British airline Virgin Atlantic has joined the international airline alliance SkyTeam at a signing ceremony in London, becoming the first airline in the United Kingdom to be a member of SkyTeam.

Virgin Atlantic has become the first British airline to have formally joined Skyteam, an international airline alliance led by Delta Airlines and Air France-KLM. In a press statement, Virgin Atlantic says the membership of SkyTeam benefits from the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Manchester and Heathrow airports. Customers of Virgin Atlantic will now enjoy a consistent, seamless customer experience at 1,000 worldwide locations in more than 170 nations. They can also access booking all SkyTeam member flights on one ticket, checking their bags only once to reach their destination.

The airline says in the statement that members of the airline’s Flying Club will enjoy a variety of perks, the statement continues. SkyTeam Elite Members are recognised as Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders, while Elite Plus status has been granted to the airline’s Gold Card customers. Customers who travel in First, Business, or SkyTeam Elite Plus classes benefit from SkyPriority services such priority check-in, baggage processing, and boarding. Elite and Elite Plus members are both entitled to an additional allotment for baggage.

While other SkyTeam Elite Plus members can take advantage of their airline-specific lounge at Terminal 3, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and Aeromexico passengers will have access to the legendary Clubhouse at London Heathrow. Members of Elite Plus can pick from a network of 750 airport lounges around the world, adds the company.

“SkyTeam shares a customer first ethos that mirrors our own and our entry into the alliance today marks an important milestone in achieving our vision to become the most-loved travel company. We want to reward those who choose to fly with Virgin Atlantic and our Flying Club members deserve the very best loyalty proposition.  Our SkyTeam membership offers this through a global network of maximised reward opportunities, alongside enhanced services on the ground and in the skies,” says Shai Weiss, CEO Virgin Atlantic.

“We are delighted to welcome Virgin Atlantic into SkyTeam, taking an already close relationship to new heights and elevating our customer offering with more routes to exciting destinations and access to aspirational airport lounges – not to mention the airline’s world-famous flair. The U.K. is a key market for SkyTeam and with Virgin Atlantic on board, customers can look forward to more opportunities to earn and redeem miles as they fly, enjoying the iconic travel experience that makes our newest member a globally loved airline,” Patrick Roux, SkyTeam CEO and Managing Director.

The success of Virgin Atlantic’s transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, both long-standing SkyTeam members, is strengthened by the airline’s admission into the alliance. Along with Delta, current SkyTeam members Aeromexico and China Eastern, Virgin Atlantic is co-located at Terminal 3 of London Heathrow, giving customers the smoothest airside transits and quickest connection times.