Virgin Atlantic is at present providing a standing match alternative for elite members of choose frequent flyer applications, together with Air Canada Aeroplan.
Eligible frequent flyers can match to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership Silver or Gold standing for a full 12 months, offered they’ve an upcoming Virgin Atlantic flight booked.
Notably, each paid and award bookings qualify, making this one of many extra accessible airline standing matches accessible.
Flying Membership elite standing additionally grants recognition throughout the SkyTeam alliance, with Silver equivalent to SkyTeam Elite and Gold to SkyTeam Elite Plus.
This implies members can take pleasure in precedence providers, additional baggage, and even lounge entry when flying with SkyTeam companions like Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and others.
For Canadians planning a transatlantic journey, this may very well be an economical solution to unlock significant journey perks with minimal dedication.
Standing Match to Virgin Atlantic Gold & Silver Standing
Virgin Atlantic’s present standing match provide is obtainable to elite members of quite a lot of airline loyalty applications. You’ll discover a full chart of eligible airways and corresponding high and second tier statuses beneath.
For the needs of this submit, we’ll focus particularly on Air Canada Aeroplan.
To match to Flying Membership Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus), you’ll want:
- Prime-tier Aeroplan standing (50K, 75K, or Tremendous Elite)
- A future Virgin Atlantic flight in Premium or Higher Class (paid or booked with factors)
- Proof of your present elite standing, together with title and expiry date
- No prior Flying Membership standing by way of a match prior to now 5 years
To match to Flying Membership Silver (SkyTeam Elite), the necessities are barely simpler:
- Second-tier Aeroplan standing (25K or 35K)
- A future Virgin Atlantic flight in any cabin, together with Financial system (paid or booked with factors)
- The identical proof-of-status necessities as above
One necessary factor to notice is that your standing match is tied to the particular flight you employ to qualify. Should you cancel or change that reserving with out notifying Virgin Atlantic, your match could also be voided and your new standing revoked.
In case your journey plans change, you should definitely contact the standing match group upfront to keep away from any points.
Take into account that cancelling or altering a Virgin Atlantic award reserving comes with a $100 USD charge per passenger, so it’s price locking in your journey plans earlier than making use of for the match.
Lastly, this provide isn’t accessible to members who at present maintain any degree of elite standing with a SkyTeam airline. Should you’re already SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus by one other program, you received’t be eligible for the match.
Your new standing can be granted 72 hours earlier than your qualifying flight and is legitimate for 12 months. To maintain it past that, you’ll must earn 400 tier factors (Silver) or 1,000 tier factors (Gold) inside the membership yr.
One of many largest promoting factors of this match is that award bookings depend. You don’t must pay money on your qualifying flight.
For Canadian travellers, Virgin Atlantic’s not too long ago launched Toronto (YYZ) to London Heathrow (LHR) route is a perfect choice.
Award pricing on this route might be extremely affordable:
- Financial system: 6,000 Virgin factors + $142 (CAD) in taxes
- Premium: 10,500 Virgin factors + $189 (CAD) in taxes
- Higher Class: 29,000 Virgin factors + $403 (CAD) in taxes
These are one-way saver costs primarily based on Virgin Atlantic’s award chart. Whereas they symbolize the bottom anticipated price, precise pricing could range relying on demand and availability.
However so far as standing match alternatives go, it is a low-cost entry level into Flying Membership elite standing and SkyTeam perks.
Sadly Flying Membership doesn’t have a Canadian bank card companion, however you may switch Marriott Bonvoy factors at a 3:1 ratio (with a bonus 5,000 factors for each 60,000 transferred).
If in case you have entry to US bank cards, you’re in a greater spot—Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards can each be transferred to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership at a 1:1 ratio, making it simpler to e-book a qualifying flight on factors.
Alternatively, it’s also possible to purchase Virgin Factors straight. Virgin Atlantic often runs purchase factors promotions, usually with bonuses of as much as 70%.
For instance, throughout a latest sale, you can buy 9,000 factors for $225 USD and obtain a 20% bonus, totalling 10,800 Virgin Factors—sufficient for a one-way Premium cabin flight from Toronto to London, which might qualify you for a Flying Membership Gold standing match.
What Does Virgin Atlantic Standing Get You?
Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership standing unlocks a spread of worthwhile advantages, each when flying with Virgin Atlantic and throughout the SkyTeam alliance.
Due to this standing match alternative, the bar for entry is surprisingly low, but the rewards, particularly on the Gold tier, are genuinely premium.
