SKYTEAM LAUNCH: How to earn Virgin Atlantic tier points and Virgin Points on SkyTeam flights

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Today, 2nd March, is the day that Virgin Atlantic joins the SkyTeam airline alliance.

This means that today is also the day that you can earn Virgin Atlantic tier points and Virgin Points on any airline in the SkyTeam alliance.

Let’s have a look at the charts.

Which SkyTeam airlines will now earn Virgin Atlantic tier points and Virgin Points?

Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aeromexico
Air Europa
China Airlines
Czech Airlines
Garuda Indonesia
ITA Airways
Kenya Airways
Korean Air
Middle East Airlines
SAUDIA
TAROM
Vietnam Airlines
Xiamen Air

Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM already earned Virgin Points and Virgin Atlantic tier points before today as part of the transatlantic joint venture agreement.

Which SkyTeam airlines do not earn Virgin Atlantic tier points or Virgin Points?

China Eastern will not earn Virgin Points or Virgin Atlantic tier points until later in 2023.

How to spend Virgin Points on SkyTeam flights

How many Virgin Atlantic tier points do you need for elite status?

Let’s look at the Virgin Atlantic tier point system, which is outlined on its website here.

Virgin Flying Club is tiered like this:

Red – sign-up level

Silver – requires 400 tier points per year, does not give lounge access across SkyTeam

Gold – requires 1,000 tier points year, gives lounge access across SkyTeam and arrivals lounge access at Heathrow

IMPORTANT: Unlike British Airways Executive Club, there is no requirement to fly a minimum number of Virgin Atlantic segments to earn status in Virgin Flying Club. You can earn status based purely on partner flights.

What benefits do you get on SkyTeam airlines?

This article looks at the SkyTeam benefits you get if you are Virgin Flying Club Gold.

This article looks at the SkyTeam benefits you get if you are Virgin Flying Club Silver.

The Virgin Atlantic SkyTeam Virgin Points and tier points earning charts:

This list does not cover Delta Air Lines, Air France or KLM as they have been Virgin Atlantic partners for some years. This HfP article explains how you earn Virgin Points and tier points with Air France and KLM.

If you want to earn more Virgin Points, our review of the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard credit card is here (15,000 bonus points) and our review of the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard credit card is here.

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Aerolineas Argentinas (AR flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C	150%	30	75
Premium Economy	D, I, W, S	125%	20	50
Economy	Y	100%	10	25
Economy	B, M, U, K, H, L, Q	50%	10	25
Economy	T, E, G, V, N, A, R	25%	10	25

A and R discounted economy tickets do not earn on domestic routes.

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Aeromexico (AM flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Premier (business)	J, C, D, I	200%	30	75
Premium Economy	W	125%	20	50
Economy	Y, B, M	125%	10	25
Economy	T, Q, L, H, K, U	100%	10	25
Economy	E, N, R	50%	10	25
Economy	V	25%	10	25

Aeromexico flights booked under the Virgin Atlantic codeshare arrangement, with a VS flight number, will earn Virgin Points and tier points at the standard Virgin Atlantic rates.

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Air Europa (UX flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C, D	150%	30	75
Business	I	125%	30	75
Premium Economy	F	125%	20	50
Economy	Y, B, M, L, E	100%	10	25
Economy	K, V, H, S, W, P	50%	10	25
Economy	R, U, T, Q	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on China Airlines (CI flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J	175%	30	75
Business	C	150%	30	75
Business	D	125%	30	75
Premium Economy	W, U	125%	20	50
Premium Economy	A	115%	20	50
Premium Economy	E	100%	20	50
Economy	Y, B, M	100%	10	25
Economy	K, V, T	75%	10	25
Economy	R,Q, H, N	50%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Czech Airlines (OK flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C, D	200%	30	75
Business	I	175%	30	75
Economy	Y, M	175%	10	25
Economy	B, H, K	100%	10	25
Economy	A, L, T	75%	10	25
Economy	G, Q, U, X	50%	10	25
Economy	N, O, S, V, W, P, R	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Garuda Indonesia (GA flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
First	F	200%	40	100
First	A	150%	40	100
Business	J, C, D, I	125%	30	75
Economy	Y	100%	10	25
Economy	B, M, K, N	100%	10	25
Economy	Q, T, V, H, S	75%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on ITA Airways (AZ flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C, D, I, E	200%	30	75
Premium Economy	P	150%	20	50
Premium Economy	A	100%	20	50
Economy	Y, B, M, H	150%	20	50
Economy	K, V, T	100%	10	25
Economy	N, S, Q, X, W	50%	10	25
Economy	R,Q, H, N	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Kenya Airways (KQ flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C, D, I	150%	30	75
Business	Z	125%	30	75
Economy	Y, B, M	100%	10	25
Economy	U, K, H, Q, T, R, E, N	50%	10	25
Economy	G, V, W	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Korean Air (KE flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
First	F	200%	40	100
Business	J	135%	30	75
Business	C, D, I, R	125%	30	75
Economy	Y, B, M, W	100%	10	25
Economy	S, H, E	75%	10	25
Economy	K, L, U	50%	10	25
Economy	Q, T	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Middle East Airlines (ME flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business fully flex	J, C, D	200%	30	75
Business value	I, Z	150%	30	75
Economy fully flex	B, M	100%	10	25
Economy value	U, K	75%	10	25
Economy saver	H, L, Q, T	50%	10	25
Economy super deal	N, R, V	25%	10	25

Middle East Airlines flights booked under the Virgin Atlantic codeshare arrangement, with a VS flight number, will earn Virgin Points and tier points at the standard Virgin Atlantic rates.

