Virgin Atlantic hails success of third Sky High Club fam trip

Virgin Atlantic has hailed the success of its third agent reward trip, which saw the airline collaborate with Virgin Limited Edition, South African Tourism and One&Only to take seven top-performing travel agents to South Africa’s Western Cape.

The four-day trip was an incentive prize for agents and travel sellers of the airline’s Sky High Club, which has more than 3,700 UK members.

The scheme enables agents to accumulate points for selling Virgin Atlantic and Delta flights and redeem them for a variety of rewards, including vouchers for high street stores and restaurants, online retail and Virgin products.

More: Virgin Atlantic hails success of its first agent reward trip [April 23]

Virgin Atlantic unveils Sky High Club loyalty scheme for agents [July 22]

Virgin Atlantic is also running a ‘Race to Necker Island’ ultimate reward trip for four top bookers as part of the scheme. The trip is scheduled for October 2024 and will feature two nights in Antigua and five nights at Sir Richard Branson’s private Necker Island.

The two previous Sky High Club trips allowed 14 trade partners to experience the Bahamas and a Virgin Voyages cruise from Miami to Key West, and five agents to visit the Maldives.

Melanie Gittins, Virgin Atlantic senior account manager for agency sales, said: “The benefits of the club are massive. Agents can learn a lot about our brand and be rewarded for a certain type of class they book or a certain destination they follow and invest in.”

Agents can be rewarded for a type of class they book or a certain destination they follow

Gittins said sales for the airline’s revived Cape Town route had been “astonishing”, with flights from Heathrow due to operate daily during the current peak tourist season, which runs until March.

She also said Virgin Atlantic’s trade sales had “drastically increased” following the launch of the Sky High Club, with a recent five-day Black Friday triple points incentive driving a 138% year-on-year increase in claims through the club.

Gittins revealed another triple points campaign would run for bookings between January 8 and February 12, and said details would soon be unveiled for a Sky High Club reward trip campaign designed to tie in with the airline’s 40th anniversary in 2024.

Agents’ views

Sallie Redman, corporate travel specialist, Travel Counsellors
“The Manor House villa at Mont Rochelle was spectacular. It was separate from the main hotel, so it felt like you were in somebody’s home rather than a hotel. It would be great for families or large groups. We had a house manager who just couldn’t do enough for you; we were treated like royalty.”

Samantha Shone, luxury travel specialist, Elegant Resorts
“Flying with Virgin Atlantic was a superb experience. We flew in both Premium and Upper Class and there was loads of room. The cabin crew were very friendly and accommodating, and the food was a great highlight. I was very impressed.”

Sajid Dudhia, travel sales manager, Lotus Travel
“The combination of Virgin Atlantic flights and staying at Mont Rochelle with One&Only made it the perfect trip. You get to experience the different offerings of the Western Cape, from the winelands to the waterfront markets and everything in between.”

More: Virgin Atlantic hails success of its first agent reward trip [April 23]

Virgin Atlantic unveils Sky High Club loyalty scheme for agents [July 22]