Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Guide (2025): Best Transfer & Award Options
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers exceptional value through its excellent partner redemptions and frequent transfer bonuses from credit card programs.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Guide
Your complete guide to maximizing credit card transfers and finding exceptional flight redemptions with one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs.
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.
In This Guide:
Credit Card Transfer Partners
One of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club's biggest strengths is its wide range of transfer partners. You can transfer points from all major flexible points currencies to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, typically at favorable ratios.
| 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: Always check for transfer bonuses before transferring points. A 20% bonus effectively makes your points worth 20% more, significantly increasing your redemption value.
How to Earn 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 a substantial balance of points, especially when taking advantage of welcome bonuses and transfer promotions.
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.
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 Flying Club miles expire after 36 months regardless of account activity, so be sure to use your miles before they expire.
Sweet Spot Redemptions
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers several exceptional sweet spot redemptions that provide outsized value for your points, particularly for premium cabin travel.
| Route | Economy | Business | First | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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
- 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 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
These credit cards offer the best opportunities to earn points that can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
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
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Pro Insider Tips
- 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
- 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
- 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)
Start Your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Journey
With some of the most competitive redemption rates in the industry, particularly for round-trip premium cabin awards, ANA Mileage Club offers exceptional value for travelers planning trips to Japan, across Asia, and even around the world.Whether you're planning a simple trip or a complex multi-destination journey, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers exceptional redemption opportunities.