Mel-Rio on Virgin Partner Network

[AnthFlyer]

I’m going to fly Melb - Rio return, mid year, and would like to maximise travel on the Virgin partner network.

Has anyone done this recently and do you have any tips?

Both Virgin and Singapore don’t fly to Rio, according to their website.

Thanks all!

 

[MELso]

You'd probably need to look at UA (maybe AC too).

 

[leesionn]

I’m going to fly Melb - Rio return, mid year, and would like to maximise travel on the Virgin partner network.

Has anyone done this recently and do you have any tips?

Both Virgin and Singapore don’t fly to Rio, according to their website.

Thanks all!

Looks like Air Canada flies there seasonally from Toronto, United looks like its year-round from Houston

 

[dajop]

QR to GRU and then local flight to GIG would be the other option, for the long way around.

 

[Mwenenzi]

QR to GRU and then local flight to GIG would be the other option, for the long way around.

Can fly VA to DOH, via the QR wet lease.
GRU has a lot or traffic. Not far to RIO, by a range of transport options.

São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I’m going to fly Melb - Rio return, mid year, and would like to maximise travel on the Virgin partner network.
Has anyone done this recently and do you have any tips?
Both Virgin and Singapore don’t fly to Rio, according to their website.!

Do not be wedded to VA partners. FF points are low cents in the dollar. Look at price and schedule of others. To me earning to a ffp are a long last when selecting flights.

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

Via LAX ~ 800 miles shorter (~1:45hrs)

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

I like collecting FF points and status as much as anyone, but as someone who travels regularly to South America, I could not imagine considering anything other than MEL-SCL-GIG on LATAM:

- flight distance is a fraction of some of the routes you are considering
- SCL is a nice airport to connect in, especially after the modern upgrade it got a few years ago
- If you aren't in LATAM Pass, LA flights count for points and status with Virgin Atlantic or Delta, and points only with QF (unless you get one of the QF codeshares)

 

[AnthFlyer]

I like collecting FF points and status as much as anyone, but as someone who travels regularly to South America, I could not imagine considering anything other than MEL-SCL-GIG on LATAM:

- flight distance is a fraction of some of the routes you are considering
- SCL is a nice airport to connect in, especially after the modern upgrade it got a few years ago
- If you aren't in LATAM Pass, LA flights count for points and status with Virgin Atlantic or Delta, and points only with QF (unless you get one of the QF codeshares)

It’s looking like Latam for me. Thank you.