all the way until 30 April 2023, giving a broader window of time to reschedule plans if needed.
Flying Club members have recently been invited to enrol in Virgin Red, Virgin’s new reward club. Customers can link their Flying Club account, creating a shared Virgin Points balance that they can use across either programme. At the heart of the bolstered earning and spending opportunities are Virgin Points – the universal Virgin currency that unlike many other loyalty currencies, have no expiry date.
