Yesterday as I was organizing old posts on the blog, collecting trip reports, compiling previously-written advice, I stumbled upon this post from December 2007 where I said that Virgin Atlantic Silver status was a new benefit of American Express Platinum (and that Black card holders got Gold). At the time it was an outgrowth of Virgin’s new-sih American Express relationship, they had only recently been brought on as a points transfer partner I believe.

I was curious if the benefit still existed. The link from that post no longer worked. So I googled “virgin atlantic silver american express platinum” and the second result was this link offering Virgin’s Silver status to American Express Platinum cardholders.

It’s a page to sign up for a new account, no verification of Platinum cardholder status appears to take place. So as it was 5 years ago, this is Silver status for anyone.

Silver benefits are fairly weak: priority check-in, priority waitlisting, 50% bonus miles on flights.

The biggest benefit is for folks who really will be flying Virgin, starting at Silver means you’re closer to Gold.

There’s only one way up.

Starting at Silver elevates your status and you’re closer to the next level of Flying Club: Flying Club Gold. And we’re unlike the other airlines: at the top, the view is nothing but breathtaking. Flying Gold means access to our Clubhouse lounges, Upper Class Check In and even more miles with every flight. You’re getting a leg up that the others don’t, but why not? You’ve certainly earned it.

But it’s status. It’s wallet candy. It’s better to fly Virgin as a Silver than Red. And in some limited cases it could be useful for proving status to another carrier when asking for a match.

Update: Maybe a little egg on my face? Some reports in the comments that accounts aren’t automatically getting Silver status. Perhaps they’ll change over. But the offer site does say that enrollment had to take place by January 31, 2012. Oops! And not clear at all from the terms and conditions, but a first flight may have been required for status.