V-Flyer

Hi guys,

I've had FC membership for some 3 years. Recently, through a Star alliance offer, I was offered BMI Diamond Silver because I had silver VS FC. I hadn't paid much attention to BMI, but I was just checking their website and their rewards program seems quite generous. I'm after some thoughts and opinions. Is it true that all you need to reach Diamond gold is 38000 miles? (this gives you access to Virgin Clubhouse). A first class return to the US with any Star alliance airline is 60000 miles, is it hard to find a reward flight with StarA.?. More miles for car hires?. No tiers, just miles?. Silver gives you access to lounges?....

For the last three years I have been Virgin mad, and now I feel as if I've just been under a cold shower. Should I change?, I love flying with Virgin, please tell that I read it wrong and it's not worth changing!!.[:(]

Hi mpsb,

From my reading of the bmi miles guide,

from the UK (zone 1) it is 45k miles in eco to zone 3 ( USA).
For business is is 1.5* that (ie appox 67.6) and 2* for first (90k).
Once you are silver it is 38k miles for Gold ( if starting from blue it would be 16k to silver and then 38k to gold)-note these are membership miles ( there is also destination miles for which you get 25% bonus)

bmi Gold only gets you access to the LHR clubhouse in T3 when flying VS ( no other clubhouses)

Of course going to the US from the UK you may be limited to bmi ( 3 destinations) , United, or US Airways unless you want to change elsewhere in europe ( ie FRA/MUC for LH)

I suppose in the end it depends on your flying patterns and which airline/ alliance will work best for you. ( ie if you fly often to a destination not served by VS or DL/CO ( VS partners) then another airline may be better for you.



Regards

TBS

Thanks,

Hmm... all seems terribly complicated, need a Phd in reward points!!. Think I will stay where I am. By the way do you know if I can get reward points with Marriot, have a few nights booked with them in the next few months. I can't find them on the VS website, but can I transfer marriot points to Virgin by some other means.

Cheers.

Hi,

I do not think you can transfer them directly to Virgin ( I do not think VS is a partner of Marriott)

I'm not sure if there is another way of transferring them via another partner ( but you might lose a large proportion of the miles even if you can)

Regards

TBS

Unfortunately, I do not know of any way to transfer Marriott points to your FC account - more is the pity [:(]

Nick

I have BMI Gold (making * Gold) and to be honest I don't really see me shifting anything to them, I'll be staying with my VS Gold for a long time. There are far too many * Golds out there.

No expert on the redemption levels at all for *, but even if it was 90k still not really interested as I find VS UCS the way to go.

Thanks,
Richard

You can convert from Marriot to Virgin but not directly and as TBS mentioned you'd lose quite a bit in the conversion.

Check out the following for an explanation of the conversion - you'll need an idea of how many points you're likely to get through Marriot and also be a member of the in-between schemes.

http://www.webflyer.com/programs/mileage_converter/

Phil (Buffy)