SkyTeam was founded in 2000 to provide the opportunity for airlines to work together to offer their customers access to a larger network and shared loyalty benefits. It flies 676 million people a year, and is dedicated to providing a more seamless travel experience at every step of their journey.
There's something new on the horizon
Heads up. There’s an exciting change coming. Virgin Atlantic will soon be joining SkyTeam, an alliance of airlines working together to provide a more seamless travel experience, at every step of the journey.
This powerful partnership opens up a huge global network beyond our own, flying to 170 countries across six continents, with more than 10,000 daily departures to over 1,000 destinations. Which is great news for us, and even better news for you.
It’s also a mutually rewarding loyalty programme, with opportunities for people who are part of our Flying Club to earn and redeem points across all the SkyTeam airlines, and with extra benefits like priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, lounge access and more.
These changes are still on the horizon, and we’ll let you know when the benefits of travelling with our SkyTeam partners kick in.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, we’ll be answering the most popular ones right here.
What is the SkyTeam alliance?
Which airlines are part of SkyTeam?
The SkyTeam airlines are currently Aeromexico, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle Eastern Airlines, Saudia, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Air.
Will there also be a benefit for members of Virgin Red?
One of the very best things about our new partnership is you'll have so many more opportunities to earn and redeem Virgin points with our new partners. Because this is a partnership between SkyTeam and Virgin Atlantic, you'll also need to be a member of our Flying Club, and make sure your account is linked to your Virgin Red one. Then you can watch your combined points balance soar, ready to use for, well, anything you fancy.
Why have you chosen to join SkyTeam?
If there's anything we've learned from the last few years, it's that we're stronger together. As we return to the skies, we know we wouldn't be in the same position to take on the next stage of our journey without the amazing support of our partners Delta, Air France and KLM. As we look to the future, we're beyond excited to be forging new bonds with every member of the SkyTeam group. Because it's not only good for our business, it's going to be brilliant for our customers, both in the air and on the ground.
Who will be able to access the Clubhouse under the new partnership?
Virgin Atlantic will officially enrol in SkyTeam in early 2023, at which point we will offer eligible customers, such as SkyTeam Elite Plus customers, access to our Clubhouse lounges, and in return eligible Virgin Atlantic customers can enjoy the lounges of SkyTeam and its member airlines. These benefits remain on the horizon for now, but more information will be available soon.
How many new routes does Virgin Atlantic bring to SkyTeam?
We're bringing our own Virgin Atlantic direct network of 27 destinations across the UK, US, Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Israel, as well as our already extended joint network with Delta, Air France and KLM.
Can I connect with a different airline on a single ticket?
Absolutely. We'll have an interline agreement with all of them, which means you can book your whole trip with connections on two (or more) SkyTeam airlines with less hassle than booking each one separately.
You only have to check in once, when you'll receive all your boarding passes, and your baggage will be transferred between flights without having to collect it and drop it off again.
Will any of your planes be SkyTeam branded?
No, You won't see a difference in the look of our aircraft or your experience onboard.