The Amex Membership Rewards program has just launched a new 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. While Flying Club is in some ways a niche program, this is a deal that has the potential to offer outsized value, and I’m sure it will interest many people. I’d probably speculatively take advantage of this,…
Continue reading: Transfer Amex Points To Virgin Atlantic Flying Club With 30% Bonus: Worth It?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I get the most value using Virgin Atlantic points for domestic DL flights under 500 miles. Normally 7500 points, but with this transfer bonus only 5800 points. It's allowed me to get over 4 cents a mile on routes like DTW-GSO, ALB-DTW, CVG-RDU....
Business class awards to/from the continental US are not bookable within 14 days of departure.
I took advantage of the Flying Blue bonus last month. I don’t mind having miles sitting there since I get good value w Delta awards and also flights to Europe. Do have a bunch of Virgin miles also but with higher fees and reduced partner awards they aren’t as valuable IMHO so skipping this promotion
Yes will be taking advantage of this. There is quite decent availability from Australia up to Vietnam in J on Vietnam airlines.
I truly believe that Virgin Atlantic is one of the most overrated programs out there. Every points/travel blogger raves about the niche redemptions (ANA First). I've had a Virgin Card for years, and a ton of points, and every time I've been sucessful twice, and it was like basic stuff like DFW-Mexico or DFW to ATL.
I just tried to book a flight with Vietnam Airlines. Virgin wouldn't even look at it, as it was outside their booking windows, but Air France/Flying Blue was fine.
Add that to their outrageous booking fees for their own metal, and I really don't see the value proposition of Virgin.
It's pretty good when you want to fly to, you know, London. From JFK, 12k plus $150 for an economy ticket to London (9,231 with the 30% bonus) is good value. 16.5k + $250 for a PE ticket is pretty good value. Obviously the fees on the flights back from LHR can be sillier, but I got a 29k business class LHR-JFK last year (fees weren't pleasant, but overall an outstanding value).
On some quick searching found LHR-JFK for next July in business for 35k - if you're willing to stomach 750 GBP in fees. With the 30% bonus that's 27k points - if you value at 1.5cpm, with the fees, basically paying $1.4k o/w. Not finding much cheaper out there these days in terms of overall value on that route - even with AA, you're trading points for fees and getting to $1.4-1.6k of total value cost with their saver fares as well.
I've also gotten dirt cheap Delta domestic economy flights! That I've then paid $26 to upgrade to F. (Really!)
This is just another tool in the tool box. I don't understand judging a program by the niche redemptions. Don't have all of my eggs in any basket, and I take the redemptions as they come.
If you’re DFW-based like it sounds then I’d agree there’s probably not much there for you. In my experience Virgin is best for straightforward Delta domestic nonstops, perfect for me as an ATL flyer. Have booked over 30 economy segments on Delta metal over the past 4ish years and my Cpp sits right around 2
VS, …. never forget the amazing EU Business redemption on partners, all distance based from the Origin to Destination, detours (AMS, CDG don’t count, just ignored by VS system) that’s real value compared to any other program in Europe!