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on SAUDIA (SV flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
First	F	250%	40	100
First	A, P	200%	40	100
Business	J	125%	30	75
Business	C, D, I	150%	30	75
Guest (economy)	Y, B, M, E	100%	10	25
Guest (economy)	K, H, L, Q, T, V, N	50%	10	25
Guest (economy)	U	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on TAROM (RO flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C, D	150%	30	75
Business	I, Z	100%	30	75
Economy	Y, B, M, L	100%	10	25
Economy	U, K, H, Q, R, N, A	50%	10	25
Economy	F, T, V, S, E, P, G	25%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Vietnam Airlines (VN flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
Business	J, C	200%	30	75
Business	D, I	150%	30	75
Premium Economy	W	130%	20	50
Premium Economy	U, Z	120%	20	50
Economy	Y, B, M, S	100%	20	50
Economy	L, Q, H, K	65%	10	25
Economy	N, R	50%	10	25
Economy	T, E, A	25%	10	25
Economy	G, P	10%	10	25

Earning Virgin Points and tier points on Xiamen Air (MF flight number required):

Cabin	Booking class	Virgin Points	Tier Points < 2,000 miles	Tier Points > 2,000 miles
First	F, A	150%	40	100
Business	J, C, D, I	125%	30	75
Economy	Y, B, M, H, L	100%	20	50
Economy	K, N, Q, V	50%	10	25
Economy	T	25%	10	25

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2025)

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 18,000 Virgin Points and the free card has a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 50,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large 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

50,000 points when you sign-up 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.

Category

SkyTeam alliance partners, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

Mart says:

2 Mar2 March 11:45

I have a Saudia flight coming up and logged into add my virgin account number there is no option,I know it’s only the first day of the merger is there a work around my flight is next week.
And I’m still confused how many points and tier points I would earn ?if I can add my account in time.
It’s AMS-JED-DXB return booking class D and I’m Virgin silver?
- Pablo says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 11:58
  
  You can always retroclaim, just keep your boarding passes. 11550 miles for the return trip, 210 tier points. I’m flying this error fare over Easter. Return leg had a segment cancelled so Saudia rebooked me onto Emirates A380. Exciting times ahead.
  - Blair Waldorf Salad says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 12:51
    
    But to retroclaim you’d need to scrub your Saudia FF # from the booking too. Otherwise it’ll credit to them assuming you use Saudia’s scheme presently.
  - Mart says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 13:01
    
    Thanks for this I checked our booking and the return now has a 55hr layover how did you amend ?
    Did they alter the outgoing?
    Can you alter the airport? Would prefer Manchester?
    - Blair Waldorf Salad says:
      
      2 Mar2 March 13:48
      
      55hrs sounds like you’ve had a flight cancellation and as such, you don’t have to necessarily accept Saudia’s rebooked itinerary. You’d be best doing a search of the forums for other past instances where flights have changed leading to long layovers and what people have done.
    - Venturelog says:
      
      2 Mar2 March 14:14
      
      Call Saudia. They will put you on another airline. I don’t think you can choose the airport but can choose airline.
      We had this just as covid hit and they were brilliant. If you don’t get the right person to assist HUACA
    - Pablo says:
      
      2 Mar2 March 16:04
      
      You cannot change the airports. Find yourself a suitable Emirates alternative on google flights and then call Saudia’s Birmingham number 01217900430 and they will happily rebook you.
      - mart says:
        
        2 Mar2 March 16:17
        
        how weird I logged back in and it now says 7hrs5 mins not 55hrs I actually screenshotted it so I’m not mad …….yet
        I guess it was a glitch of some sort
        you can book the exact flight on saudia but expertflyer wont bring up the seatmap on the JED-AMS leg
      - Pablo says:
        
        2 Mar2 March 16:35
        
        Compare the times and flight numbers in the original booking confirmation email with what it is showing now. I booked directly with Saudia and every time they made a schedule change or cancellation they texted and emailed. I only called them mid February when I knew for sure when I wanted to travel.
Stuart says:

2 Mar2 March 11:48

Typo. Xiamen Air code is MF, not XF.
- Rob says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 12:35
  
  Not according to Virgin Atlantic!
Jonathan says:

2 Mar2 March 12:09

Isn’t Air Europa leaving SkyTeam soon, unless you’ve got some flights in the very near future, you’ll probably be crediting the flights BAEC or whichever OneWorld airline program is your preference
- Rob says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 12:34
  
  Will take at least a year to get EU approval for the IAG purchase.
  - Jonathan says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 12:53
    
    Ah yes, I forgot these things never happen overnight…
09R says:

2 Mar2 March 12:25

is it still possible to earn VS miles when flying on SG?
- Rob says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 12:33
  
  Yes
  - Jonathan says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 12:50
    
    Don’t forget redemptions !
    
