Virgin Atlantic Silver – Air France benefits

[Dann]

My partner has VA Silver, and we’ve added the number to the Air France booking we have, but it seems it’s not letting him have his free checked luggage for being ST Elite??

[mzb]

Just checked in to my AF flight tomorrow morning also as VS Silver, booked into the cheapest Economy fare LHR-CDG. I do see a checked luggage allowance, but the boarding pass doesn’t show Sky Priority… Sorry if this is not very helpful.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

VS Silver = SkyTeam Elite. ST Elite does not confer Sky Priority (though in practice the small print on airport signage usually does). Sky Priority is automatically pricided to Sky Team Elite Plus members, e.g. VS Gold.

On the no baggage allowance on boarding pass, I suggest raising it (early) at the check-in desk and have a screenshot of the SkyTeam webpage to hand.

[mzb]

Thanks for clarifying this, clearly not a SkyTeam expert here 🙂

I guess what confused me was this blurb on the Virgin Atlantic website

Travel on any Air France or KLM operated service in any cabin class and enjoy:
Priority Boarding
Priority Check-In
Priority Baggage Drop Off

[anuj]

mzb wrote:

Thanks for clarifying this, clearly not a SkyTeam expert here 🙂

I guess what confused me was this blurb on the Virgin Atlantic website

Travel on any Air France or KLM operated service in any cabin class and enjoy:
Priority Boarding
Priority Check-In
Priority Baggage Drop Off

You can show them that webpage if they refuse as It does clearly suggest you’re entitled to those as a Silver.

[AL]

anuj wrote:

You can show them that webpage if they refuse as It does clearly suggest you’re entitled to those as a Silver.

Their usual retort is along the lines of “that is not the Air France website”. If you aren’t offered these perks, then I think a swift word with VS to get the website updated would be of benefit to many!

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

mzb wrote:

Thanks for clarifying this, clearly not a SkyTeam expert here 🙂

I guess what confused me was this blurb on the Virgin Atlantic website

Travel on any Air France or KLM operated service in any cabin class and enjoy:
Priority Boarding
Priority Check-In
Priority Baggage Drop Off

The blurb is correct. You will get all of those things; not just necessarily on an equivalent basis to those with Sky Priority. For example Sky Priority passengers will board in the first group; ST Elites will board in the second group. If the group differentiation is unclear, ask a check-in agent/gate agent as required.

[mzb]

Boarding pass ended up with a zone 3 designation which is after Business and sky priority.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

mzb wrote:

Boarding pass ended up with a zone 3 designation which is after Business and sky priority.

Sounds about right. Priority over some, just not Elite Plus and Biz.

[ramsey]

I travelled Air France on their new Business Lite fare from Dublin via CDG to BKK. I tried to credit it to Virgin but got this response….

“On examining the documents you sent us, it is with regret that we are unable to credit points for your following flights on this occasion, as these flights are in classes that does not qualify for Virgin points:
AF0152
Class-O
AF0153
Class-O
CDG-BKK
Although you flew with one of our partner airlines, not all classes are eligible for Virgin points, as determined by the partner. For a full list of earning classes please visit our website.”

On Virgins website I can’t see O fare type for Air France so seems correct? Anyone know what O is? It was a great fare £1200 business return and only thing you miss with the lite element was no lounge access, as I don’t need the extra bags! Presume be best to credit it if I can to flying blue.

[AL]

ramsey wrote:

<snip>On Virgins website I can’t see O fare type for Air France so seems correct? Anyone know what O is? It was a great fare £1200 business return and only thing you miss with the lite element was no lounge access, as I don’t need the extra bags! Presume be best to credit it if I can to flying blue.

AF O is Business Light (https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Air-Travel/Air-France-KLM-expands-Light-fares-on-long-haul-flights), which earns nothing (https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/partner-airlines/skyteam/air-france/air-france-earn-points.html). The great value flight was, in part, because AF aren’t having to cough up cash to another airline to get at some mileage for you.

[ramsey]

AL wrote:

ramsey wrote:

<snip>On Virgins website I can’t see O fare type for Air France so seems correct? Anyone know what O is? It was a great fare £1200 business return and only thing you miss with the lite element was no lounge access, as I don’t need the extra bags! Presume be best to credit it if I can to flying blue.

AF O is Business Light (https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Air-Travel/Air-France-KLM-expands-Light-fares-on-long-haul-flights), which earns nothing (https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/partner-airlines/skyteam/air-france/air-france-earn-points.html). The great value flight was, in part, because AF aren’t having to cough up cash to another airline to get at some mileage for you.

Thanks for the reply. I knew about the lounge access and baggage, but didn’t see anywhere explicitly about Business Lite not earning miles or tier points, so they kept that quiet? I’ll have a go getting it credited to flying blue.

[anuj]

https://www.wheretocredit.com/air-france/o

I would credit it to one of the ones that credit 100%, (but you’ll have to consider whether you will have further opportunities to top those miles up to a point where you have enough to make a redemption.