Chase has launched a new transfer bonus promotion: transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and receive a 40% bonus. It is valid through 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 28, 2026. You should see this offer once you log in to your account.

If you have a large balance of Ultimate Rewards points and usually do not redeem them for Hyatt hotel stays or use them through Chase Travel to offset travel purchases (if you have an eligible card), then a speculative transfer may look tempting. However, keep in mind that Virgin Atlantic frequently devalues its program without advance notice, so there is some risk that the points may not be worth as much as you expect by the time you are ready to use them.

Best uses of Virgin points

  • ANA first class from the U.S., starting at 72,500 miles from the West Coast and 85,000 miles from the East Coast. For a long time, the sweetest use of Virgin points was booking ANA first class from the U.S. to Japan. Unfortunately, Virgin devalued these awards in March 2023. Even after the big increase, these redemptions are no longer the unbelievable value they once were, but they can still be well worth it. ANA offers one of the best first class products in the world, and cash fares often exceed $20,000. Note that ANA flights cannot be booked on Virgin’s website; you need to call or contact customer service via Twitter DM to book.
  • Economy class from the U.S. to the U.K., starting at 6,000 miles from the East Coast and 9,000 miles from the West Coast. You can get excellent value using Virgin points to fly to London. Flights from the U.S. to London cost just 6,000 to 9,000 miles, and even after factoring in moderate taxes and fees of around $100, it is still a great deal. Keep in mind that flights originating in the U.K. have much higher taxes and fees, often over $200.
  • Business class from the U.S. to the U.K., starting at 29,000 miles from the East Coast and 41,000 miles from the West Coast. Since the switch to dynamic pricing, some Virgin business class awards can price much lower than before. You may be able to fly from the U.S. to London for 29,000 to 41,000 miles, depending on the flight, even during peak season. Taxes and fees are high, around $500-600, and they are even higher on flights departing from the U.K.
  • SAS flights to Europe. Virgin Atlantic offers solid award pricing on SAS flights to Europe, with very low surcharges. Nonstop economy starts at around 20,000 miles, and business class starts at 75,000 miles. Surcharges to Europe are only $5.60, while the return is $50-90.
  • Intra-Europe flights on Air France or KLM. Virgin Atlantic has excellent pricing for nonstop intra-Europe flights on Air France or KLM. Economy on nonstop flights under 1,250 miles starts at just 4,000 miles (which covers most intra-Europe routes), and business class on nonstop flights under 600 miles starts at just 8,000 miles. For details, see: using Virgin points for cheap Air France/KLM intra-Europe awards.

Things to know

  • Virgin points purchases are processed by points.com and do not count as airfare spending.
  • Virgin points do not expire.
  • Many itineraries can be booked online at virginatlantic.com, including some partner flights such as Delta, Air France, and KLM.
  • For partner flights that cannot be booked online, you can sometimes book by sending a Twitter DM to @Virgin Atlantic. If they reply that they cannot sell flights that do not connect via the U.K., you can clarify that you are not buying a ticket but trying to redeem points for an award ticket.
  • Virgin Atlantic prices each segment separately. If your trip requires multiple segments, booking the same flights through Air France Flying Blue or Delta SkyMiles can sometimes be cheaper.
  • Transfers from AMEX, Chase, or Citi to Virgin Atlantic are usually instant. It is best to search and confirm award availability before transferring points and booking.