    I managed to pick up a seat for a flight in January where I must’ve got around 1.3pence per VS point on SQ, and in Economy ! I didn’t check the full cost of buying a cash ticket, but using some points was far better value
Thorbjorn says:

2 Mar2 March 12:52

member of Virgin Atlantic Flying Clun and KLM-AirFrance Flying Blue. Which should I stick with going forward? Any pros or cons? Is one easier or harder to gain status?
- Jonathan says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 13:05
  
  Flying Blue has an odd, hybrid policy on points expiry, some can only be valid for 12 months I think remember hearing, and that’s far too shorter time for many, especially when there’s many HfP readers (Rob included) who’ve mentioned that they’re moving away from the likes of Miles&More / KrisFlyer (or use AC’s Aeroplan / Aegean’s Miles + Bonus as their preferred Star Alliance program) or not actively earning due hard expiry policy, which only gives points around 3 years life
  
  VS Flying Club has no points expiry at all
  - dundj says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 13:09
    
    Points expiry for 12 months is based on being at Explorer level, they don’t really expire if you have status.
  - Jim Lovejoy says:
    
    3 Mar3 March 00:35
    
    Points expire after 24 months.
    If they are not earned from flying any activity that earns points will extend them. I transferred a minimum from American Express (US) and extended them.
    If they are earned from flying, only earnings from flying will extend them.
    If you earn any miles by flying, all points magically become earned by flying.
    My solution is to only get points from non-flying activities unless I have a near term use for them, and if I fly a paid Flying Blue flight credit it to some other airline.
- dundj says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 13:08
  
  Depends on your flying schedules, who you fly with more and the fare codes they fall into normally. Also, when shopping online do you use the Virgin Red or Flying Blue online portals. Do you have a Virgin Atlantic credit card, or if based in the EU a Flying Blue credit card to maximiseyour mileage earnings. No one singular answer will fit for this.
- Blair Waldorf Salad says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 13:52
  
  I’ve been mulling this too, am barely clinging on in FlyingBlue with Silver status and only enough points for one last O/W J redemption to DXB. I have the VS credit card and since they offer TPs on redemptions it seems it may make sense to go with VS. TO chasing is rather secondary to me though as I would only buy a J or F ticket anyway. The last time I even used Skyteam status was when flying home from AMS for work and it got me Sky priority check in and security fast track.
  - Blair Waldorf Salad says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 13:53
    
    TP chasing, not TO!
  - dundj says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 15:18
    
    Yes, forgot about the TP’s on redemptions with VS. Though Flying Blue allows redemptions in F on AF at the top tier. The credit card earning and voucher with VS helps a touch, though Flying Blue has the promo rewards every month too, and fees can be lower, admittedly points on the redemptions can be higher. If living near a VS airport it makes more sense too. Though, being aware of fare buckets which don’t earn TP’s will need getting used to and Flying Blue earns their XP’s across the board at fixed levels.
    
    Similarly, Flying Blue miles on any airline operating the program earns based on fare spend minus the fees, though if say flying VS/DL operated and ticketed stock (for example) you earn based on miles flown and VS is mileage flown mostly.
    
    Flying Blue also rollover additional XP to the next year if you have status to make it easier for the next level or year. VS, not sure.
    
    Many options to consider and simply a case of working out what works best.
Chris D says:

2 Mar2 March 13:00

Saudi looks like a sweet spot, earning-wise; for connecting flights from Europe to Asia.
- Jonathan says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 13:17
  
  If you want to fly to Saudi Arabia and have got flexible dates, just use Wizz Air, they’ll charge you about a third of the price you’ll pay to fly with the big carriers !
  - Blair Waldorf Salad says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 13:54
    
    Do Wizz serve warm garlic bread ? I rest my case
    - Jonathan says:
      
      2 Mar2 March 13:59
      
      Can you not bring your own or find a shop in the departure terminals ?!?
      
      Why do you want garlic bread so much out of all the things to eat on a plane ?
  - lumma says:
    
    2 Mar2 March 16:10
    
    I don’t think you can fly onwards to Asia with Wizzair to be fair
mrgraham says:

2 Mar2 March 13:09

Aeromexico now offering VS as a frequent flier programme option online, which is nice.
Pooch says:

2 Mar2 March 17:12

Any idea if this impacts the Virgin-LATAM codeshare announcement from about a year ago? That still hasn’t actually resulted in anything happening with regards to earning points and status…it is just a codeshare. Have been waiting patiently for that, so hoping that they can now focus on the integrations with LATAM.
- Rhys says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 17:16
  
  No, this is a totally separate agreement
- Jim Lovejoy says:
  
  2 Mar2 March 19:27
  
  Their webpage now has an earning points and tier points with LATAM, but conspicuously nothing about spending Virgin points with LATAM.
  
  I’ll guess that you can earn points and status with LATAM but you can only spend points on their codeshares.
  
  Just a guess though.