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Virgin Atlantic's Strategy in a Global World

Virgin Atlantic's Shai Weiss talks:

• JV partnership with Delta
• Brexit & Open Skies
• Transatlantic competition

Responding to increased competition from low-cost carriers, Virgin Atlantic in March reconfigured its  economy class cabin  with three options: delight, classic and light. Chief commercial officer Shai Weiss spoke with BTN associate editor JoAnn DeLuna about that and how the carrier is adjusting to other changes, including European regulations and Delta's Air4 passenger system.

BTN:  It's been nearly a year and a half since Virgin Atlantic switched to  Delta's passenger services system . How has the new Air4 system worked out, and are you planning any more integrations?

Weiss:  It's going really well. Downtime is almost nothing [due to the] high reliability of the system. [Air4 provides] our agents the ability to work when [Delta and Virgin Atlantic are] in the same system, and more importantly, to work through irregular operations when things go wrong. Air4 is truly remarkable. Within seconds you have people rerouted based on [passenger priority]. Delta is 10-times our size, and the beauty of the joint venture is that the innovation Delta is bringing to its customers will also be available to Virgin customers. We will see more things coming, like [radio frequency identification] for baggage and a more integrated digital platform that's more intuitive.

BTN:  Virgin Atlantic has had a JV with Delta for about five years. Last July, you jointly announced the addition of Air France/KLM to the JV. How is that progressing?

Weiss:  We are working on definitive agreements and hope to conclude those soon. The new JV will take off in the second half of 2019. The important thing is the connectivity it will provide Virgin Atlantic. In the U.K., we have beautiful connectivity in the U.S. with Delta. The loyalty program can now be expanded to short haul, as well. When customers fly Virgin Atlantic, they'll be able to redeem on Air France/KLM for flights to [for example] the south of France. The rational is all about providing more services to customers.

BTN:  How will Alitalia fit into this?

Weiss:  That's for Alitalia to figure out. Alitalia is part of the existing JV. They're undergoing their own  [bankruptcy] process  in Italy, so it's hard for us to speculate what that process may yield.

BTN:  How is transatlantic competition faring as low-cost carriers add routes?

Weiss:  [The reconfiguration of our economy class offering] is all about listening to our customers. They want more choices without the compromise, so we launched the three products in our economy cabin while providing the same excellent service, great food with abundant wine and drinks, tasty snacks, the blanket and Wi-Fi across the fleet. In terms of taking the fight back to some of our competitors, we have the economy light [product]. Millennials who are doing a quick city hop are willing to forgo baggage. In return, we're guaranteeing the lowest fare possible. Where other people are adding seats into the cabin, we're taking six seats away and introducing extra legroom and seats with a 34-inch pitch into our delight product and premium boarding. Classic [provides] families and groups of people who want to travel together dedicated [joint] seating.

BTN:  Virgin Atlantic is a U.K. carrier operating under a U.K. license and rules. How are the ongoing Open Skies negotiations affecting Virgin Atlantic?

Weiss:  We're very confident that the new Open Skies agreement will be reached between the U.S. and the U.K. It's absolutely the right thing to [do to] protect trade, tourism and travel between these two nations, and we're confident it will be reached.

BTN:  The U.K.'s withdraw from the European Union is not scheduled until next year, but what effects are you seeing now?

Weiss:  The impact has been secondary. It's impacting us mostly through the exchange rate and the weakening of the pound. Of course, our costs are higher because we buy fuel in dollars, and it's also more expensive for our U.K. consumers, as 70 percent of Virgin Atlantic traffic is through the U.S. But the U.K. consumer is very resilient in protecting their costs, so they adjust. Instead of eight days [of vacation they'll do] seven days. Instead of a four-star hotel, they'll do 3.5 stars. Business has been good. We've had a good start to year.

BTN:  How is corporate travel demand holding up?

Weiss:  Pretty good. You see the reverse [happen] with business [travel] from consumer. The weaker pound means exports are stronger across the board, so activity is pretty good. Businesses do like certainty, so the quicker we can get certainty on the implications of true Brexit, the better it is. But for now it's pretty good.

BTN:  Any new strategies to win over new corporate clients?

Weiss:  Offering the best service we can. The corporate travel [market] is inherently interested in our connectivity in the U.S. and with Air France/KLM. In the U.S. over 200 locations are now connected seamlessly [through] Delta. Seamless service is one of our key [achievements] to the JV partnership we have. We literally monitored every single seam and tried to eliminate it. Reliability and new seamless products are the major thing for corporates. And we're No. 1 at Heathrow with Delta in terms of operations. People do actually care about that, on-time arrival, the ability to provide resiliency, knowing you can fly through the storm safely.

BTN:  Will you expand the sales team?

Weiss:  Our sales team is rightly structured. A lot of it is coming through direct channels anyway. But yeah, we'll grow as much as we need based on demand.

BTN:  In April 2019, Virgin Atlantic will begin adding 12 new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to its fleet. Will you be adding any more aircraft or new routes?

