Delta operated flights with Virgin Points

[GrahamL]

Hi I’m new to the forum and have a question.

I’m collecting virgin points with my Tesco clubcard and virgin Atlantic credit card. i want to book flights from EDI to JFK operated by Delta. I’ve tried phoning virgin twice about this and keep being told that rewards flights get released around 9/10 months ahead but this doesn’t seem to be the case with Delta flights as there are never any available when i look on the Virgin website on that timescale.

Has anyone on here booked Delta flights through the virgin website and got any knowledge of this. I’m trying to find the best time in advance to book to make sure i get rewards flights. Or do you book through Delta and somehow use your virgin points. I am aware i will need 50k points per flight for economy as it’s Delta not Virgin (which is sh*t)

[Rob]

Hi Graham

There is no real logic to Delta flight redemptions. They tend to release very little availability to partners unfortunately – Economy is less tricky to get than Business (where you can often not find a single seat looking a year head on transatlantic routes) but I’d still count you as lucky if anything pops up.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

If you have VS points you need to redeem via VS even if it’s for a DL operated flight.

Though you may have more luck if you connect via LHR or AMS or CDG

[Travel Strong]

The general trend with Delta flights being made available on Virgin points is that the ‘cheapest’ Delta redemptions are available.

Thereford you can browse the redemption opportunities on the Delta site to get a feel for what the cheapest redemption rates are (in terms of number of miles) and then see if the lowest priced ones appear on Virgin.

As above – there is no pattern to when they are released though.

[GrahamL]

Thanks for the replies it looks like i may have to consider connecting via another airport but the cash prices this way are nowhere near as appealing though you need a lot less VS points

[NorthernLass]

Delta redemptions seem ridiculously expensive, even on shorter routes. VS availability MAN-JFK is usually pretty good if that’s a feasible option. Train from Edinburgh is just over 2 hours.

[ekposh]

For context, I’m trying a domestic Delta route, Y class, using VS points. Nearly impossible, despite the being tens of flights a day, at most only one shows which is at a terribly inconvenient time. Then a few weeks before, they all pop up before vanishing.

Extensive online research has led to me to conclude that Delta availability with partner miles is totally random and generally quite poor, so I guess it’s a question of luck and perseverance.

[Froggee]

I just had a look out of interest and the first random date I searched had availability. So yay me.

But it will be a miracle getting anything other than economy. You can search online with Virgin and do not need to call. See if you can see flights searching for EDI-JFK one-way on 10,11,13 March?

They obviously won’t be the flights you want but at least you’ll know you are searching correctly so you don’t have to call.