In February 2020, we covered the launch of what was billed as the “world’s leading partnership” between Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM. The press releases were full of grand promises about seamless connections, reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and a smooth, consistent travel journey regardless of which airline you flew. Five years later, I found myself unable to check in for a KLM flight using the Virgin Atlantic app – something specifically promised at launch. For Virgin Flying Club members flying KLM, has the integration actually delivered?
What They Said in 2020
When the joint venture launched on 13 February 2020, Shai Weiss, then-CEO of Virgin Atlantic was unequivocal about the benefits. The partnership would deliver “seamless connections, a greater range of flights, unrivalled customer service and increased frequent flyer benefits.” The press release specifically promised that customers would “soon be able to check-in and select their seat through any of the partner airline mobile apps or websites.”
That cross-app check-in capability was positioned as a key pillar of the integration. The idea was simple: it shouldn’t matter which of the four airlines you booked with – you could manage your journey through whichever app you preferred.
The ambition was considerable. Up to 341 peak daily transatlantic services across 110 nonstop routes. Access to 238 cities in North America, 98 in continental Europe and 16 in the UK. Crucially for loyalty programme members, the ability to earn and redeem miles across all four carriers and have elite status recognised throughout the network.
Of course, what happened five weeks later rather derailed things. COVID-19 shut down international travel and the aviation industry spent the next two years in survival mode. It’s only fair to acknowledge that nobody could have predicted this timing. But we’re now well past that excuse. Virgin joined SkyTeam in March 2023, supposedly deepening the integration further. So where do things actually stand?
The Reality for Flying Club Members
Let’s start with my own recent frustration. I hold Virgin Flying Club Gold status – equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus – and booked a KLM flight. Simple enough, you’d think.
First, I tried to check in via the Virgin Atlantic app, as Shai Weiss promised would be possible back in 2020. It isn’t. The option simply doesn’t exist. Nearly five years after launch, you still cannot check in for a KLM flight using Virgin’s app.
So I turned to the KLM app instead. This is where things went from disappointing to actively problematic. The app insisted on replacing my Flying Club number with a Flying Blue account. I don’t want Flying Blue miles; I want Virgin Points and the tier points that count towards my status retention. But the KLM app essentially purges your Virgin Flying Club details in favour of Flying Blue the moment you use it for check-in. The very act of obtaining a mobile boarding pass undermines your loyalty programme preferences.
This isn’t just my bad luck. Forums like FlyerTalk and Head for Points are littered with similar complaints. One common issue involves Gold members being recognised only as Silver – a significant downgrade that affects lounge access and other benefits. Another sees Flying Club numbers mysteriously disappearing from bookings altogether, with miles posting to Flying Blue even after the number has supposedly been corrected.
What Actually Works
Credit where it’s due – some elements of the partnership function well. Earning Virgin Points on KLM and Air France flights works, assuming your number stays attached to the booking. Redeeming points for partner flights is possible, though the online booking systems have been plagued by glitches. Many travellers report needing to call Virgin’s customer service to complete partner bookings that fail online.
Lounge access broadly works, though Virgin’s flagship Clubhouse at Heathrow remains restricted to passengers flying Virgin, Delta or Aeromexico – not the full SkyTeam access that might be expected. The SkyPriority benefits at check-in and boarding function as advertised, when your status is correctly recognised.
The route network benefits are real. Flying Club members genuinely have more options for earning and spending points than before the partnership. The ability to credit KLM intra-Europe flights to Flying Club adds useful flexibility for UK-based travellers connecting through Amsterdam.
The IT Problem Nobody Wants to Fix
The fundamental issue appears to be technical integration – or the lack of it. Five years on from launch and nearly three years since Virgin joined SkyTeam, the partner airlines still can’t reliably share loyalty data. Status recognition remains inconsistent. Booking systems throw errors. The apps don’t talk to each other properly.
The cross-app check-in promise is perhaps the starkest example. This wasn’t a vague aspiration buried in marketing copy – it was a specific, headline commitment from Virgin’s CEO. And it simply doesn’t exist. You cannot check in for a KLM flight on the Virgin app. You cannot check in for a Virgin flight on the KLM app without your loyalty details being overwritten. The integration that was supposed to make airline choice irrelevant actively penalises you for trying to use it.
One industry insider quoted on aviation forums described the SkyTeam integration as “a total flop.” While that may be harsh, the evidence suggests the behind-the-scenes work needed to deliver on those 2020 promises simply hasn’t been completed.
This matters because the original press release explicitly promised app and website integration for check-in and seat selection across all four carriers. That functionality still doesn’t work reliably in 2026. Either the technical challenges were wildly underestimated, or the investment required to fix them hasn’t been prioritised.
Practical Tips for Virgin Flying Club Members on KLM
Until things improve, here’s what works based on collective traveller wisdom:
When booking KLM or Air France flights, don’t be logged into a Flying Blue account. Add your Virgin Flying Club number during the KLM booking process if possible, but verify it’s actually attached before you fly. Check your booking confirmation carefully – the number appearing on screen doesn’t always mean it’s properly recorded in the system.
For check-in, avoid the KLM app if preserving your Flying Club number matters to you. Use the KLM website instead, entering your booking reference without logging in, and add your Flying Club number manually during the check-in flow. Alternatively, check in at the airport where staff can verify your status is correctly recognised and ensure your details aren’t overwritten.
If your miles post to the wrong programme or don’t post at all, email VAPartnerPoints@fly.virgin.com with your flight details and request retrospective credit. This generally works, though it shouldn’t be necessary in the first place.
BG1 Verdict
The Virgin/Delta/Air France/KLM partnership delivers genuine value in terms of route options and earning opportunities. The network reach is impressive and the ability to credit partner flights to Flying Club adds real flexibility. These are meaningful benefits that didn’t exist before 2020.
But the “seamless” customer journey promised at launch remains a work in progress. Status recognition is inconsistent, app integration is non-existent, and Flying Club members flying on partner airlines need to be vigilant about protecting their loyalty benefits. The gap between marketing and reality is wider than it should be after five years.
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