Weiss:  [To date this year], we added three A332-200 [because of] some of the issues we had with the Rolls-Royce Trent engines on the [Boeing] 787. We wanted to protect our schedule. And indeed, we expect to add a few routes in multiple geographies in 2019. We're now in a position to start growing again. Watch this space.

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The best business class seats on Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787-9

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While Virgin Atlantic no longer flies to Australia, Aussies can still hop aboard the airline's flights to London Heathrow from Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York and more – in many cases, served by the modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the latest generation of 'Upper Class' business class suites .

There's also an inflight bar and lounge area for Upper Class flyers, so whether your plans are to socialise or sleep, Australian Business Traveller scopes out the best business class seats .

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 'Upper Class' business class: the basics

Virgin Atlantic places Upper Class at the front of its Boeing 787s, with 31 seats in a 1-1-1 layout:

Window seats are labelled 'A' and 'K', with the centre spots as 'G'. For instance, 2A is a window seat and 7G is in the middle.

Galleys are located at the front near the flight deck, with the bar at the rear and restrooms just behind.

Read: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Upper Class review, Hong Kong-London

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 'Upper Class' business class: best seats

For solo travellers – the 'A' seats: While none of these seats are necessarily 'bad' for solo flyers given that all provide direct aisle access, those in the 'A' row are at an advantage whether for work or sleep, because only half as many travellers use this particular aisle as the other.

That's because passengers in the 'G' seats and the 'K' seats exit to the aisle on the right, while the aisle on the left is only utilised by travellers in the 'A' seats (below) – making for less foot traffic, and by extension, less chance of noise and disturbance.

When all of the 'A' seats are snapped up, a 'K' seat is our next-best choice.

For couples – consecutive seats of the same letter: It might be tempting to sit across the aisle from one another, such as one person in a 'G' seat and the other in a 'K' seat, but by choosing an adjacent pair of the same letter – such as 3A+4A, 6G+7G or 9K+10K – it's much easier to chat with your partner as you'll be seated closer together.

If this isn't possible on your flight, note that your fixed footrest can double as a 'companion seat' (complete with an extra seat belt), so one person can visit the other's seat for a chat or a meal.

For sleeping – seats 2A-8A: Over on this side of town you've already got an aisle that's quieter than the other, and by choosing a seat in rows 2-8, you'll be far enough away from galley noise and any chatter at the inflight bar to get some solid rest.

For privacy – aim further forward: With all passengers facing towards the aisles rather than away from them as you'd get on airlines like Cathay Pacific, the only way to improve your privacy here is to select a seat further forward in the cabin (with a lower row number) rather than that the rear.

That's because all of the Upper Class restrooms are at the back behind the inflight bar, so choosing a seat at the front usually means the only people passing by are crew members rather than other passengers. This is especially true of seat 1A.

Seats to reconsider: Because there's no curtain or wall between that inflight bar and the cabin proper, seats in rows 9 and 10 are less than ideal due to their proximity to this area, while seats in row 11 are quite literally next to the bar and are best avoided when trying to work or sleep:

Row 7 is also missing a window. It's hard to enjoy the view anyway as you have to twist around and look behind you, but on daytime flights where natural sunlight is desirable, aim for another row instead.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

QF take note, 31 pax for 4 toilets on a 787-9 at least they have thought about it.

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 645

If you view virginatlantics website there is a video showing premium economy (35pax) has use of at least 2 of those lavs. (1 on either side of the galley area). You can clearly see that a curtain separates the 2 side by side lavs. So there is really 2 lavs for the 31 business class. (Not all 4)

14 Dec 2016

Total posts 42

I don't want to sound small minded, however now that Virgin Atlantic has the 787-9, wonder if they will consider a direct flight to Australia?

03 May 2013

Total posts 676

Horrid carrier. Have to get up out of seat to convert into bed and food leaves a lot to be desired.

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

11 Mar 2015

Total posts 191

if you feel like Dracule this is the right coffin shape for you-simply laughable 

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

21 Jan 2016

Total posts 193

VA Business Class seats are the same as Air NZ Business Premier seats - the coffins. Out dated Horrible seats and configuration.

20 May 2015

Total posts 579

Virgin Atlantic will probably go for a newer configuration when they get the A350s. Probably reverse herringbone, or maybe Jamco's Dovetail staggered reverse herringbone (which allegedly is denser and simpler to maintain).

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

13 Jan 2015

Total posts 580

FYI VA is Virgin Australia and VS is Virgin Atlantic, but yes I've tried on ANZ for a tasman flight and didn't like it

08 Sep 2012

Total posts 236

Like BA with their 2-4-2 Club World config, Virgin Atlantic pioneered this herringbone design. They were the first to use it. So, perhaps for sentimental reasons or even arrogance, they will only change the design if they have no choice.  It probably makes them money, but the coffin design + limited window view makes it an outdated product these days.  Only Virgin Atlantic and  Air New Zealand persist with this design. Everyone else has dropped it.

30 Aug 2013

Total posts 436

Agree that sitting directly behind each other (i.e. 5A and 6A is better than 5A and 5G.

Note the bar is rarely used for overnight flights (i.e. US to UK) while I understand its very popular for daytime flights (i.e. UK to US). Its small, cramped and gimmicky. No issues with noise for overnight flight because no-one used it.

