Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Guide
Discover how to maximize value from Virgin Atlantic's loyalty program through credit card transfers and exceptional partner sweet spots.
Introduction to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers exceptional value through its excellent partner redemptions and frequent transfer bonuses from credit card programs. While Virgin Atlantic's own award chart for flights to and from the UK can include high taxes and fees, savvy travelers leverage partnerships with airlines like ANA, Delta, and Hawaiian Airlines for some of the best sweet spots in the points and miles world.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about earning Flying Club points through credit card transfers, finding the best redemption opportunities, and maximizing the program's unique features for incredible travel experiences.
In This Guide:
Credit Card Transfer Partners
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club offers excellent transfer options from all major flexible points currencies, often with generous transfer bonuses that can increase your points' value significantly.
| Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time | Transfer Bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 | Instant to 24 hours | Frequent transfer bonuses of 25-30% |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | Instant | Occasional transfer bonuses of 30% |
| Citi ThankYou Points | 1:1 | 1-2 days | Occasional transfer bonuses of 25-30% |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | Instant | Occasional transfer bonuses |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | 1-2 days | Monthly 25% transfer bonus on 1st of month (1-5 minutes) |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 (plus 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred) | 1-3 days | Rare transfer bonuses |
Pro Tip: Virgin Atlantic frequently offers transfer bonuses from American Express Membership Rewards. Waiting for a 30% bonus effectively reduces the cost of awards by 23%, making sweet spots even sweeter.
How to Earn Flying Club Points
Credit Card Spending & Bonuses
- Transfer from Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One with frequent bonuses
- Earn directly with the Bank of America Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard
- Take advantage of credit card welcome bonuses for large point hauls
Flying & Travel Partners
- Fly on Virgin Atlantic and earn based on fare class and route
- Credit flights on partners like Delta, Air France, and KLM to Flying Club
- Transfer points from hotel programs like Marriott Bonvoy or IHG One Rewards
For most U.S.-based travelers, credit card transfers represent the fastest and most efficient way to accumulate Flying Club points, especially when taking advantage of frequent transfer bonuses from American Express and other partners.
Key Program Features
Peak and Off-Peak Pricing
Virgin Atlantic offers reduced rates during off-peak dates, which can save you up to 30% on award redemptions.
Valuable Partner Redemptions
Some of the best values in the program come from partner redemptions, particularly on ANA for flights to Japan.
Points Pooling
Up to 8 members can create a Family Account to pool points for redemptions, making premium cabins more accessible.
Status Benefits
Gold status includes Upper Class check-in, priority boarding, and access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses regardless of class flown.
Points + Money Option
Flexible option to use a combination of points and cash when you don't have enough points for a full redemption.
Important Note: Virgin Atlantic uses a distance-based award chart for most partner redemptions and a zone-based chart for its own flights, with peak and off-peak pricing. Always check both the point requirements and the taxes/fees, as the latter can be substantial for flights to/from the UK.
Sweet Spot Redemptions
Flying Club offers several outstanding sweet spot redemptions, particularly on partner airlines, that provide exceptional value for your points.
| Route | Economy | Business | First | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US East Coast to London | 10,000-20,000 points (off-peak/peak, one-way) | 47,500-57,500 points (off-peak/peak, one-way) | N/A | Taxes and fees can be high (£300+ in premium cabins) |
| US to Japan (ANA) | 60,000-65,000 points (round-trip) | 90,000-95,000 points (round-trip) | 110,000-120,000 points (round-trip) | One of the best values in points and miles; must book round-trip |
| US West Coast to Hawaii (Hawaiian Airlines) | 20,000 points (one-way) | 37,500 points (one-way) | N/A | Good availability from West Coast gateways |
| UK to South Africa (Virgin Atlantic) | 18,000-25,000 points (off-peak/peak, one-way) | 45,000-57,500 points (off-peak/peak, one-way) | N/A | Low taxes and fees compared to other options to Africa |
| US to Europe (Delta) | 30,000 points (one-way) | 50,000 points (one-way) | N/A | Delta partnership sweet spot with reasonable fees |
Spotlight: The ANA Sweet Spot
The crown jewel of Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program is undoubtedly its partnership with ANA (All Nippon Airways), offering some of the best business and first class values in the points and miles world.
Example: Round-trip from New York to Tokyo in ANA Business Class
- Cost: 90,000 Virgin Atlantic points round-trip
- Taxes and fees: ~$200-300
- Comparable cash price: $4,000-7,000
- Value: 4.2-7.5 cents per point (exceptional)
Best Credit Cards for Flying Club
These credit cards offer the best opportunities to earn points that can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, either directly or through transferable points programs.
Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®
Bank of America
$90
Up to 60,000 Flying Club points
3X on Virgin Atlantic purchases, 1.5X on everything else
- Companion reward ticket after $25,000 annual spend
- Earn up to 15,000 tier points annually toward status
- 25% bonus points on Virgin Atlantic flights
- No foreign transaction fees
American Express® Gold Card
American Express
$250
60,000 Membership Rewards points
4X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year), 3X on flights, 1X on other purchases
- Points transfer 1:1 to Virgin Atlantic with frequent bonuses
- $120 annual dining credit
- $120 annual Uber credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase
$95
60,000 Ultimate Rewards points
3X on dining and online groceries, 2X on travel, 1X on everything else
- Points transfer 1:1 to Virgin Atlantic
- $50 annual hotel credit
- 10% anniversary point bonus
- Travel and purchase protections
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Booking ANA Awards
- Search for ANA availability on United.com or ANA's own website
- Call Virgin Atlantic to book (cannot be booked online)
- Book 330+ days in advance for best availability in premium cabins
- ANA awards must be round-trip; one-ways are not permitted
Minimizing Taxes and Fees
- Focus on partner redemptions to avoid UK Air Passenger Duty fees
- For Virgin flights, depart from non-UK airports when possible
- Consider economy redemptions on Virgin Atlantic's own routes to reduce fees
- Delta partner awards typically have very reasonable taxes and fees
Maximizing Transfer Bonuses
Virgin Atlantic frequently offers transfer bonuses from major credit card programs, especially American Express. Here's how to make the most of these opportunities:
- Keep points in flexible currencies until you're ready to book
- Time your transfers with bonus periods (Amex typically offers 30% bonuses 2-3 times per year)
- Search for availability before transferring, as transfers are irreversible
- A 30% transfer bonus makes the ANA sweet spot even sweeter (e.g., 70,000 Amex points for 90,000 Virgin Atlantic points)
Start Your Flying Club Journey
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers exceptional value through its partner redemptions, particularly with ANA and Delta. By strategically earning points through credit card transfers and taking advantage of frequent transfer bonuses, you can access some of the best premium cabin experiences in the sky for a fraction of the cash price.