If you want to fly on a SkyTeam airline, you'll routinely get better value from using partner loyalty programs to make these redemptions. Here are the programs you'll want to know about.<\/p>\n
The SkyTeam Alliance<\/span><\/h2>\nSkyTeam is a truly global alliance, connecting more than 166 countries and 1,000 destinations through 10,000+ daily flights. If you need to go anywhere, there's a good chance that a SkyTeam airline can get you there.<\/p>\n
There are 20 airlines in the SkyTeam alliance<\/a>, but only three offer a compelling use case for booking partner awards. They are:<\/p>\n\n- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/a><\/li>\n
- Air France\u2013KLM Flying Blue<\/a><\/li>\n
- Aeromexico Rewards<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As alternatives to Delta and its SkyMiles program, Virgin Atlantic, Air France\u2013KLM, and Aeromexico each feature frequent flyer programs that are worth your award redemptions. Each program is easily accessible via various transferable point programs<\/a>, and it's possible to book tickets through each without a major headache, which is a huge plus on its own.<\/p>\nHistorically, Korean Air SKYPASS<\/a> has also presented great value for SkyTeam travel. Unfortunately, long gone are the days when the carrier was a transfer partner of any major flexible rewards program. You still can transfer Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup> points to SKYPASS<\/a> at a 3:1 clip, but there are better uses of Marriott points than this.<\/p>\nSince SKYPASS miles have become increasingly more complicated to earn, we'll temporarily put Korean Air on the back burner and focus on the three programs that you're most likely to use. Let's dive into what you should book with each of these three.<\/p>\n
Related:\u00a0What Are the Best Flexible Rewards Points?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nVirgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/span><\/h2>\nAs a relative newcomer to the SkyTeam alliance<\/a>, Virgin Atlantic has a unique frequent flyer program called Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. As a transfer partner of four of the five major flexible rewards currencies, it's easy to rack up a hefty balance of miles that you can put towards a wide variety of SkyTeam partner flights.<\/p>\nFrom<\/div>To<\/div>Transfer Ratio<\/div>Min.Transfer<\/div>Average Time<\/div><\/div>Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>United Kingdom<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>500:500<\/div>1,000<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Capital One<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>100:100Capital One points transfer to Virgin Red. Link your Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts to use points for flights<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>1,000<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Capital One<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Red<\/div><\/div><\/div>100:100<\/div>1,000<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Chase (Ultimate Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Citibank (ThankYou Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>3:1<\/div>3,000<\/div>15 hours<\/div><\/div><\/div>Bilt Rewards<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>2,000<\/div>15 hours<\/div><\/div><\/div>Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1:1<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Red<\/div><\/div><\/div>1:1<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nVirgin Atlantic economy to London<\/span><\/h3>\nOf all the routes flying today, New York to London is one of the most iconic. There's stiff competition, given the sheer number of carriers that fly between the two cities, but what's not competitive is Delta's pricing for an award flight in economy.<\/p>\n
If you book New York-Kennedy (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) with Delta SkyMiles, you can expect to redeem between 33,000 and 41,000 miles plus a few dollars in taxes and fees for a one-way economy ticket. Alternatively, if you booked via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, you could redeem 10,000 Virgin points plus about $150 in taxes and fees. Despite the high fees, this is still an incredibly competitive rate to get across the pond.<\/p>\n![\"JFK](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Credit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nDelta Air Lines economy to Tokyo<\/span><\/h3>\nSticking with economy-class redemptions, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club also presents substantial value for flights to Japan. If you want to fly Delta from Seattle to Tokyo, your best and most cost-effective bet is booking with Virgin Atlantic. You'll pay 27,500 Flying Club points plus $5.60 in fees \u2014 a far cry from the 115,000 SkyMiles that Delta routinely charges on this one-way flight.<\/p>\nCredit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nITA Airways business class to Rome<\/span><\/h3>\nITA Airways is one of Virgin Atlantic's newer mileage redemption options<\/a>, offering great value to get to Europe in business class. At 75,000 Flying Club points for a one-way flight between Washington, D.C. and Rome, the rates are hard to beat. Comparatively, business-class awards to Rome booked with Delta SkyMiles can cost 375,000 miles on average. Flying Blue offers comparable value to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club on this route, and we'll cover that program shortly.<\/p>\nCredit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nVirgin Atlantic business class to Cape Town<\/span><\/h3>\nTo get to Cape Town, South Africa from North America, you'll have to do a lot of flying. And if you can do it in business class, you're in for a far more comfortable ride. If you had an option between booking Atlanta to Cape Town with SkyMiles or Flying Club points, going with Virgin Atlantic is a no-brainer. In business class, Delta charges upwards of 495,000 SkyMiles \u2014 over 4X the 105,000 Flying Club points that Virgin Atlantic asks for.<\/p>\n
Although you'll be on the hook for about $600 in fees by booking with Virgin Atlantic, it's a reasonable amount for a trip that lasts about 30 hours and costs more than $6,000 if booked with cash.<\/p>\nCredit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n