I don’t know why VS pursue this style of seat – other than being fully-flat and having direct aisle access it has very little going for it. The CX reverse herringbone blows it out of the water.

I should add, the rear J toilets are shared with PE and the curtain between J and PE was never closed the entire flight. As PE crew stay in the PE cabin I doubt any crew would notice PE pax using the J bar.

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2435

Smit: It's possible to fit two sets of legs under the dining table - you just have to 'zig zag' them between each other, so it's more suited to couples than colleagues. :)

29 Jul 2013

Total posts 203

No, no, no! Love the Virgin brand, hate the hard product! There's not much to enjoy about flying to your destination in the equivalent of a coffin, being in the A row all you can see is the long bland wall along the back of the centre row of seats, not to forget the joy of having your sleep interrupted every time someone bangs your feet when they stick up over the edge of the foot rest and working on your laptop means you almost always have to close the window shades to stop the light from the windows reflecting off your screen.

What is it with the Poms(BA &VS)....no idea how to set up or offer premium cabins??

09 Mar 2017

Total posts 7

I still remember these seats on CX's original Herringbone (Still in use at A340). The current ones are so much better but I think density is lower on reverse herringbone.

18 Aug 2014

Total posts 72

The worst J class coffin that I have ever flow in not to forget about the service nothing has changed for Virgin A......

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge

01 Sep 2011

Total posts 412

would never fly an airine with that seat config. hated it when CX had it. awful in my view.

29 Mar 2017

Total posts 2

These seats Look  seriously cramped  No thanks 

27 Apr 2017

Total posts 5

I flew Virgin Atlantic SYD-HKG-LHR & Return July/Oct 2013.  Then it was an A330 (I think), and the Upper Class seats were in this configuration.  I'd never been overseas at the time, and was eager to watch the ground go by underneath me.  I had one problem - I couldn't see out the window.  You have to do gymnastics just to see what's happening.  On most other airlines, the seats convert to beds by sliding forward.  Not on this plane - the seats actually flipped so that you were sleeping on the outer shell of the seat - so very uncomfortable, especially when you only get a very thin so-called mattress between you and the hard casing.  The only plus to this trip is the lounge access in all 3 cities, and the Revivals Lounge when arriving @ LHR. I would never fly this airline again so long as they keep using this configuration of seating.

smit0847, the bar on the overnight flights certainly does get used.  I was very close to it on both the HKG- LHR - HKG flights and was very much disturbed by the passengers @ the bar.

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More From Forbes

What’s it like to fly virgin atlantic’s business class in a pandemic.

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Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class business class product used to be one of the most fun business class products around. After the turbulent time Virgin Atlantic has been through with restructuring to avoid bankruptcy, what is their onboard experience like now in Upper Class?

Many airlines have been using Covid-19 as an excuse to cut back on airport and onboard services as they struggle for survival. Given that they follow the same government guidelines, it's incredible how much they differ between airlines!

The flight in this article was from Barbados back to the U.K. in early November. Barbados, along with many Caribbean islands, is a safer choice for travel during Covid-19 due to their strict protocols. Bridgetown airport appeared pretty much deserted, and there were no more than two other passengers in the check-in and security areas. There is no fast track at Barbados security, but it would be a little pointless when it's this quiet. Many shops were closed, but it's hard to tell if it was due to the late departure time or Covid.

There was a least a lounge for Virgin Upper Class passengers, although the decor was a little dated. The new Covid-safe style of "buffet" was in evidence. This consisted of a small range of snacks, such as sandwiches and crisps. The staff helped you to what you needed from the buffet, and there was also a separate makeshift tended bar to get a beer or glass of wine.

After a quick stroll across the tarmac to the Boeing 787 aircraft, it was time to see what the pre-departure experience was like. Sadly the welcome glass of champagne has disappeared, and instead, you are handed a bottle of water. Fortunately, most of the usual amenities were there, such as Virgin's environmentally friendly "goodie bag" made from responsibly sourced recycled kraft paper. It contains such goodies as Ren toiletries, a Bamboo handled toothbrush by Bambuu and some rather snazzy socks. A slightly less fun addition was the new ubiquitous airline "hygiene" pack, which contained wipes, hand gel, and face masks.

Virgin Atlantic goodie bag.

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Before take-off, the cabin crew introduced themselves. You could immediately tell that this would be a great flight from their friendly and fun demeanor. Virgin companies encourage employees to bring their personality to work, and it shone through on this flight. Many had only recently returned from furlough, and having spent a few nights in Barbados, they were all in high spirits. After a taxi to the runway by tug, which seemed more extended than for a flight departing Heathrow, it was finally time to get airborne.

The cabin was around 40% full, and seats had been blocked between traveling parties. This Boeing 787 had the older Virgin Atlantic seats, which flip over into a flatbed. They lack any substantial storage space at the seat and can be quite hard when in bed mode. However, they do provide a wide sleeping space and a large solid table for working or eating. The best seats are on the ‘A’ side of the plane, where more privacy is afforded by facing the back of the middle seats. Virgin Atlantic now have a new Upper Class Suite which feature on their Airbus 350s.

