Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Hello and welcome to Smart With Points! I'm Jack, and if you're anything like me, you've probably experienced Virgin Atlantic's WiFi at thirty-five thousand feet and wondered if you'd somehow time-traveled back to the dial-up era. Well, buckle up because Virgin Atlantic has just announced what might be the most comprehensive overhaul in their recent history, and yes, that includes proper internet that actually works! Today we're diving into Virgin Atlantic's major announcement that's set to transform your flying experience in the coming months. The airline has just unveiled what might be their most ambitious upgrade program to date, and honestly, it's about time. Let's start with the big headline grabber - Virgin Atlantic is rolling out Starlink WiFi across their entire fleet. Now, if you've been following the aviation world, you'll know that Starlink has been a game-changer for airlines. We're talking about proper, fast, reliable internet access at thirty-five thousand feet - the kind that actually lets you video call your family or get some real work done instead of staring at a spinning loading wheel for twenty minutes. I've personally experienced Starlink on other airlines, and let me tell you, it's a revelation. No more paying fifteen pounds for WiFi that barely loads your email. This represents a significant upgrade to Virgin's current connectivity offering, and frankly, it's long overdue. But the technology upgrades don't stop there. Virgin is giving their Boeing seven-eight-seven fleet a complete refresh, and this is where things get really interesting for us points enthusiasts. They're expanding both the Upper Class and Premium cabins on these aircraft. Now, what does this mean for you? More premium seats equals more premium reward seats available for redemption using your Virgin Points or partner miles. It's simple mathematics - more inventory means better availability, and that's always good news when you're trying to book that dream trip to New York or Los Angeles. The improvements extend beyond just the aircraft themselves. Both the London and New York Clubhouses are getting makeovers, ensuring that the premium experience extends beyond just the flight itself. If you've been to either of these lounges recently, you'll know they could use a refresh, so this is welcome news. Virgin is also developing a new app - because apparently we need another airline app on our phones - alongside an innovative partnership with OpenAI that promises to revolutionize the customer service experience. I'm cautiously optimistic about this one. AI customer service can either be brilliant or absolutely infuriating, so we'll have to wait and see how this plays out in practice. There are also new amenity kits coming soon, which is always a nice touch, and perhaps most intriguingly, a fresh Flying Club recognition scheme specifically designed for regular but less frequent flyers. This could be a game-changer for those of you who fly with Virgin a few times a year but don't quite hit the higher tier thresholds. The details on this are still sketchy, but it sounds like Virgin is finally recognizing that not everyone needs to fly fifty times a year to deserve some recognition. So what's the bottom line here? Virgin Atlantic is clearly making a significant investment in their product, and that's good news for all of us. Better WiFi, more premium seats, refreshed lounges, and potentially more inclusive loyalty benefits - these are all wins in my book. The timing is interesting too. With increased competition on transatlantic routes and passengers becoming more discerning about their travel experience, Virgin needed to step up their game. This comprehensive overhaul suggests they're taking that challenge seriously. For those of you planning future trips, keep an eye on Virgin's route network. With more premium seats becoming available, you might find better award availability than you've seen in the past. And once that Starlink WiFi is rolled out, those long-haul flights are going to be a lot more productive - or at least a lot more entertaining. That's all for today's episode of Smart With Points. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms or visit our website at smartwithpoints.co.uk to stay up to date with the latest miles and points news. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.