Virgin Atlantic Offer Status Match with 1 million Point Prize Draw – Should You Choose this or Flying Blue?

While Virgin was already offering a status match, I was expecting a big push on it and Virgin has not disappointed. Never an airline to miss an opportunity to pick up BA’s disgruntled customers, Virgin Atlantic has launched a limited-time status match offer giving five  UK-based customers the opportunity to win 1,000,000 Virgin Points and become a points ‘million air.’

Virgin Atlantic is part of Skyteam, as are Air France/KLM Flying Blue, who are also offering a BA status match, which we covered here. Later in this article I will look at which is the best option.

The Prize Draw with 1,000,000 Points

Customers who status match to Virgin Atlantic Silver or Gold between today and 14 February 2025 will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win 1 million points which is the equivalent to 10 Upper Class Saver Reward seats to New York City, Atlanta or Washington DC. You need to complete the status match and be approved by 14 February to be entered. If you cancel your flight that gave you the status match, you will be disqualified from the prize draw. 

The Status Match

Virgin Atlantic’s status match programme allows customers in the top tier of 11 airlines – British Airways, Air Canada, Air India, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hawaiian, Iberia, Lufthansa, South African Airways, United Airlines – the opportunity to receive the equivalent status on Virgin Atlantic.

To become Flying Club Gold, customers need to have a future revenue or redemption flight booked with Virgin Atlantic or one of our codeshare partners in either Premium or Upper Class while those matching to Silver will need to have a future revenue or redemption flight booked with Virgin Atlantic or one of their codeshare partners in any cabin. Customers must not have held Flying Club status in the last five years using status match.

 

Anthony Woodman, Vice President, Flying Club & CRM, Virgin Atlantic, commented;

“Our Flying Club status match makes it easy for customers who are not feeling the love from their existing airline to experience the award-winning hospitality of Virgin Atlantic. We’re delighted to go one step further by making five lucky winners points ‘million airs’ – a flying start into the world of Flying Club.”

Silver Card holders are recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, whilst the airline’s Gold Card members have become Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers enjoy SkyPriority services including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. Extra baggage allowance is offered to both Elite and Elite Plus members.  

How Does your Status Match Up? 

What Perks Do You Get?

Silver membership benefits include:

• 30% more Virgin Points on flights
• 1 extra piece of checked baggage
• Pool your Virgin Points in a Household account to fast-track your way to rewards
• Premium Check in
• Advanced seat assignment in Economy cabins

Gold membership benefits include:

• 60% more Virgin Points on flights
• Upper Class Check In
• Access to Clubhouses and London Heathrow Revivals
• Extra luggage allowance, no matter which cabin you fly
• Earn a Flying Club reward voucher when you renew your Gold status
• Earn two Flying Club reward vouchers when you reach 2,000 Tier Points in your membership year
• Pool your Virgin Points in a Household account to fast-track your way to rewards

Should You Go for Virgin Atlantic or the Flying Blue Status match?  

If you are looking for lifetime status, both airlines offer this status after 10 years. Both offer a dedicated phone line in the upper tiers. Generally, I’d advise joining the scheme you will fly the most as they tend to prioritize their own scheme members over alliance members when it comes to upgrades or disruption, etc.

Who Should Choose Virgin Atlantic?

• Those who only plan to travel occasionally with Skyteam as your points never expire with Virgin.
• Those that only earn a small amount of points and want flexibility on how to use them. Virgin Points are some of the most flexible and allow you to redeem for lots of interesting non-flight options such as concerts and cruises. 
• Those who plan to redeem flights on Virgin Atlantic. Flights booked on Virgin Atlantic as a redemption get tier points which helps you maintain the status. This does not apply to partner airlines.
• Those that want a wide range of airlines to redeem on. Virgin not only offers all of Skyteam but currently has some other interesting options for your points such as ANA, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines. 
• Those who mainly travel to the US from London and sometimes fly in economy or premium economy. If you plan to fly direct to the US from London, Virgin would be a better choice of airline, although you could do this and credit to Flying Blue. 
• You want to use a credit card to earn points. The Virgin Atlantic Rewards card allows you to earn points and upgrade and companion vouchers. 
• You want to use the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow. You can only enter the Clubhouse when flying with Virgin or Delta, even if you have status. Air France flies from a different terminal anyway. 
• You want to earn status in a simple way. Virgin has a simple system based on the class/fare bucket. AF is based on the distance and the cabin. 
• You want to earn Points (miles) by flights not revenue based. 

Who Should Choose Flying Blue?

We did a full analysis on the Flying Blue scheme here.

• Those that have Gold Guest List with British Airways. Flying Blue are matching GGLs (including me) to the Ultimate tier which has some similar perks to GGL (except first class lounge access). EDIT: This seems to have now stopped. 
• Those that fly from the regions as Air France/KLM have great coverage, and it would be just as quick as flying through London in many instances. 
• Those that want to redeem for Air France La Premiere (first). One of the ultimate First class experiences with a new cabin on the way, you can only redeem points for First when you hold Flying Blue Platinum or above. 
• You have no immediate plans to book a flight with Virgin Atlantic to qualify for the status match. To get Virgin’s status match you need to have either a cash or redemption ticket in Upper or Premium for Gold or any class for silver. The Flying Blue match has just a fee of £99. 
• You want access to discounted redemptions. While Virgin do usually have regular promotions for discounts, Air France have a permanent program called Promo Rewards with up to 25% off. New Promo reward tickets are released on the first weekday of each month.
• You live in the US. You can get XP points for status from a credit card.
• You change reward bookings regularly. Platinum status offers free changes and cancellations. 

Which status match will you go for? Let us know in the comments below.