The 'a' seats on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class

One unique feature of the Boeing 787 is the dimmable windows. Passengers can control how much light enters their window with a push of a button. Initially, these were not quite dark enough to block light entirely, but recent 787 models have had windows that have a darker setting.

Virgin have tried to walk the delicate balance of Covid safety with customer experience. With some business class flights having plastic glasses and food from a box, the Virgin dining experience was a welcome relief. The service started with a welcome drink. There was no actual champagne, but instead, there was prosecco or the excellent English sparkling wine, Hattingley Valley. Drinks were served from proper glasses even if they were standard airline glasses rather than the usual Virgin stemless wine glasses. Unfortunately, one of Virgin Atlantic's most fun features, the onboard bar is not available.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 bar

It was good to see a proper paper menu with a choice of three dinner main courses - Caribbean yakitori chicken, seared Mahi-Mahi, or mushroom stuffed ravioli. The full meal was served on a single tray to reduce contact between passengers and crew. There was no starter at all and no choice of dessert. However, there was also an individually wrapped bread roll and cheese with crackers making it more than enough food for most people. The hot main courses are served in disposable cardboard containers. The Caribbean yakitori chicken looked something of a mess, but was similar to a very flavorful Bajan version of an Indian biryani rice dish.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class meal tray

Full-size wine bottles were used instead of the plastic mini bottles many airlines are using, and top-ups were plentiful. Fortunately, the renowned Virgin Atlantic plane-shaped salt and pepper shake were still on the tray. These famously say underneath "pinched from Virgin Atlantic." If you ever find these "falling" into your carry-on, it's highly advised to empty them first unless you want a bag full of salt and pepper!

Virgin Atlantic's range of salt and pepper shakers

The crew was eager to make up beds for passengers while you got yourself ready for bed with the help of the Ren toiletries provided in the washrooms. Full bedding was supplied with a mattress topper, duvet, and sizeable plump pillow.

The breakfast was also impressive with three main courses: full English, banana pancakes, or a roasted pepper omelet. A pastry and fresh fruit salad accompanied the main course.

Entertainment was provided with the high definition TV and a large selection of movies, TV shows, music and games. It is hard for airlines in 2020 to have fresh film content as so many releases have been delayed, but Virgin had a great choice. Noise-cancelling headphones were also provided at each seat. Wi-fi was available and, although a little patchy at times, was reasonable value at $19.95 (£14.99) for 150mb.

Virgin's VERA entertainment

Overall, Virgin Atlantic has done a great job of walking the line between safety and ensuring a premium product for their business class customers. Their recent enhancements, such as non-expiry of frequent flyer miles and tier points on reward bookings, are likely to help win back customers. However, until the U.S. reopens to travelers from the U.K., it still leaves Virgin Atlantic in a precarious position due to their U.S. heavy route network.

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Traveling over Labor Day weekend? Have a back-up plan for cancellations and delays

Labor Day weekend is the last blast of summer vacation, and that means lots of Americans will be traveling

Many children have gone back to school in the U.S., and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day .

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling .

The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period.

AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%.

American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.

If you are traveling to get a last blast of summer, here is a rundown of what you need to know.

“Not everyone travels for Labor Day, not compared to July 4th or Thanksgiving — those are the most popular ones," says Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA. “But certainly Labor Day offers people a way to get away for a final weekend of the summer. You've got people who are either taking the three-day weekend or perhaps taking off the whole week before Labor Day.”

Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA.

For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. The average is under 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri but tops 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the costliest, at 56 cents.

Average airfares in July were down 7.1% from June and 2.8% from July 2023, according to the government's consumer price index. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer-vacation season comes to an end.

“Now we're falling into that traditional fall season when demand slumps, and you’re also seeing that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner , CEO of the travel metasearch site Kayak. “Airfares are down from the summer about 26% already, and they’re down even from the previous fall, about 4%.”

If you plan to start your drive on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you will be sharing the road with commuters. You might want to leave before morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid jams.

Transportation-data provider INRIX says the worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That flips on Saturday, when you'll want to avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For the return trip, pretty much all day Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX.

And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate , indicates that speeding over 80 mph is up 83% and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 mph — is up more than 50%.

In a surprising twist, however, Arity says distracted driving has dropped on the last three Labor Days.

Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While an impressive number, it would not even rank in the top 15 days in TSA's history. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.

TSA says it has enough screeners to keep the time it takes to get through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to no more than 10 minutes for PreCheck lines.

American Airlines says Thursday and Friday will be its busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the carrier has 6,300 scheduled flights.

Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport worked Monday to restore full service after what they called an apparent cyberattack over the weekend. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines reported no flight disruptions, but airlines warned passengers not to check bags because the bag-sorting system was affected. AAA named Seattle the top Labor Day destination based on bookings.

First, check your itinerary before leaving for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stranded at the airport.

If your flight is canceled, the airline might automatically rebook you. That might not be the best option.

“Get on the phone (to the airline's help center), get in front of an agent, reach out to the airline via social media if you have to, but find out what the other options are,” says Julian Kheel, the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that lets users compare fares with deals available using frequent-flyer points. “You can almost always find another option that may work better than the one offered by the airline.”

