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Full Comparison of Virgin Atlantic Point Redemptions
The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is one of the most powerful tools in the world of travel rewards. As an IT manager, I think of it as a complex API: the basic functions are okay, but the real power is in connecting it to other systems—in this case, airline partners. This guide will compare the best ways to use your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points. We’ll analyze the system for beginners who have earned points from Best credit cards and are ready to level up their redemption game. My analysis is based on booking flights and hotels for over 1 million miles/points across various programs since 2014.
| Redemption Option | Key Specs or Features | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANA First & Business Class | Partner award redemption on All Nippon Airways for round-trip flights to Japan. | Exceptional value (5-15+ cents/point), top-tier premium cabins, one of the best “sweet spots” in awardtravel. | Must book round-trip, requires a phone call, award space is notoriously difficult to find. | The ultimate “trophy” redemption for luxury travel hackers. |
| Air France/KLM Business Class | Partner award redemption for flights to Europe on Flying Blue carriers. | Excellent value, lower taxes/fees, easily bookable online, good availability from the East Coast and West Coast. | Dynamic pricing can cause point costs to vary. | The best and most practical option for beginners wanting a lie-flat seat to Europe. |
The user experience for booking these awards changes dramatically. Booking Air France-KLM is a simple online process. Booking All Nippon Airways requires finding award space on a separate Star Alliance tool, then calling Virgin Atlantic with your Flying Club number ready. It’s a hassle, but the value proposition is so high that it remains the single best use of points.
How to Earn Virgin Atlantic Points: A System for Beginners
Before you can spend them, you need to earn Virgin Points. The good news is that the Flying Club program is one of the easiest to accumulate points in, primarily because it’s one of the best transfer partners for major credit card rewards programs.
- Credit Card Transfer Partners: This is the primary method. You can move points to your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Bilt Rewards. If I can I always wait for transfer bonuses which quite freqently offers 30% more points. With this a 100.000 points from my American Express Card become 130,000 Virgin points which is fantastic.
- The Virgin Atlantic Credit Card: Issued by Bank of America in the U.S., the Virgin Atlantic credit card offers a welcome bonus and allows you to earn points directly. It’s a good idea for those who frequently fly Virgin.
- Other Methods: You can also earn points through hotel stays with partners like Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards, car rentals, or by using the shopping portal for online shopping. Options like Points Booster can also top up your points balance.
Category Winners: The Best Redemptions
Best Overall: Air France/KLM to Europe
For most readers, this is the winning redemption. It perfectly balances high value with ease of booking. It’s the best entry point into the world of premium flight loyalty programs.
Best Budget: Delta Main Cabin to the U.K.
If your goal is to stretch your points, booking a Delta Air Lines economy flight to the U.K. is a fantastic deal. I booked a one-way from New York to London for 15,000 points + $5.60 in taxes onces. It’s a low-cost way to cross the Atlantic.
Best Premium: ANA First Class to Japan
This is the ultimate aspirational award. Flying in ANA’s “The Suite” First Class, a product that can cost over $20,000 round-trip from Los Angeles or San Francisco. It requires flexibility and effort, but no other redemption offers this level of luxury for the required number of points.
Realistic Math Examples
Highest Value Scenario: ANA First Class
- Reference cost: $22,000
- Inputs or effort: 145,000 points (West Coast RT) + $600 in taxes.
- Net result: $21,400 in value or 14.7 cents/point
This is an almost unbelievable return on investment. The Points Guy’s monthly valuations confirms the high potential value of these redemptions.
Common Case: Air France Business Class
A one-way off-peak flight from the East Coast to Paris is 48,500 points. A typical cash price is around $3,000. After about $200 in taxes, that’s a value of ~5.8 cents per point. This is an achievable goal for any frequent flyer with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Edge Case: Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
Booking Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights can underperform due to high surcharges. A one-way ticket for 47,500 points with $850 in fees, against a $2,500 cash price, yields a value of only 3.4 cents per point. It’s good, but lower than the partner airlines.
Understanding Flying Club Tiers and Status
Beyond points, the Virgin Flying Club has a status program. You earn Tier Points by flying on Virgin Atlantic flights and with some SkyTeam partners. These are different from the redeemable points you earn and spend.
There are three Flying Club Tiers: Red (entry-level), Silver, and Gold. Reaching Gold status grants you valuable perks like access to the stunning Clubhouse lounges, extra baggage, and Premium check-in. Achieving status also helps you earn bonus points on paid flights, accelerating your progress toward your next Flying Club reward.
Gotchas You Shouldn’t Ignore
- High Carrier-Imposed Surcharges: This is the biggest hidden fee. Virgin Atlantic adds hundreds of dollars in surcharges to award flights, especially on its own Upper Class and premium economy cabins.
- Phantom Award Availability: The Virgin website may show an available Reward Seat Checker result that errors out upon booking. This is a known issue. Always confirm the seat is truly bookable before making a points transfer.
- Booking Nuances: Booking partners like Hawaiian Airlines or ANA requires calling Virgin Atlantic. The hold times can be long. You must be patient and have all your details ready.
How We Picked
The recommendations in this guide are from a systematic analysis of the Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club award charts. By comparing over 30 redemption options and calculating cents per points with our Points vs. Cash Calculator we concluded this article.
What This Means for You
For a beginner, the best default choice is to use your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points for an Air France/KLM business class flight. It offers a fantastic blend of high value and ease of booking. Once you are comfortable, the more advanced but incredibly rewarding world of ANA awards awaits. The key is to have a goal before you transfer points from your American Express or Chase Sapphire card. To learn how to earn these points, start with our guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
FAQ
Are Virgin points easy to earn?
Yes, they are among the easiest airline miles to accumulate. They are a 1:1 transfer partner of all major bank programs like Amex and Chase. Sometimes there are even 30% bonus on top offered by Amex.
Do Virgin points expire?
No, Virgin Atlantic points do not expire as long as there is activity on your account (after 36 months of non-activity). This is a significant advantage over many other flight loyalty programs and is confirmed in their official Flying Club website.
Can I combine points with cash?
Yes, the Points Plus Money feature allows you to reduce the cash cost of a flight using as few as 3,000 points. It might look like offering you flexibility but the value is usually under 1.0 cent per point, so you should better save your points for later.