Combining a transfer bonus and Virgin’s Saver fares: How I booked lie-flat business-class seats to London for just 21,000 points
Fun fact: Even though I've worked at TPG for 5 1/2 years and have a nice stash of points and miles saved up, I've never booked an international lie-flat business-class flight ... that is, until now.
Most of the time, I'm an economy traveler. Even on international long-haul flights, I generally choose to forgo a lie-flat seat to save my points and miles. At this point in my life, the number of trips I can take per year with my points is far more important than splashing out on a luxury flight experience, even if that means sacrificing some sleep and comfort on longer flights. And honestly, I'm rarely on an international flight that lasts more than seven or eight hours maximum.
But when Virgin Atlantic Flying Club rolled out its new dynamic pricing for Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, I found a deal too good to pass up and started focusing on the Flying Club program properly for the first time.
Thanks to Virgin Atlantic's new dynamic pricing on award flights and a timely Chase transfer bonus, I booked my first lie-flat, round-trip business-class flight for just 42,000 credit card points (plus taxes and fees).
Here's how you can, too.
Stacking a great deal with a great transfer bonus
While some Flying Club points rates now skyrocket to 350,000 points each way for Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class (business class), flexible travelers can also score great deals via Flying Club's new Saver fares.
Related: Flexibility is key: Why I (mostly) like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club changes
More out of curiosity than any actual plan to book a trip, I did a few sample searches in late October to help co-workers understand the new Flying Club changes.
Multiple dates throughout the first half of 2025 were available for just 29,000 points (plus taxes and fees) each way in lie-flat business class between New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London's Heathrow Airport (LHR).
For comparison, that's about what you'd pay to fly economy on American Airlines from New York to London in the spring of 2025. I've earned more than double that on rent payments alone this year with my Bilt Mastercard®.
The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
But what turned this great deal into a "you'd be silly not to book this" deal in my head is the current Chase transfer bonus in place. Through Nov. 30, you get an extra 40% when you transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Flying Club. That means this trip went from costing 58,000 points round-trip to just 42,000 points round-trip (or 21,000 points each way).
The downside is the taxes and fees, which are typically much higher for business-class seats than economy tickets. But while $870 in taxes and fees round-trip certainly isn't cheap, paying less than $900 all-in for transatlantic business-class seats that would have easily cost $3,000-plus had I paid in cash still classifies as a fantastic deal, and the surcharges are much lower than the $2,000-plus Flying Club charged before the program switched to dynamic pricing.
Despite not planning to book a trip that day, I felt foolish not to jump on this deal. I had no idea how long this amazing new Saver pricing on Virgin Atlantic would be available, and the transfer bonus ends at the end of November. I've never been to London, and I've never flown lie-flat business class. I had the points available to transfer, and they transferred instantly. Award flights are refundable, and it was close to the same price I'd typically pay for an economy ticket with other airlines.
Needless to say, I booked it.
Related: The best cheap (or absolutely free) things to do in London
How you can book Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Saver fares
While some Saver seats have now been snapped up for the specific dates I booked in March, Virgin Atlantic does have a Reward Seat Checker calendar tool where you can find Saver availability as it fluctuates — not just for New York City to London, but also across other routes like Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
The key is to have a stash of credit card points ready to transfer and the flexibility to jump on a deal when you see it.
First, check Virgin Atlantic's Reward Seat Checker for an easy way to see points prices at a glance, and look for those prices with a red "Saver" tag to ensure you're paying the lowest price.
If you find a deal you want to book, search more specifically for those dates on Virgin Atlantic's site to find the specific flight you want and confirm the points you'll need. I found round-trip flights on dates I wanted in March for 29,000 points each way, meaning I needed 58,000 points total.
Next, transfer points from the issuer of your choosing. Of course, if you book this trip before the end of November, it's best to use your Chase points to take advantage of that 40% transfer bonus. Regardless of when you look to book, you can check with each issuer (or our regularly updated guide to transfer bonuses) to ensure you're transferring for the best value.
Ensure you know how many points you need to transfer, including the bonus. On Chase's Ultimate Rewards platform, you won't be shown explicitly what the end amount of points will be on Virgin after you transfer, so you'll have to break out those rusty high school math skills.
For example, here's how the breakdown worked for my flights: I needed 58,000 points in my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account to book these Saver flights. To account for the 40% transfer bonus, I divided that total number of points by 1.4 (the .4 representing the 40% transfer bonus). That left me with 41,428.571 points. Given that you have to transfer points in increments of 1,000, I rounded up and transferred 42,000 points to Virgin Atlantic.
After transferring your points, ensure you're logged in to your Virgin Atlantic account. TPG staffers have found that Ultimate Rewards point transfers to Flying Club are instantaneous; however, transfer times are not universal and it may take longer for the points to hit your account. Once your points are in your account, it's just a few clicks to book!
TPG always recommends finding availability before transferring points, as point transfers are irreversible.
How to earn Virgin points
Virgin points are easy to earn, with Flying Club being a transfer partner of every major program with a transferable currency:
- American Express Membership Rewards (at a 1:1 ratio)
- Bilt Rewards (1:1)
- Capital One (1:1)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
- Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1)
- Wells Fargo Rewards (1:1)
- Marriott Bonvoy (3:1, with a 5,000-point bonus for transferring 60,000 points; 48-hour transfer time)
It's worth noting that Capital One miles transfer to Virgin Red, not directly to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. However, you can easily use your Virgin Red account points with Flying Club.
Check out these card options to earn reward points and miles to book Flying Club award seats (all offer terrific welcome bonuses):
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
Bottom line
I'm far from a Virgin Atlantic aficionado — this is the first flight I've ever booked through Flying Club. But it was still a fairly straightforward process to search for flights, find out how many points I needed and transfer the points from my Chase account to book my flights. One of my friends who had never transferred points also took advantage of this deal and said similar things about how easy it was to transfer and book.
I'm pumped to take my first international lie-flat business-class flight, and knowing I snagged it for essentially the same points price as an economy flight makes this redemption all the sweeter.
While the Virgin Atlantic dynamic price changes have pros and cons (especially for families), if you are flexible with your travel dates and keep a ready-to-transfer stash of points available, you can snag some fantastic deals like this one.
Related reading:
- Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
- Premium economy vs. business class: Are the differences worth an upgrade?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations
- 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots
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. (Partner offer)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. (Partner offer)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.