Kheel said agents at the airport have more leeway to help, but they might be inundated if there are many canceled flights. DIY rebooking on the airline website or app might be faster, he said.

Phone tip: Some experts say if the airline has international help numbers, call one of those to get through more quickly than on the U.S. line.

Airlines are required to provide refunds — including for extra fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and no major U.S. airlines do. Only Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.

If you’re stuck overnight, ask the airline about covering the costs of a hotel, meals and ground transportation. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Transportation Department’s airline-policy dashboard . However, those commitments don't apply to cancellations caused by weather.

Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses in case you can file a claim later.

— Leave early. Everything will take longer than you expect, including getting through airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there will be spaces available when you arrive — many airports now post that information online.

— Watch the weather. Even if skies are clear at home, there could be storms at your flight's destination or along your road route. Have a backup route.

— Be nice. Flight cancellations and bumper-to-bumper traffic are frustrating, but you won't be the only one who is stuck. Customer-service agents are busy during peak travel periods, so it's important to be patient and respectful while they try to help you.

Koenig reported from Dallas. Business Writer Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and video journalist Rick Gentilo in Washington contributed to this report.

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How to book Delta award flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points

Editor's Note

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are easy to earn since the program is a transfer partner of almost every major credit card currency.
• You can book Delta Air Lines flights through Flying Club starting at just 7,500 Virgin points each way.
• Virgin regularly charges far fewer points than Delta's SkyMiles program charges for the same Delta flights.

Though Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in early 2023, its Flying Club loyalty program may not be as well known as some of its alliance partners' programs — especially Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles .

However, Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program has so many great partner redemptions that it's worth getting to know the program if you're looking for good-value award flights.

Since Delta operates using a dynamic pricing model, the carrier can charge upward of 350,000 SkyMiles for one premium award flight. Though Delta is not generous in releasing premium-cabin awards to partner airlines, there are still some good deals to be found.

Whether you want to travel domestically or internationally, if you want to save your Delta SkyMiles, here's how you can book Delta-operated flights using Virgin points.

How to earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points

Before we get into how to use them, it's important to note how easy it is to collect Virgin points — even without flying Virgin Atlantic or its partners.

Flying Club is a transfer partner of almost every major program with a transferable currency :

• American Express Membership Rewards (at a 1:1 ratio)
• Bilt Rewards (1:1)
• Capital One (1:1)
• Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
• Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1)
• Marriott Bonvoy (3:1, with a 5,000-point bonus for transferring 60,000 points; 48-hour transfer time )

It's worth noting that Capital One miles transfer to Virgin Red, not directly to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. However, you can easily use your Virgin Red account points with Flying Club.

Additionally, some of the above programs offer regular transfer bonuses to Flying Club , meaning you might need even fewer points than you first thought.

That means you've got plenty of card options for earning rewards to transfer to Flying Club, many of which feature terrific welcome bonuses . Here's just a sample of the travel rewards credit cards that earn transferable points that can be converted to Virgin points:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• American Express® Gold Card
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Virgin Atlantic's Delta award chart

While Delta did away with its award charts years ago and now has some eye-watering dynamic prices , Flying Club has retained award rates for Delta-operated flights, with some quirks and caveats.

You'll now see three Delta award charts on Flying Club's website .

• Nonstop flights between the U.S. and the U.K.
• Nonstop flights between the U.S. and Europe (excluding the U.K.)
• All other Delta reward flights

Here's the award chart for one-way, nonstop flights between the U.S. and the U.K.:

Meanwhile, the award chart for flights between the U.S. and Europe is as follows:

For all other Delta flights — such as flights within North America, as well as to Asia, Australia and South America — Virgin Atlantic uses a distance-based award chart. Each segment is priced separately based on the following table:

Due to SkyMiles' dynamic pricing, Flying Club still charges fewer points than Delta's SkyMiles program may charge for many of the same flights. Therefore, it is worth checking the prices of both programs where you have transferable credit card points, as there is still value to be had.

And as noted above, you'll redeem points for each segment individually. As a result, flying from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) will require additional points if you connect through a Delta hub like Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — even though the total distance flown with the connection is just a few miles longer.

Also, Flying Club members can't book Delta Premium Select (premium economy) awards on any route.

Related: Is Delta Air Lines premium economy worth it between New York and London?

While Delta One business-class flights to Europe can technically be booked with Virgin points for as low as 47,500 points each way, availability is virtually nonexistent, and Flying Club recently added a huge carrier surcharge of over $1,000 each way, which makes this option a poor use of Virgin points.

Sweet spots for Delta flights

There are some great sweet spots where you can use Virgin points to book Delta flights. Main Cabin economy awards are readily available to London-area airports and can represent a terrific value, especially on off-peak dates, for a solid product.

Related: A review of Delta Air Lines economy on the Boeing 767 from London to New York

While Delta flights to London should start at 15,000 Virgin points each way, we have seen some dates go for as low as 10,000 points; however, you will have to pay carrier-imposed surcharges.

Considering Delta charges 58,000 SkyMiles for the same Main Cabin flight, booking this flight for just 10,000 Virgin points is terrific.