- \n
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/a><\/li>\n
- Air France\u2013KLM Flying Blue<\/a><\/li>\n
- Aeromexico Rewards<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As alternatives to Delta and its SkyMiles program, Virgin Atlantic, Air France\u2013KLM, and Aeromexico each feature frequent flyer programs that are worth your award redemptions. Each program is easily accessible via various transferable point programs<\/a>, and it's possible to book tickets through each without a major headache, which is a huge plus on its own.<\/p>\n
Historically, Korean Air SKYPASS<\/a> has also presented great value for SkyTeam travel. Unfortunately, long gone are the days when the carrier was a transfer partner of any major flexible rewards program. You still can transfer Marriott Bonvoy\u00ae<\/sup> points to SKYPASS<\/a> at a 3:1 clip, but there are better uses of Marriott points than this.<\/p>\n
Since SKYPASS miles have become increasingly more complicated to earn, we'll temporarily put Korean Air on the back burner and focus on the three programs that you're most likely to use. Let's dive into what you should book with each of these three.<\/p>\n
Related:\u00a0What Are the Best Flexible Rewards Points?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club<\/span><\/h2>\n
As a relative newcomer to the SkyTeam alliance<\/a>, Virgin Atlantic has a unique frequent flyer program called Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. As a transfer partner of four of the five major flexible rewards currencies, it's easy to rack up a hefty balance of miles that you can put towards a wide variety of SkyTeam partner flights.<\/p>\n
From<\/div>To<\/div>Transfer Ratio<\/div>Min.Transfer<\/div>Average Time<\/div><\/div>Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>United Kingdom<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>500:500<\/div>1,000<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Capital One<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>100:100Capital One points transfer to Virgin Red. Link your Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts to use points for flights<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>1,000<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Capital One<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Red<\/div><\/div><\/div>100:100<\/div>1,000<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Chase (Ultimate Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Citibank (ThankYou Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>3:1<\/div>3,000<\/div>15 hours<\/div><\/div><\/div>Bilt Rewards<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>2,000<\/div>15 hours<\/div><\/div><\/div>Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club)<\/div><\/div><\/div>1:1<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Virgin Red<\/div><\/div><\/div>1:1<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nVirgin Atlantic economy to London<\/span><\/h3>\n
Of all the routes flying today, New York to London is one of the most iconic. There's stiff competition, given the sheer number of carriers that fly between the two cities, but what's not competitive is Delta's pricing for an award flight in economy.<\/p>\n
If you book New York-Kennedy (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) with Delta SkyMiles, you can expect to redeem between 33,000 and 41,000 miles plus a few dollars in taxes and fees for a one-way economy ticket. Alternatively, if you booked via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, you could redeem 10,000 Virgin points plus about $150 in taxes and fees. Despite the high fees, this is still an incredibly competitive rate to get across the pond.<\/p>\n
Credit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Delta Air Lines economy to Tokyo<\/span><\/h3>\n
Sticking with economy-class redemptions, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club also presents substantial value for flights to Japan. If you want to fly Delta from Seattle to Tokyo, your best and most cost-effective bet is booking with Virgin Atlantic. You'll pay 27,500 Flying Club points plus $5.60 in fees \u2014 a far cry from the 115,000 SkyMiles that Delta routinely charges on this one-way flight.<\/p>\n
Credit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n ITA Airways business class to Rome<\/span><\/h3>\n
ITA Airways is one of Virgin Atlantic's newer mileage redemption options<\/a>, offering great value to get to Europe in business class. At 75,000 Flying Club points for a one-way flight between Washington, D.C. and Rome, the rates are hard to beat. Comparatively, business-class awards to Rome booked with Delta SkyMiles can cost 375,000 miles on average. Flying Blue offers comparable value to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club on this route, and we'll cover that program shortly.<\/p>\n
Credit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Virgin Atlantic business class to Cape Town<\/span><\/h3>\n
To get to Cape Town, South Africa from North America, you'll have to do a lot of flying. And if you can do it in business class, you're in for a far more comfortable ride. If you had an option between booking Atlanta to Cape Town with SkyMiles or Flying Club points, going with Virgin Atlantic is a no-brainer. In business class, Delta charges upwards of 495,000 SkyMiles \u2014 over 4X the 105,000 Flying Club points that Virgin Atlantic asks for.<\/p>\n
Although you'll be on the hook for about $600 in fees by booking with Virgin Atlantic, it's a reasonable amount for a trip that lasts about 30 hours and costs more than $6,000 if booked with cash.<\/p>\n
Credit: Virgin Atlantic<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n - Air France\u2013KLM Flying Blue<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"JFK](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/V_JFK_LHR-300x77.png\")
![\"SEA](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/V_SEA_HND-300x77.png\")
![\"IAD](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/V_IAD_FCO-300x77.png\")
![\"ATL](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/V_ATL_CPT-300x77.png\")