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Even though many of us have our doubts about the future of Virgin Atlantic, and by extension the Flying Club, the airline and loyalty programme have survived a supposed end-of-May deadline for a government bailout. How much longer will the airline survive? I imagine that depends on how Sir Richard Branson manages to structure a recapitalisation of the airline, using funds raised from selling some of his shares in Virgin Galactic…

Regardless… many of you will be aware that I consider one specific reward to be the best one going. It simply requires 120,000 Flying Club miles. Ironically enough, were it not for the coronavirus, I would have flown it yesterday…

I am referring of course to All Nippon Airways rewards in First Class, using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles to pay for your reward.

Recently, US blog One Mile at a Time noticed that carrier-imposed surcharges – i.e. YQ or fuel surcharge – were now $1 for All Nippon Airways intercontinental flights. And a quick check for the Europe to Japan options shows that this is indeed true.

For what it’s worth, ANA has never charged outrageously high YQ / surcharges (unlike British Airways and Lufthansa), but this is still a savings of £100+ versus what you would have paid a few weeks ago for this same reward to Japan.

Considering that many Flying Club members simply redeem their miles on Virgin Atlantic flights, paying high taxes and surcharges, the chance for a highly-aspirational reward for relatively few miles AND not requiring any co-payment other than actual taxes???  My favourite reward option just got a bit better… even though it might take awhile before I accumulate another 120,000 Virgin miles. 🙁