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Bits: Virgin launches Boston and San Francisco from Manchester, Virgin / Flybe codeshares

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News in brief:

Virgin Atlantic to launch two new routes from Manchester

In a surprising but welcome move, Virgin Atlantic is to launch new routes to Boston and San Francisco from Manchester.

You will need to wait a while before you can fly as these routes will only launch with the Summer 2017 timetable.  This implies late March 2017.

San Francisco will operate three times per week together with two weekly flights to Boston.

Both routes will use (presumably the same) Airbus A330 in a three class configuration.

Existing Virgin routes from Manchester are Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando and Barbados.  Virgin partner and 49% shareholder Delta also operates a New York service from the airport.

You can read more on the Manchester Evening News site.

Virgin Atlantic Flybe codeshares

Virgin to codeshare with Flybe

Separately, Virgin Atlantic has announced a codeshare agreement with Flybe.  This will allow passengers to book Flybe connections to Virgin Atlantic flights on a single ticket, with baggage checked through.

Full details of the twenty Flybe routes included, covering Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester, can be found here on the Virgin Atlantic website.

It seems unlikely that you will be able to earn or redeem Virgin Flying Club miles with Flybe given their existing partnership with Avios.


How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards

How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, one has a bonus of 15,000 points):

Virgin Rewards credit card

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

The UK’s most generous free Visa or Mastercard at 0.75 points / £1 Read our full review

Virgin Rewards Plus credit card

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 points bonus and the most generous non-Amex for day to day spending Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points:

Nectar American Express

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 30,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 30,000 Virgin Points:

American Express Platinum card Amex

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points

(Want to earn more Virgin Points?  Click here to see our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club and click here for our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points.)

Comments (39)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • Callum says:

    I doubt the avios partnership will prevent awarding flying club miles. Many airlines have mile partnerships with competing alliances, including Iberia who gives out avios for flights on a star alliance carrier and vice versa.

  • Boddingtons says:

    Possibly explains why Thomas Cook have just dropped their recently announced MAN-SFO route

    • James says:

      I hear they have had trouble acquiring another a330 which they would need for SFO and the other route increases (which are also cancelled).

  • James Ward says:

    If I’m reading Flybe’s route map right, there are no connections into VS long haul flights from LHR or LGW. So what’s the point?

    • GRAHAM THOMAS says:

      Because flybe go into Manchester and GATWICK to match new routes?!?!

    • James says:

      Manchester is the point (shocking I know). Expect more from VS at MAN.

      • mark1980 says:

        We desperately need a service from MAN to LGW – would make leisure redemptions so much easier for those of us in the north. Plus we have family who live just near gatwick and the 5 hour drive is gruelling…

  • Danksy says:

    Looks like the graphics department got Manchester and Leeds mixed up on the Virgin brochure!

  • Mikeact says:

    This ‘free ad’ should be deleted.

    • Rob says:

      I doubt anyone would buy those via the link when they can buy direct and get points!

      • Worzel says:

        And there was me finking that Squills lived in Carnwall! 🙂 .

        • harry says:

          it’s not mygoodself, of course

          I’m on my hols

          just saying that this guy sold nearly 800-off @ 2 items, no reason you can’t undercut him & sell a few for some free points

          not for moi-même

          • Simon says:

            but lots also seem to sell for around half that. So a more prudent assumption would be selling/clearing for £3. Making 1p a point. Borderline.

          • Worzel says:

            Understood.

  • Janice Edgar says:

    Just bought more ink- this time for a printer that I own! So for me they were free points!

  • Dale says:

    Charming. Driving down to Manchester from Scotland at end of April and could have got a connection? doh!

  • Cuchlainn says:

    OT – Rob, many thanks as my BAPP Amex 25K bonus ( + 1K referral from you ) added to BAEC a/ c two days ago

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.