SkyMiles vs Virgin Flying Club
Both Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are airline loyalty programs. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | SkyMiles | Virgin Flying Club |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Airline miles | Airline miles |
| Alliance / network | SkyTeam | SkyTeam (associate) |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | Yes |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | No | Yes (high on Virgin metal) |
| Expiration | Never expire | Expire after 36 months of inactivity |
| Transfers in from | Amex MR | Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One, Citi TY, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy |
| Signature sweet spots | Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales, SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air | Delta One US-Europe one-way for 50K, ANA First Class round-trip US-Japan for 110K, ANA Business round-trip US-Japan for 90K |
| Flagship benefit | Easy to earn via Amex transfers + flash sales for low-cost domestic | Transfer-in partner from every major bank — easiest to top up |
Where SkyMiles wins
- SkyMiles doesn't pass fuel surcharges to most awards (Virgin Flying Club does).
- Easiest to earn but worst-value program of the US Big Three for premium cabins.
Where Virgin Flying Club wins
- Virgin Flying Club publishes a fixed award chart — easier to plan ahead.
- Virgin Flying Club accepts transfers from more bank programs — easier to top up.
- Best ANA First Class redemption in the points world.
Pick SkyMiles if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales or SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air. SkyMiles is the program built for them.
Pick Virgin Flying Club if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Delta One US-Europe one-way for 50K or ANA First Class round-trip US-Japan for 110K. Virgin Flying Club is the program built for them.
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. Most serious award travelers maintain status (or at least active accounts) across multiple programs because the best partner award for a given route is rarely the same program twice in a row. Find the saver seat first; then book through whichever program prices it cheapest.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
Check availability →