Earn miles with Delta and Virgin Australia flying from Melbourne to LA

Delta customers will soon be able to earn frequent flyer SkyMiles flying to Melbourne, Australia following an announcement by Delta partner Virgin Australia to launch nonstop service between Melbourne and Los Angeles in 2017.

Beginning April 4, 2017, Virgin Australia will fly five times weekly between Melbourne and Los Angeles using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, subject to regulatory approvals. The new flight complements existing service offered by Delta and Virgin Australia, who will together offer 25 weekly flights between Australia and the United States.

Delta and Virgin Australia currently fly twice-daily from Los Angeles to Sydney and daily from Los Angeles to Brisbane.

Delta will relocate next year to Terminals 2 and 3 at Los Angeles airport (LAX), enabling operation alongside Virgin Australia and many of its other airline partners.

Melbourne – Los Angeles (beginning April 4, 2017)

VA 23 / DL 6793 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday

1130 STD              0900 STA

Los Angeles – Melbourne (beginning April 4, 2017)

VA 24/ DL 6792 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

2110 STD              0600 +2 STA 

You can use your SkyMiles to book flights or upgrades with Delta partners, such as thos on the SkyTeam alliance. However, if you choose to take your miles as part of Virgin Australia’s Velocity frequent flyer program, you potentially have the option to book reward flights with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and selected codeshare flights operated by Etihad Airways and Virgin America, which you cannot do with Delta’s SkyMiles program.