Virgin Australia Velocity Partners With United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Exits Program From June 13, 2022
In a sudden and surprise move Virgin Australia Velocity has just announced the exit of Delta Air Lines from the Velocity program effective June 13, 2022 as the carrier will be replaced with United Airlines.
Velocity and Delta have maintained a relationship for quite a long time but suddenly the program has decided to start a new partnership with United Airlines instead.
The reasons for this change are unknown but Virgin Velocity has just sent out an email to their members informing them of Delta Air Lines’s exit from the program as of June 13, 2022.
This is the email that was just received:
Virgin Australia Group and United Airlines have recently announced a new partnership that will offer customers more destinations and more benefits when travelling to cities across the United States, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
From April 2022, the partnership with United Airlines will replace Virgin Australia’s current codeshare and Velocity Frequent Flyer’s relationship with Delta Air Lines. From Monday 13 June 2022, Delta Air Lines will no longer be a Velocity partner.
We would like to thank Delta Air Lines for their long-standing commitment and relationship with Virgin Australia and Velocity.
According to this email, there will be a 10 week grace period to get any flights with Delta in order as far as mileage matters with Velocity are concerned.
The following graphic was also included:
It’s not unusual that programs sometimes look for new partners but I always had the impression that Velocity and United were a pretty good fit. I wonder what caused them to suddenly part ways!?
Conclusion
Virgin Velocity and Delta Air Lines will part ways very soon and the last day to earn, redeem and make (route) changes to existing bookings will be June 12th. It’s important to keep this date in mind as you won’t be able to modify existing tickets.
Date changes will be available for the 1Y validity of the ticket but only if there is availability which isn’t a given. The only option would possibly be to refund the ticket and rebook with the new partner United Airlines.
