New partnership: Transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red at 1:1
Wells Fargo Rewards has added a seventh transfer option to its growing list of airline and hotel partners. Consumers can now transfer their reward points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Virgin Red at a 1:1 ratio.
There is no minimum transfer amount, so you could transfer as little as 1 Wells Fargo Rewards point to become 1 Virgin point. However, transfers are not reversible, so be sure you find flight availability or have a use for the points before transferring.
In our September 2024 valuations, TPG values Virgin points at 1.4 cents each and Wells Fargo Rewards points at 1.6 cents each.
The Virgin programs are closely intertwined, with a single Virgin points balance shared between them. So whether you transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Virgin Red, once you link your two Virgin accounts, the single Virgin points balance will show in both, and you can easily redeem the points through either program (with many of the same rewards available through both).
Virgin points can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including upgrades on Virgin Atlantic, flights with Virgin or its SkyTeam partners (including Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines), Virgin Atlantic Holidays (vacation packages), concert tickets, food tours and duty-free products.
Related: Virgin Atlantic's new redemption sale is offering 25% off all routes, but is it worth it?
Should you transfer your Wells Fargo Rewards points to Virgin?
While redeeming points for flights operated by Virgin Atlantic comes with steep carrier-imposed surcharges, Flying Club uses a peak and off-peak award chart, unlike other airline programs, which price flights dynamically. So, while you may be charged more than $2,000 for a round-trip business-class flight from the U.S. to the U.K., it's always best to double-check the cash fare against the award ticket price to see if it's worth redeeming your points.
Plus, Flying Club offers networkwide redemption discounts several times yearly, which can help your points go even further.
You can also use Virgin points to book SkyTeam partner awards, such as international flights from the U.S. to Europe on Delta. Booking a one-way Main Cabin Delta flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club should cost you 15,000 points plus around $200 in taxes and fees. Though the unavoidable fees can be a bit steep, Delta may charge triple the amount of SkyMiles for that same flight.
Plus, if you fly Delta from the U.S. to other European destinations outside of the U.K., the taxes and fees are significantly lower, though it will cost you more Virgin points.
Again, it's always best to compare multiple programs to see which offers the best value. For example, if Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges 30,000 points to fly from JFK to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) on a Delta-operated flight in Main Cabin, and Delta SkyMiles charges 110,000 miles for that same flight, it's a better deal to book through Flying Club than through SkyMiles.
We recommend checking and finding availability before transferring your points or miles.
Related: Wells Fargo Rewards program: How to earn, redeem and transfer points
How to earn Wells Fargo Rewards points
Though Wells Fargo offers several types of credit cards, including cash rewards cards, you can currently only earn Wells Fargo Rewards points with the following cards:
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees)
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees)
With the new transfer option, Wells Fargo Autograph and Journey cardholders can now transfer their points to the following programs at a 1:1 ratio:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Iberia Plus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club / Virgin Red
- Choice Privileges (transfers at a 1:2 ratio)
Related: Why I got the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card — and how I plan to use the welcome bonus
Bottom line
It's great to see the Wells Fargo Rewards transfer partner list slowly but surely growing with the addition of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red.
Hopefully, a big player like Air Canada Aeroplan or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer will be next to be added to the transfer list. A Wells Fargo card may not have been at the top of the list to add to your wallet, but the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is a solid new contender in the transferable points space with a generous welcome bonus, impressive category bonuses and an increasingly valuable list of transfer partners.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.