Virgin Atlantic to launch a Chinese joint venture with China Eastern
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Virgin Atlantic announced yesterday that its Heathrow to Shanghai service is to be folded into the revenue-sharing joint venture arrangement between Air France KLM and China Eastern.
In practical terms, this means:
The Virgin Atlantic Shanghai service will continue as usual (it has just celebrated its 20th anniversary)
Virgin Atlantic will codeshare on the daily China Eastern services to Shanghai (one departure from Heathrow and one departure from Gatwick)
Virgin Atlantic will codeshare with China Eastern on domestic Chinese routes, allowing passengers to through-ticket to destinations beyond Shanghai
China Eastern will become a Virgin Flying Club earn and spend partner
Subject to regulatory approvals, the joint venture will launch in Spring 2020. It is not clear if China Eastern will move from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Heathrow Terminal 3 as part of the deal, which would allow its customers to access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and other facilities.
How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2024)
As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.
You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 15,000 Virgin Points):
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
15,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard
A generous earning rate for a free card at 0.75 points per £1 Read our full review
You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 40,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 40,000 Virgin Points.
The Platinum Card from American Express
40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review
Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.
American Express Business Platinum
40,000 points sign-up bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
American Express Business Gold
20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points.
(Want to earn more Virgin Points? Click here to see our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club and click here for our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points.)
