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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has some pretty great sweet spots for booking partner flights. And despite a recent devaluation of Delta One awards, Virgin Atlantic can still be a much more reasonable option for booking many Delta flights than through Delta itself.
However, Delta often charges an outrageous amount of miles for its reward flights — sometimes double or triple what Virgin Atlantic charges. Moreover, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points transfer from all of the major banks, and there are often transfer bonuses.
In other words, it's generally pretty easy to rack up points, and you can often redeem them for better value than Delta SkyMiles. So, don't overlook Virgin Atlantic Flying Club!
But did you know that once you book a Delta flight through Virgin Atlantic, you can add the booking number to your Delta account? Here's how to do it and why it's a good idea.
Why Should You Add Virgin Atlantic Bookings to Your Delta Account?
As anyone who has booked partner awards knows, it can be frustrating and annoying to search through multiple airline apps and websites to find your flight information. If I'm flying on Delta, I want to be able to open my Delta app and see my flight.
So, the most obvious reason for adding your Virgin booking to your Delta account is that it allows you to pull up your flight information right from your Delta app.
However, there are other benefits to adding Delta flights booked with Virgin Atlantic points to your SkyMiles frequent flyer account.
Selecting seats
First, when you book an award flight through Delta, you are typically allowed to pay for an upgrade when selecting seats. While these offers vary in value, you can sometimes get a great deal to upgrade to Delta One, domestic first class, or extra legroom seats. If you book through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, you will not have this opportunity unless you add the booking to your Delta account.
Upgrades
If you are a Delta frequent flyer with Medallion elite status, you are eligible for complimentary space-available upgrades. If you add your Delta number to your Virgin Atlantic booking, you will be eligible for those same upgrades as if you booked with SkyMiles rather than Flying Club points. That is worth the few seconds it takes to swap out your frequent flyer account numbers on your booking.
Related: SkyTeam Elite Plus Status: What It Is and Why You Should Earn It
How To Add a Virgin Atlantic Booking to Your Delta SkyMiles Account
Ok, so how do you do it? Here are the three simple steps to adding your flight to your Delta account.
Log into your Delta account
First, log into your Delta account and locate your trip. Click on the tab labeled “My Trips,” select “Confirmation Number,” and enter your Virgin Atlantic booking reference number and your first and last name.
Edit your frequent flyer number
Once you have pulled your booking up, look for the “Passenger Information” section. You will remove your Virgin Atlantic number by clicking “Remove” next to the Flying Club number. This step ensures your booking is no longer linked to your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account. Delta will confirm that your frequent flyer number has been removed.
Then, you will need to select Delta Air Lines from the drop-down menu in the “Loyalty & Benefits” section and add your SkyMiles frequent flyer number.
Confirm your Virgin Atlantic booking is showing in your Delta account
Finally, you will want to navigate back to the “My Trips” section. If your itinerary does not show, you may need to log out and back in. Then, voila! You have connected your booking to your Delta account and can now reap the benefits outlined above.
Bottom Line
Changing out which frequent flyer number is attached to your booking can make a world of difference to your travel. The ease and practicality of having your Delta flight visible on your Delta app may be a primary factor. And don't overlook the upgrade possibilities afforded by the change. Ultimately, we all strive to achieve the greatest comfort for the least expense when flying. This little step can have big rewards.
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