All Four Virgin-Branded Airlines Team for Reciprocal Loyalty-Program Benefits

Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin America and V Australia/Virgin Blue have reached agreement to offer each airline’s loyalty-program members the opportunity to earn miles or points when taking flights on their sister-branded airlines.

Any passenger flying on Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin America, and V Australia/Virgin Blue is now eligible to earn miles or points for his or her flights and can later redeem the points under the frequent-flyer program of the Virgin carrier of which he or she is a member. The reciprocal agreements enable Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club members to earn Flying Club miles/status points; Virgin America’s Elevate members to earn Elevate points; and V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members to earn Velocity points, wherever they are flying on a Virgin-branded carrier around the world.

Additionally, as of August 10, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members and V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members can redeem their miles on either of the airlines. V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members and Virgin America Elevate members will be eligible to spend their miles or points to fly on either airline as of the fourth quarter of 2010, the airlines say. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members and Virgin America Elevate members will be eligible to spend their miles or points on either airline as of the second quarter of 2011.

To commemorate the frequent-flyer-program agreements, each Virgin airline is offering members who fly with at least two of the four Virgin-branded airlines by January 31, 2011 the chance to win a week’s vacation in the British Virgin Islands on Sir Richard Branson’s private island Necker. For more information and for the official rules for the sweepstakes, visit www.virginatlantic.com, www.virginamerica.com, or www.vaustralia.com.

Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin America, Virgin Blue and V Australia have teamed to offer each airline's loyalty-program members the opportunity to earn miles or points when taking flights on their sister-branded airlines

“Virgin is known around the world for its legendary in-flight service, but now it is even more rewarding to fly with our global airlines. In celebration of the closer ties between the airlines, as well as to reward our most loyal guests, three globetrotting Virgin loyalty program members will win a holiday on Necker,” says Sir Richard Branson, founder and president of the Virgin Group.

“We always strive to offer Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club members easier ways to earn miles and better rewards. I am sure that earning and redeeming on all Virgin airlines worldwide will be highly valued by our members,” says Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic Airways. “This new frequent flyer program further allows us to reward travelers who prefer to fly with, and remain loyal to, the Virgin branded airlines and we hope this offers an added incentive to do so.”

The airlines say the new point-earning and -redeeming opportunities add value to an existing program launched in June 2009 which allows V Australia passengers to earn Elevate points for the Virgin America leg of their journey and lets Virgin Atlantic and V Australia passengers earn points on either carrier. This followed a similar arrangement between Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Blue, which began in 2008.

In addition, Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic are now offering seamless travel on the networks of both carriers, via an international one-way interline agreement for bookings and travel beginning in September. Passengers will be able to book single tickets and check their bags through to their final Virgin destinations when traveling on both carriers if they book through Virgin Atlantic (via call center) or travel agent.

Virgin America launched a U.S.-Australia interline arrangement with V Australia/Virgin Blue in June 2009. Virgin Atlantic and V Australia/Virgin Blue also have an interline agreement in place.