Delta or Virgin – Which has better status?

[dahokolomoki]

This year, I’m going to be traveling a bit between London and USA East Coast in business. I’m not a fan of the BA lounge at Heathrow, so looking to focus on the Virgin + Delta alliance instead. Currently have no status in both.

The Virgin programme is straightforward, but I don’t think I’ll be able to get to Gold status (1000 TPs) as I have to book the cheapest Upper Class (100 TP) and looking to do 4 business returns a year, maximum. So will get Silver.

I also dislike redemptions on Virgin; their route network is small (unless you want to go USA), and it is so hard to search for partner availability online. Although, hopefully with SkyTeam integration, this will improve?

The Delta SkyMiles programme is a minefield though, in trying to figure out qualification! So I will be probably traveling in the cheapest business class (I) so approximately 38k MQMs, which only gets me to Silver…! Which doesn’t even get me to SkyTeam Elite Plus level, for lounge access on any SkyTeam ticket.

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Any thoughts? Am I calculating something wrong above? It feels like 4 RT business class tickets (which will cost like £5k-£8k each!) should really get me a decent level of status. Those 4 trips get me at least 1000+ TPs and at least Silver on BA. Which is much better than Virgin Silver, or Delta Silver…

Is there another SkyTeam programme that better suits my needs? I’m primarily looking to redeem miles for economy tickets, and for leisure travel in economy so looking for lounge access and a free check-in bag as perks…

[dahokolomoki]

EDIT: So it looks like I made a mistake with my Virgin Tier Points calculations. While there is a UC 100TP earning level, I think the tickets I will usually be booking are I or C class on Virgin or Delta; so that would give me 1600TP from 4 return flights, and therefore Gold Status.

This really changes the equation then? Virgin Gold looks pretty impressive in terms of perks, especially now that it should also get Skyteam Elite Plus benefits sometime in 2023!

[cats_are_best]

From what you describe, I’d go for Virgin Flying Club.

If you’re FC Gold, I think it equates to Delta’s Gold Medallion. When on DL internal flights in US, my FC Gold on bookings always worked. Things like lounge access, preferred seat choice, onboard drink and snack etc. and you get wait listed for upgrades, though on busy flights the were usually too many DL Platinum/Diamonds ahead, but the preferred seating at least meant I wasn’t down at the back!

And as you say, Skyteam is coming, once it kicks in there should be more/simpler redemption opportunities.

[AL]

Virgin Gold all the way. I would suggest DL only if you’re going to be connecting regularly (and 4 times, no connections isn’t really regularly). A lot of DL customers will earn at least part of their status through spend on credit cards. If you don’t have to deal with MQMs, then don’t. If you hold status elsewhere, they’ll match that – fill the form out on the website.

FC Gold does equate to GM.

[Rob]

Whilst I don’t know anything, it is possible things could change when Virgin joins SkyTeam is a few weeks. If you can delay committing for a bit it might help you.

[dahokolomoki]

Thanks everyone for chiming in!

Yes – looks like FC Gold is the better target to aim for, also especially given the potentially imminent integration into SkyTeam.

Now just hoping that the Clubhouse at LHR doesn’t get over-run by card holders from Delta, AF, KLM, etc!

[AL]

dahokolomoki wrote:

Now just hoping that the Clubhouse at LHR doesn’t get over-run by card holders from Delta, AF, KLM, etc!

There is a little bit of trepidation about this topic in the various VS-related forums I frequent, but overall I think the hints that Shai provided to the press et al. have been consistent in suggesting that the Clubhouse will have an exemption that prevents non-VS customers using it. Rob wrote this article about VS joining SkyTeam in September, which includes a reference to this.