Flying Membership Silver
With a second-tier Aeroplan standing (25K or 35K) and any Virgin Atlantic flight booked in any cabin, you’ll qualify for Silver standing. Right here’s what you get:
- SkyTeam Elite standing: precedence providers, and additional baggage throughout all SkyTeam companions
- 30% bonus Virgin Factors on Virgin Atlantic flights and trip bookings
- One additional checked bag
- Precedence check-in counters, boarding, and baggage dealing with
- Commonplace seat project as much as seven days prior, even in Financial system Mild
Whereas Silver doesn’t embody lounge entry, it nonetheless enhances your airport and inflight expertise throughout a number of airways. It’s a powerful mid-tier standing that’s simple to earn and helpful to carry.
Flying Membership Gold
Gold standing is the place issues actually begin to shine. Should you maintain Aeroplan 50K or greater and e-book a Premium or Higher Class flight, you may unlock Virgin Atlantic’s top-tier advantages:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus standing: lounge entry, precedence providers, and additional baggage throughout all SkyTeam companions
- 60% bonus Virgin Factors on flights and vacation packages
- Higher Class check-in and precedence safety entry—even on Financial system tickets
- Free seat choice in any cabin, together with exit row seats in Financial system Basic
- Further baggage allowance: extra carry-on and checked baggage
- Entry to Clubhouses and the Heathrow Revivals Lounge
- Means to present Silver standing to a good friend or member of the family
However maybe essentially the most distinctive perks of Flying Membership Gold are the airport lounge experiences, that are arguably among the many finest within the airline world.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow isn’t your typical enterprise lounge.
It’s extra like a personal members’ membership with à la carte eating, a full-service bar, spa showers, Peloton bikes, and even a pool desk. The design is stylish, and the environment is deliberately unique.
On arrival, Gold members may entry the Heathrow Revivals Lounge, a uncommon amenity as of late. With 20 personal bathe suites, a cooked-to-order English breakfast, and garment urgent providers, it’s the best spot to clean up earlier than heading into the town.
In right this moment’s journey panorama, the place many lounges are overcrowded and dropping their premium really feel, this degree of exclusivity is genuinely refreshing.
It’s not nearly free meals and drinks—it’s about area, consolation, and truly with the ability to unwind earlier than or after your flight.
And whereas it may not make the headlines, the flexibility to present Flying Membership Silver standing to another person is an underrated perk.
Whether or not it’s a companion, good friend, or member of the family, giving them entry to precedence check-in, boarding, and baggage dealing with might make their journey day quite a bit smoother.
Personally, this is likely one of the most satisfying components of the miles and factors recreation for me. Seeing family members profit from elite therapy and upgraded journey experiences makes all the hassle worthwhile, and it’s what retains me motivated to continue to learn and optimizing on this area.
Is the Virgin Atlantic Standing Match Value It?
Should you’ve already acquired Aeroplan standing, this is likely one of the best standing upgrades you’ll ever come throughout.
There’s no want to leap by hoops. No spend requirement, no flight problem, and no must fly round-trip in enterprise class. All it takes is one Virgin Atlantic flight with a VS flight quantity, paid or on factors, and also you’re in.
Contemplating that Premium and Higher Class redemptions from Toronto to London begin as little as 10,500 and 29,000 Virgin Factors, respectively, it is a low-cost solution to safe SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus standing for a whole yr.
And in the event you’re sitting on Marriott Bonvoy factors or have entry to US transferable factors, topping up for a redemption is simple.
After all, Virgin Atlantic doesn’t have the identical attain in Canada as Air Canada or WestJet, however that’s probably not the purpose.
This match isn’t nearly flying Virgin—it’s about unlocking precedence providers, lounge entry, and additional baggage allowances throughout your entire SkyTeam community.
Should you’re planning a visit to London, and even simply curious to check out a brand new airline and alliance, this match is properly price contemplating.
Worst case? You get a easy flight and a style of elite therapy.
Greatest case? You leverage SkyTeam Elite Plus all yr lengthy, on a number of worldwide journeys.
Conclusion
You may match your Aeroplan Elite Standing to Virgin Atlantic and luxuriate in 12 months of elevated journey advantages, together with SkyTeam standing perks, with only one qualifying flight.
It’s a uncommon alternative with minimal friction: no income fare required, no long-winded problem, and award bookings are absolutely eligible.
Whether or not you’re in it for lounge entry, precedence therapy, or the enjoyment of sharing standing perks with another person, this match gives severe upside for Aeroplan elites—particularly with Virgin Atlantic’s Toronto–London route now stay.
With Virgin Atlantic now flying direct from Toronto to London and award area pricing out generously, this match makes much more sense for Canadian travellers.
And in the event you’ve acquired Aeroplan standing sitting unused, right here’s your excuse to make it be just right for you, past simply flying Air Canada.
