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New partnership: Transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red at 1:1

also contributed to this story
Sept. 25, 2024
•
5 min read
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 A330 London Heathrow LHR Terminal 3
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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).

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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.

woman at computer
FRESHSPLASH/GETTY IMAGES

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.

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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:

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:

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.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    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.