You can also use the handy reward-seat search tool to quickly check the availability of Delta flights, month by month, on routes to and from the U.K.

Though you'll need more Virgin points to fly Delta from the U.S. to European destinations outside of the U.K., the benefit is that the fees and taxes are virtually nil, and there are no pesky surcharges.

This same Delta flight through SkyMiles would set you back a massive 115,000 miles, so if you have credit card points, it's a much better deal to book through Flying Club than SkyMiles.

Despite the recent price increase for most non-Europe Delta flights, the distance-based chart for other Delta-operated flights can also provide value. Flights less than 500 miles in length escaped the devaluation and are still just 7,500 Virgin points per flight, a great deal.

We recommend focusing on routes covering up to 2,000 miles, especially for domestic Delta-operated flights. You may snag a Delta reward flight for less than you would have paid using Delta's SkyMiles program.

Try to look for nonstop flights since a connecting itinerary will price segment by segment (and thus have a higher price).

On long-haul Delta flights to regions other than the U.K. and Europe, we have only seen Main Cabin availability on a limited number of routes.

How to search Delta flights on Virgin Atlantic

You can search and book Delta flights on the Virgin Atlantic website.

To search, start here and enter the requested information. Don't forget to change the "Show Price In" choice from "Money" to "Points." I also recommend selecting "Show flexible dates" if you have flexibility.

Virgin Atlantic's website doesn't show some airports when you search by entering the three-digit airport code. If this happens to you, click on "Full Airport List" and select your airport.

Selecting "Show flexible dates" will display a small range of dates and prices.

When you click on a given date, you'll arrive at the screen with flights you can select.

After confirming your flight details, log in to your Flying Club account. At this point, you'll receive a message if you don't have enough points to book the award.

As noted, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Flying Club. The points will typically reach your account instantly.

However, you may need to log out and back in to access your updated balance.

Bottom line

Delta's decision to remove its award charts in 2015 has led to incredibly high award ticket prices. However, there are often ways to book these flights for significantly fewer points than the carrier would charge.

One option to consider for select routes is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club . It's always worth checking Virgin Atlantic's website before booking an award ticket on Delta; you could save plenty of points.

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Elliott, southwest to meet in september as firm lays out case for change.

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Elliott Investment Management and Southwest Airlines will meet early next month for the first time to discuss potential changes at the airline, both companies said on Monday, but the hedge fund told investors it may still press ahead with a proxy fight.

The activist hedge fund, which now holds voting power over roughly 9.7% of Southwest Airlines, said it is eager to meet with company representatives on Sept. 9 to discuss ways to tackle the carrier's "immense" challenges.

The company said it is prepared to meet with Elliott on Sept. 9 and has gathered feedback in the last several months and met with many shareholders directly.

"We welcome the opportunity to discuss ideas that would drive sustained Shareholder value as we work to reach a collaborative resolution," Southwest said in a statement. The company will also hold an investor day on Sept 26.

Elliott told its investors in a letter that the company needs new outside leadership for a "better future," and that it could call a special shareholder meeting to vote for new board directors. If Southwest leaders cannot identify "what is best for Southwest" and its stakeholders, the hedge fund will push ahead with its board challenge, the letter said.

The hedge fund also dialed up the pressure on the airline by proposing a new board-level committee that would conduct a thorough business review and "drive transformational change."

An investor would need to own 10% of Southwest's stock to call a special shareholder meeting, and Elliott is very close to that point now, having increased its stake from 8% previously.

TURNAROUND PLAN

Elliott has been pushing to refresh the board and oust top executives to help improve the carrier's performance. In June, CEO Bob Jordan said Southwest has a "great plan," which management will execute," and that he had no plans to resign.

The airline has been trying to implement a turnaround plan, including adding seats with more leg room, moving to assigned seats and naming a new board member in July. Its stock price, which has been under pressure, pared losses recently.

Southwest's stock closed largely unchanged at $28.20.

Earlier this month, Elliott laid out plans to nominate 10 director candidates to Southwest's 15-person board, including former Virgin America CEO David Cush and Robert Milton, the former CEO of Air Canada.

In the letter, Elliott said why it wants so many board seats. The hedge fund does not want to be "in charge" but said the board is "purpose-built to serve the interests" of CEO Robert Jordan and his predecessor and current executive chairman Gary Kelly. Elliott has pushed for Jordan and Kelly to be replaced since its stake in the airline became public in June.

As a public company, Elliott wrote, Southwest must be accountable to shareholders and is not "an absolute monarchy."

Some investors share Elliott's frustration, the letter said, noting that Artisan Partners publicly called for leadership change and urged the board to work with Elliott. Other shareholders expressed concerns privately to the hedge fund, it wrote.

The hedge fund also pointed to concerns among Southwest pilots who have called for bold leadership to fix corporate problems.

The airline must find a comprehensive solution, "not just some hand-picked new directors beholden to current management and a few long-overdue initiatives," the letter said.

While CEO Jordan recently wrote that the fight with Elliott is "a battle for the heart of our company," the hedge fund said it is a fight for Jordan and Kelly to "continue to control Southwest, on their terms, for as long as they wish."

