July 3, 2024
Analysis: points drop on some East Coast pairs but new $1,000+ surcharges make it a net loss
Obituary
🪦 2019–2024 · award-price increaseDelta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees)
Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees) — born 2019, died July 2, 2024. In its prime: business class is going from costing 50,000 points consistently, to costing anywhere from 47,500 to 77,500 points. Cause of death: award-price increase. It lived 5.6 years and survived 1 documented change before the fatal one. Peak/off-peak and zone split; surcharges $5.60 → $1,027.80+ on business awards from the US
Lived 5.6 years · survived 1 documented change before the fatal one · program: Virgin Atlantic
The documented life — newest first
July 2, 2024
No-notice change: peak/off-peak pricing, East/West US zones, and carrier surcharges added to US–Europe Delta business awards
fatal event
January 1, 2024
Virgin devalues its distance-based Delta chart (non-Europe routes) by 30%+; Europe chart untouched at this point
Questions
Is the Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees) sweet spot still alive?
No — on our documented record it died July 2, 2024 (award-price increase). The full dated history is documented on this page.
What did the Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees) sweet spot cost?
In its prime: business class is going from costing 50,000 points consistently, to costing anywhere from 47,500 to 77,500 points (documented from 2019).
What killed the Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees) sweet spot?
award-price increase, July 2, 2024. It survived 1 documented change before the fatal one.
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Cite this data
Bonus Eagle. “Delta One US–Europe via Virgin Atlantic (50,000 points, ~$5.60 fees) — The Sweet Spot Graveyard.” bonuseagle.com. https://www.bonuseagle.com/sweet-spots/delta-one-us-europe-via-virgin-atlantic-50-000-points-5-60-fees
Data is free to use with attribution to bonuseagle.com.