American Express and Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus: Get 40% more Virgin points when transferring Membership Rewards

Looking to travel to Europe? Is an island vacation on your bucket list? Want to finally make that dream trip a reality?

If so, there’s good news: For a limited time, eligible American Express Membership Rewards® card members can receive a 40% bonus when transferring points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Usually, cardholders can transfer Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio, but the 40% bonus available now through Dec. 31, 2024, means you’ll receive 1,400 Virgin points® for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points you transfer. Terms apply.

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 40% bonus

With more transfer partners than any other major U.S. credit card rewards program, American Express is the go-to issuer for many travelers. Here are several popular Amex cards that earn transferable Membership Rewards points:

If you have one of these cards or another eligible American Express Card that earns 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 hotel and airline partners, such as Virgin Atlantic, here’s a guide to that process.

Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, making it possible to earn and redeem points when flying with Virgin Atlantic or the carrier’s partners, which include Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Korean Air. Virgin also partners with several other airlines outside the SkyTeam alliance, so your flight redemption options are seemingly endless.

Fly to London for just 5,000 Membership Rewards points

As part of the new loyalty offering from Flying Club, Virgin Atlantic now makes all available seats on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights available to book with Virgin points, including upgrading tickets, giving you limitless choice and flexibility. Flights are priced dynamically in accordance with demand (as with cash tickets).

Virgin Atlantic recently introduced Saver reward seats, the lowest-priced seats available to book with Virgin points. One-way Saver reward flights from New York to London start from just 6,000 Virgin points — plus taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges* — each way for Economy Classic seats.

*Price correct as of Oct. 30, 2024. Example price is for a one-way reward seat to London from New York in Economy Classic in the standard season. Seats at Saver price points are subject to availability and will not necessarily be available in every cabin or on every flight. Taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges apply, which will vary according to choice of cabin, departure airport, destination and date(s) of travel. The price of reward seats is variable and will be displayed at the time of booking. Flying Club Terms and Conditions apply.

This is the starting rate for flights departing from 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). Look for the red “Saver” tag when searching for flights to ensure you can find the lowest price. A Saver fare 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 40% transfer bonus offer, you only need to transfer as few as 5,000 Membership Rewards points* to book this 6,000-mile reward flight to London*.

*Price correct as of Oct. 30, 2024. Example price is for a one-way reward seat to London from New York in Economy Classic in the standard season. Seats at Saver price points are subject to availability and will not necessarily be available in every cabin or on every flight. Taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges apply, which will vary according to choice of cabin, departure airport, destination and date(s) of travel. The price of reward seats is variable and will be displayed at the time of booking. Flying Club Terms and Conditions apply.

Virgin also offers a premium economy cabin 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.

Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?

For the ultimate indulgence, Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin offers 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.

Also, remember that Membership Rewards points can only be transferred to Virgin Atlantic in increments of 1,000.

How to maximize your travel with Virgin

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.

As part of a limited-time offer, you could also redeem 140,000 Virgin points for Virgin Voyages, an adults-only cruise line that offers trips to various Caribbean destinations. With 20-plus eateries featuring menus curated by chefs affiliated with Michelin-starred restaurants, essential drinks, Wi-Fi, group fitness classes, shows and entertainment all included, there’s no better way to explore the Caribbean.

Travelers can also choose to redeem a minimum of 25,000 Virgin points a night for six Virgin Hotels, including properties in Chicago, Dallas, London, Nashville, New Orleans and New York City. Prices vary by date and blackout dates apply.

Use the Amex transfer bonus to book an upgrade

Virgin Atlantic has a new plane: the Airbus A330-900neo. It has two exclusive Retreat Suites, which I’ve found to be an incredibly luxurious way to cross the Atlantic.

There are sliding doors for maximum privacy, ottomans so you can 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 Membership Rewards points transferred to Virgin points to book Upper Class seats and then upgrade to the Retreat Suites. The A330-900neo is now flying on select routes from Boston, New York, Atlanta and Tampa to London.

Bottom line

Until Dec. 31, 2024, eligible American Express card members will receive a 40% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program. Terms apply.

Before transferring Membership Rewards points, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• You must be enrolled in Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to participate in this offer.
• Airline tickets and prices are subject to availability and change according to demand, so check 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 transfer bonus, your travel dreams might be closer than you think.