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Aurora Ellis)

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Our mission to net zero by 2050

• Ambitious targets set for 2026, 2030 and 2040 to achieve significant reductions in CO 2 emissions
• Targets include increased fleet efficiency and committing to the use of 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in 2030
• Builds on 18% reduction in CO 2 /RTK already achieved by 2019 through fleet modernisation and operational efficiencies

Virgin Atlantic has today announced ambitious carbon targets as the airline renews its mission to achieve net zero by 2050. Reinforcing its commitment to embed sustainability through innovation, transparency and accountability to do more for the protection of the planet.

Carbon targets

The airline’s new targets set a clear pathway to net zero by 2050, to achieve[1]:

• By 2026: 15% gross reduction in CO 2 /RTK achieved through continued fleet transformation and operational efficiency
• By 2030: 15% net reduction in total CO 2 emissions, including 10% of fuel sourced from sustainable aviation fuel
• By 2040: 40% net reduction in total CO 2 emissions

Youngest, cleanest fleet in the sky

Virgin Atlantic has a 15-year strong history as a sustainability leader. Today, the airline operates one of the youngest and cleanest twin-engine fleets in the skies, with an average aircraft age of just under seven years, following a multi-billion-dollar investment in fleet transformation over the last decade, which has so far delivered a 20% reduction in fleet carbon emissions[2].

Innovation leadership

Beyond fleet transformation, Virgin Atlantic is committed to working with new technology innovators. To seed, support and adopt the breakthrough technologies capable of delivering change. As a long-standing advocate for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Virgin Atlantic has been partnering with LanzaTech since 2011, flying the world’s first commercial flight operated on sustainable fuels in 2018 and supporting efforts to build the first UK SAF plant by 2025. It also continues to support new technology innovation, most recently working with partners, Storegga Geotechnologies and Carbon Engineering, to accelerate the use of direct air capture of CO 2 .

Coalition of the willing

As a founding member of Sustainable Aviation and the UK’s Jet Zero Council and through the Clean Skies for Tomorrow coalition, Virgin Atlantic continues to play an active role in bringing industry and Government together to accelerate SAF development at scale. Building a strong domestic SAF industry would put Global Britain at the forefront of commercialising new technologies in support of net zero ambitions, capable of reducing the lifecycle carbon impact of aviation fuel by more than 75% compared to traditional jet fuel[1]. Beyond SAF, and recognising the importance of electric flight in future efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Virgin Atlantic has recently partnered with Vertical Aerospace, to launch the first eVTOL short haul network in the UK. 

Business as a force for good

The sustainability commitments announced today are part of the airline’s ambition to use business as a force for good and to empower everyone to take on the world . Recognising the social and economic benefits of long haul travel but knowing we must find ways to do it better. For the benefit of our people, customers, communities and planet. Within the airline’s reward structure, measures are included that demonstrate commitment to sustainability, such as a carbon measure of CO2/ RTK (LTIP) and reduction in weight of raw single use plastics.

Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “We know that as an airline we have a pivotal role to play in protecting the planet, while connecting people across the globe and strengthening crucial trade connections.

“For more than a decade we’ve been leading the way in the decarbonisation of the aviation industry, and now as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic we have a unique opportunity to ensure we return to the skies more sustainably. The carbon targets outlined today will help us achieve this as we work tirelessly on our mission to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

“Aviation is a truly global industry, and we can’t tackle this on our own. That’s why we’re continuing to work closely with the UK’s Jet Zero Council and Sustainable Aviation, as well as aligning with innovation and technology partners across the industry and beyond. There is a long road ahead but we’re committed to pioneering change and being transparent on our progress, on our way to a low carbon future.”

For more on Virgin Atlantic’s business for good activity including sustainability commitments, please visit  https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/sustainability.html

[1] Against a 2019 baseline

[2] CO2 reduction between 2007-19

[3]WEF Clean Skies Report: Sustainable Aviation Fuels as a Pathway to Net-Zero Aviation, pg 18

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An airport weather warning and a heat advisory in effect for 5 regions in the area

Flights returning to normal in colombia as jet fuel shortage is resolved.

Manuel Rueda

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A Latam plane taxis on the runway after landing at El Dorado airport amid jet fuel shortages in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

BOGOTA – The Colombian airlines Avianca and Latam Colombia said late Monday they will operate most of their flights Tuesday and resume full schedules Wednesday, after warning earlier they would have to cancel dozens of flights due to shortages of jet fuel.

Avianca said it had received confirmation from the nation's main supplier of jet fuel that there would no longer be any restrictions on how much fuel was provided to airlines. It said that allowed it to again sell tickets for all its routes and observed its planned flights.

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Latam Colombia said that it would resume normal operations Wednesday and that passengers whose Tuesday flights were cancelled had been assigned to other flights on the same day. Latam had announced earlier Monday that it was cancelling 36 flights for Tuesday due to fuel shortages.

The late announcements by the airlines, which carry more than 70% of Colombia's domestic passengers, capped off a turbulent day for Colombia's aviation industry that saw hundreds of passengers grounded and others struggling to rebook their flights.

