Last Thursday, Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam. Now, without notice, the airline has updated award table for one of its non-union sweet spots – use Virgin Atlantic points on ANAEQUAL thrifty travelers first report.
Been thinking like this for a long time best way to use Flying Club pointsVirgin Atlantic will now charge you extra points for ANA long-haul first-class bookings, a devaluation we’ve long feared would come but still hurt — especially without direct warning or notice for members.
Thankfully, the economy and business class bonus rates remain the same, as do the bonus rates on ANA’s shorter flights to some destinations in Asia.
Here’s a look at the changes. Note the following prices are for return flights:
| Destination | Economy | Business | Firstly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 15,000 (unchanged). | do not apply. | do not apply. |
| Korea | 18,000 (unchanged). | 35,000 (unchanged). | 50,000 (unchanged). |
| China, Guam, Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan | 23,000 (unchanged). | 45,000 (unchanged). | 60,000 (unchanged). |
| Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam | 40,000 (unchanged). | 65,000 (unchanged). | 105,000 (+23%). |
| Hawaii, India and Indonesia | 45,000 (unchanged). | 70,000 (unchanged). | 90,000 (+28%). |
| Australia, Canada and Western United States | 60,000 (unchanged). | 90,000 (unchanged). | 145,000 (+32%). |
| Europe, Mexico and Central and Eastern United States | 65,000 (unchanged). | 95,000 (unchanged). | 170,000 (+42%). |
Keep in mind that ANA bonus space in premium cabins is notoriously scarce, but for those longer first-class flights, bookings are now more expensive when you can find them in stock.
Related: ANA First Class Ultimate Guide
ours
Any increase in rewards rates is bad news, and for many Americans, first class will now be 42% more expensive than it was before the airline joined SkyTeam.
That said, we are relieved because business class prizes are unaffected (yet) and even if increased, first place is still a good deal. On flights from the Central and Eastern US to Japan, you’ll now have to spend 85,000 points each way. While that can be hard to swallow, consider the following rates for these identical prizes through other partner programs:
In addition, Virgin Atlantic currently operates a 30% transfer bonus from Capital One and Citi ThankYou Awards. If you can find the prize space, then you are effectively locking the prize space for 66,000 Points are transferable each way.
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Meanwhile, at 45,000 points one way (or 35,000 points if you use the transfer bonus), first-class bonuses from Hawaii to Japan are still bargains.
Finally, as a reminder, these tickets cannot be booked online. All ANA rewards must be booked with Virgin Atlantic by phone.
Related: Feel like being in first class: Fly ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo
bottom line
A week after joining SkyTeam, Virgin Atlantic increased ANA’s long-haul first-class redemptions without notice to members — by almost 42% in certain cases. While we haven’t seen any changes to business class rewards rates yet, we recommend pre-ordering these premium cabin rewards, in case adjustments are being made.
The airline is currently running transfer rewards from Captial One and Citi, but before making a non-refundable transfer, be sure to find the reward space And confirm that the Virgin Atlantic agent has access to it.
