American Express and Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus: Get 30% more Virgin points when transferring Membership Rewards points
Looking to travel to Europe? Is an island vacation on your bucket list? Want to take that dream trip for fewer points than you thought you could?
If so, there's good news — for a limited time, American Express Membership Rewards® card members that earn Membership Rewards points can receive a 30% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Terms apply.
Usually, card members can transfer Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio, but the 30% bonus available through May 31 means you'll receive 1,300 Virgin points for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points you transfer.
Here's how this transfer bonus works and ways you can use it to travel more for less.
Transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for a 30% bonus
With access to the most point transfer partners of any major U.S. credit card loyalty program, American Express is the go-to issuer for many travelers. Here are several popular American Express cards that earn transferable Membership Rewards points:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
If you have one of these cards or another eligible card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points, you can utilize this transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic. If you aren't yet familiar with how to transfer Membership Rewards points to participating hotel and airline partners, such as Virgin Atlantic, here's a guide to that process.
Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, meaning you can earn and redeem points flying with Virgin Atlantic and even use them to fly the carrier's partner airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM. This gives you a vast array of flight options when using points.
Fly to London for just 8,000 transferred points
Unlike many other airlines that make it hard to know what the award price will be ahead of time since redemption rates vary, Virgin Atlantic still uses an award chart separated by route, cabin class and peak or standard (off-peak) season.
Flights to London from the eastern U.S. during the standard season start at 10,000 Virgin points — excluding taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges of around $150 — each way for Economy Classic seats.
This rate applies for flights departing New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and arriving at Virgin Atlantic's home at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR). It includes checked baggage, a full-size carry-on and onboard food and beverages. In other words, it's a full-service ticket rather than one that just barely gets you on the plane.
During Amex's 30% transfer bonus offer, you only need to transfer as few as 8,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic to book this 10,000-point Virgin reward flight to London.
Virgin also offers a cabin they call Premium (which may compare to what you might think of as premium economy). Virgin Atlantic Premium is available on all flights to and from North America for guests wanting additional cabin space, a welcome glass of bubbly, elevated meals served on real china, a premium check-in experience and priority boarding.
Flights from the eastern U.S. to London in Virgin Atlantic's Premium cabin start at 17,500 Virgin points (excluding taxes and fees) one-way on standard dates, while flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to LHR in the same cabin cost as little as 27,500 points (plus taxes and fees) each way on standard dates.
At the 17,500-point level, you would only need to transfer 14,000 Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic during the 30% bonus.
Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?
For the ultimate indulgence, there's Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class cabin, which has lie-flat beds, direct aisle access for all passengers, multicourse gourmet dining with Champagne and fine wines, luxurious bedding, and onboard social spaces to unwind and relax.
As you might've guessed, these are the seats we really love.
Upper Class redemptions to London from the eastern U.S. start at 47,500 Virgin points or just 37,000 Membership Rewards points transferred during this promotion, which is a pretty outstanding price for a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic.
Do note that the fees, taxes and surcharges for these tickets come to about $998, so factor that into your decision-making process.
Also, keep in mind that Membership Rewards points can only be transferred in increments of 1,000; therefore, you would need to transfer 37,000 Membership Rewards points to book this 47,500-point award.
How to maximize Membership Rewards points for Virgin flights
Though Virgin Atlantic is based in London, it flies to 32 destinations across five continents. You can connect to destinations in South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, India, Nigeria, Israel and even the Maldives, among other locales.
There are plenty of other ways to redeem Virgin points, including:
- A seat on a short-haul Delta-operated flight within North America for as little as 7,500 Virgin points.
- A round-trip first-class seat to Japan in one of All Nippon Airways' fancy suites for just 170,000 points — if paying with cash, this seat typically costs upward of $20,000.
- A Virgin Atlantic reward seat sale for up to 50% off the number of points required for certain award flight routes, such as this flight to Europe that I booked for only 5,000 Virgin points.
Related: How 5,000 credit card points saved me over $650 on a flight to London
Use the Membership Rewards transfer bonus to book an upgrade
Virgin Atlantic has a new plane: the A330-900neo. On it, there are two exclusive Retreat Suites that I've found to be an incredibly luxurious way to cross the Atlantic.
There are sliding doors for maximum privacy, ottomans so you have the option to dine with a friend, high-definition flat-screen TVs and more noteworthy extras you won't find in many business-class cabins.
While you can't book these seats outright with points right now, you can use your Virgin points to book Upper Class seats and then upgrade from there to the Retreat Suites for a surcharge of about $250 per seat if there's availability within 14 days of travel.
The A330-900neo is now flying on select routes from Boston, New York and Tampa to London.
Bottom line
Until May 31, eligible American Express card members can receive a 30% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program.
Before transferring Membership Rewards points, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- You must be enrolled in Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club to participate in this offer.
- Airline tickets are subject to availability, so check this before transferring Membership Rewards points.
- Transfers are usually immediate, but allow up to 48 hours for the transfer to be completed, as you cannot book flights using transferred Membership Rewards points until the transfer is complete.
- Transfers are not reversible and are subject to the terms and conditions of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program.
With this Virgin Atlantic points transfer bonus, your travel dreams might be closer than you think.
Terms and conditions:
Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
You must be an eligible Membership Rewards® Card Member enrolled in Virgin Atlantic Flying Club in order to participate in this offer, visit https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club.html to enroll. If INVEST for Amex by Vanguard, American Express® Rewards Checking, and/or American Express® Business Checking are your only Membership Rewards® Products, you are not eligible for this offer at this time. American Express is not responsible for availability of flight, accommodations or any other rewards in the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Once you have transferred Membership Rewards points, they become subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and cannot be transferred back to your Membership Rewards program account. Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, including airline surcharges, apply on Virgin Atlantic redemption flights and upgrades. See Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Terms and Conditions for details. Individual air carrier restrictions may apply.
Minimum transfer is 1,000 Membership Rewards points. Redeem for this exclusive offer from 12:00 a.m. MT on 4/21/2024 to 11:59 p.m. MT on 5/31/2024 to receive 30% additional Virgin Points. Additional Virgin Points will be awarded at the time of transfer. Generally, transfers are immediate but please allow up to 72 hours for the transfer to be completed. POID: GHVO:0002
©2024 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.