Virgin Atlantic offering 25% off award flights (two days left)

These are the last two days for Virgin’s award sale that’s giving a 25% discount on all award bookings on all routes and cabins for flights through the end of the year.

The Deal

• Save 25% on Virgin Atlantic award flights
• Direct link to offer.

Key Terms

• Offer valid for new reward seats, upgrades and companion bookings in all cabins booked using Virgin Points between 00:01 GMT 13th September 2024 and 23:59 GMT 17th September 2024. All flight departures, including returns, must be on or before 31st December 2024. 
• A 25% reduction will be applied at the time of booking to the Virgin Points price of all redemption bookings booked between 13th September 2024 – 17th September 2024. 
• Discount is not valid on Gold Reward flight bookings (reward flight bookings booked with double points) or Points Plus Money bookings.  
• Valid on Virgin Atlantic designated flights that are Virgin Atlantic marketed and operated routes only (flight number starts with VS).
• Partner airline and codeshare flights are not eligible.
• Full taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges apply and vary according to the choice of cabin, departure airport, destination, and date(s) of travel. The exact amount will be advised at the time of booking.
• The discount only applies to Virgin Points, not any cash element (taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges) of the flight price.
• Existing bookings changed within the promotional booking period will be eligible for this offer and any reduction in the points price will be credited back to the member’s account. Changes are subject to the usual change fees and any increase in taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges. 
• Bookings made within the promotional booking period which are then subsequently changed outside of promotional booking period detailed within this offer, will no longer be eligible for this offer and will be charged the difference in points plus any applicable fees, and additional taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges at the time of making the change. 

Quick Thoughts

Award rates for travel on Virgin Atlantic are already fairly reasonable in terms of the number of points required, so with 25% back, the points rates look very appealing indeed. That said, fuel surcharges and taxes will still be $600-1000 on most routes in business each way.

Economy Classic fees are much more reasonable and, for someone wanting to cross the Atlantic, this could result in some absurdly low award pricing miles-wise. For example, flying from New York to London off-peak normally only costs 10,000 miles one-way, so with this award sale that cost will only drop to 7,500 miles. From New York to London you’re looking at ~$153 in fees, while in the other direction fees are ~$280-$345.

Although Virgin lets you cancel or change award flights, there’s a $50 fee per passenger unless the taxes and fees are less than that.

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