On Sunday, Colombia's national oil company, Ecopetrol, announced it had imported 100,000 barrels of jet fuel to ensure supplies for domestic airlines after the carriers complained they were not receiving enough fuel from suppliers.

The crisis came after a power shortage Aug. 16 disrupted local production of jet fuel at an Ecopetrol refinery in the city of Cartagena. In a letter sent to airlines Aug. 21, local fuel supplier Terpel said the disruption would force it to cut the amount of fuel it could sell at airports in the country.

On Monday, Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa said the jet fuel production had been restored, and he criticized fuel distributors, saying they were not importing enough fuel to comply with rising demand.

President Gustavo Petro said on his X account that there was no shortage of jet fuel in the country, but rather an “irregular situation” that “is under investigation.” Transportation Minister María Constanza García said there was enough jet fuel in the country, but that airports were currently undergoing “logistical” problems.

The civil aviation authority issued an ordinance Sunday allowing airlines to cancel flights between Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 if fuel was not available. But late Monday, the agency announced the ordinance had been cancelled because there was now enough jet fuel in the country to operate all scheduled flights.

Avianca CEO Federico Pedreira said in a statement Monday night that he was surprised and pleased by the news that supplies of jet fuel had normalized.

“However, this situation demonstrates the need for members of the supply chain to anticipate problems and communicate with each other, so that there is more clarity on inventories and availability of fuel," Pedreira said.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Traveling over Labor Day weekend? Have a back-up plan for cancellations and delays, and be patient

More Americans are expected to travel domestically over the three-day Labor Day holiday with gas prices lower than last year, according to AAA booking data.

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Many children have gone back to school in the U.S., and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day .

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling .

The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period.

AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%.

American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.

If you are traveling to get a last blast of summer, here is a rundown of what you need to know.

Why Labor Day?

“Not everyone travels for Labor Day, not compared to July 4th or Thanksgiving — those are the most popular ones,” says Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA. “But certainly Labor Day offers people a way to get away for a final weekend of the summer. You’ve got people who are either taking the three-day weekend or perhaps taking off the whole week before Labor Day.”

What are prices like?

Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA.

For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. The average is under 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri but tops 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the costliest, at 56 cents.

Average airfares in July were down 7.1% from June and 2.8% from July 2023, according to the government’s consumer price index. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer-vacation season comes to an end.

“Now we’re falling into that traditional fall season when demand slumps, and you’re also seeing that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner , CEO of the travel metasearch site Kayak. “Airfares are down from the summer about 26% already, and they’re down even from the previous fall, about 4%.”

When is the best time to hit the road?

If you plan to start your drive on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you will be sharing the road with commuters. You might want to leave before morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid jams.

Transportation-data provider INRIX says the worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That flips on Saturday, when you’ll want to avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

For the return trip, pretty much all day Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX.

And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate , indicates that speeding over 80 mph is up 83% and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 mph — is up more than 50%.

In a surprising twist, however, Arity says distracted driving has dropped on the last three Labor Days.

When will airports be busiest?

Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While an impressive number, it would not even rank in the top 15 days in TSA’s history. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.

TSA says it has enough screeners to keep the time it takes to get through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to no more than 10 minutes for PreCheck lines.

American Airlines says Thursday and Friday will be its busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the carrier has 6,300 scheduled flights.

Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport worked Monday to restore full service after what they called an apparent cyberattack over the weekend. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines reported no flight disruptions, but airlines warned passengers not to check bags because the bag-sorting system was affected. AAA named Seattle the top Labor Day destination based on bookings.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?

First, check your itinerary before leaving for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stranded at the airport.

If your flight is canceled, the airline might automatically rebook you. That might not be the best option.

“Get on the phone (to the airline’s help center), get in front of an agent, reach out to the airline via social media if you have to, but find out what the other options are,” says Julian Kheel, the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that lets users compare fares with deals available using frequent-flyer points. “You can almost always find another option that may work better than the one offered by the airline.”

Kheel said agents at the airport have more leeway to help, but they might be inundated if there are many canceled flights. DIY rebooking on the airline website or app might be faster, he said.

Phone tip: Some experts say if the airline has international help numbers, call one of those to get through more quickly than on the U.S. line.

What about refunds and reimbursement?

Airlines are required to provide refunds — including for extra fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and no major U.S. airlines do. Only Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.

If you’re stuck overnight, ask the airline about covering the costs of a hotel, meals and ground transportation. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Transportation Department’s airline-policy dashboard . However, those commitments don’t apply to cancellations caused by weather.

Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses in case you can file a claim later.

A few final tips

— Leave early. Everything will take longer than you expect, including getting through airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there will be spaces available when you arrive — many airports now post that information online.

— Watch the weather. Even if skies are clear at home, there could be storms at your flight’s destination or along your road route. Have a backup route.

— Be nice. Flight cancellations and bumper-to-bumper traffic are frustrating, but you won’t be the only one who is stuck. Customer-service agents are busy during peak travel periods, so it’s important to be patient and respectful while they try to help you.

Koenig reported from Dallas. Business Writer Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and video journalist Rick Gentilo in Washington contributed to this report.