Introduction

American Express just launched one of the best transfer bonuses of the year: a 40% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through December 31, 2025. This means you could book business class to London for as few as 21,000 Amex points or ANA's acclaimed business class to Japan for just 43,000 points. Here's exactly how to maximize this limited-time opportunity.

Quick Answer

Between November 20 and December 31, 2025, you'll get 1,400 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for every 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points you transfer. This is the highest transfer bonus Amex typically offers to Virgin Atlantic, making it an ideal time to book premium cabin flights to Europe, Japan, or even short Delta domestic routes at deeply discounted rates.

The Deal Details

Transfer Ratio: 1,000 Amex points = 1,400 Virgin Atlantic points (40% bonus)

Valid Through: December 31, 2025

Transfer Speed: Generally instant

Minimum Transfer: 1,000 points

Who's Eligible: All Amex cardholders with Membership Rewards-earning cards

The bonus won't appear advertised on the Amex transfer page, but it applies automatically when you complete your transfer. If you're unsure, transfer 1,000 points first to confirm you receive 1,400 Virgin points before moving larger amounts.

Why This Bonus Matters

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers some of the most strategic sweet spots in award travel, and this 40% bonus makes them even better. While Virgin Atlantic recently moved to dynamic pricing for its own flights, the program still maintains fixed award charts for partner airlines like Delta, Air France, KLM, and All Nippon Airways.

This is the highest transfer bonus Amex typically offers to Virgin Atlantic. Historically, these bonuses range from 30-40%, appearing once or twice per year, so this represents peak value for your Amex points.

Best Uses of This Transfer Bonus

Virgin Atlantic Business Class to London: From 21,000 Amex Points

Virgin Atlantic's dynamic pricing means you can sometimes find business class (Upper Class) to London for as low as 29,000 Virgin points one-way from East Coast cities. With the 40% transfer bonus, that's just 21,000 Amex points.

The catch? Taxes and fees run around $500-600 one-way on Virgin Atlantic flights. Still, for a lie-flat business class seat across the Atlantic, this represents exceptional value compared to cash prices that often exceed $3,000 one-way.

Best Routes:

• New York (JFK) to London (LHR)
• Boston (BOS) to London (LHR)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to London (LHR)
• Atlanta (ATL) to London (LHR)

ANA Business Class to Japan: 43,000 Amex Points

One of the absolute best uses of Virgin Atlantic points is booking All Nippon Airways (ANA) business class between the U.S. and Japan. The standard rate is 60,000 Virgin points one-way, but with the 40% transfer bonus, you only need to transfer 43,000 Amex points.

ANA's business class, "The Room," features some of the best seats in the sky with door-equipped suites, exceptional Japanese hospitality, and outstanding cuisine. Cash prices for these tickets regularly exceed $6,000 one-way, making this redemption worth potentially 14 cents per Amex point.

Routes Include:

• West Coast (SFO, LAX, SEA) to Tokyo (NRT/HND): 43,000 Amex points
• East Coast (JFK, IAD) to Tokyo: 48,000 Amex points (67,500 Virgin points)

ANA First Class: 83,000-103,000 Amex Points Round-Trip

If you really want to splurge, ANA's first class "The Suite" is considered among the world's finest. With this transfer bonus, you can book round-trip first class from:

• Honolulu to Tokyo: 83,000 Amex points (120,000 Virgin points)
• West Coast to Tokyo: 104,000 Amex points (145,000 Virgin points)
• East Coast to Tokyo: 121,000 Amex points (170,000 Virgin points)

These flights normally sell for $15,000-20,000 round-trip in cash, delivering extraordinary value.

Air France/KLM Business Class to Europe: 38,000 Amex Points

Virgin Atlantic uses a zone-based award chart for Air France and KLM flights. During off-peak periods, you can fly business class to Europe for just 48,500 Virgin points one-way, or 38,000 Amex points with this bonus.

Off-Peak Zones (Zone 1 and Zone 7):

• Zone 1: UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Scandinavia
• Zone 7: Central/West U.S., Hawaii, Mexico, Central America

The major advantage here? Significantly lower taxes and fees compared to Virgin Atlantic's own flights—often just $100-200 versus $500-600.

Delta Domestic Economy: As Low as 5,400 Amex Points

Delta's own SkyMiles program has become notoriously expensive for domestic flights. Virgin Atlantic offers a much better alternative with over 460 routes starting at just 7,500 Virgin points one-way in economy.

With the 40% bonus, that's only 5,400 Amex points for routes like:

• West Coast to Hawaii
• East Coast to Florida
• Northeast to Caribbean

Short-Haul International Economy: From 9,000 Amex Points

Economy flights between North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean can be excellent value, requiring only 11,000 Virgin points one-way (or 8,000 Amex points with the bonus). Examples include:

• Boston to Bermuda
• Miami to Cancun
• New York to Caribbean islands

How to Take Advantage

Step 1: Get an Amex Card That Earns Membership Rewards

If you don't already have Membership Rewards points, these cards offer the best earning potential:

For Maximum Bonus: The Platinum Card from American Express offers up to 125,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting minimum spending requirements. Its 5x earning rate on flights booked directly with airlines makes it ideal for building a points balance quickly.

For Everyday Spending: The American Express Gold Card earns 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 annually), plus 3x on flights. With a welcome bonus of up to 90,000 points, it's perfect for building your balance through regular spending.

For Business Owners: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2x points on all purchases up to $50,000 annually with no annual fee, making it an excellent foundation card for accumulating points.

Step 2: Create a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Account

Before transferring points, you'll need a Flying Club account. Sign up at virginatlantic.com—it's free and takes just a few minutes.

Step 3: Search for Award Availability

Critical: Never transfer points without confirming award availability first. Transfers to Virgin Atlantic can't be reversed.

For Virgin Atlantic Flights: Search directly on virginatlantic.com using the "Book with points" option.

For Partner Flights: Use these tools:

• ANA: Search on ana.co.jp
• Delta: Search on delta.com, then book through Virgin Atlantic
• Air France/KLM: Search on airfrance.com or klm.com

Step 4: Transfer Your Points

1. Log in to your Amex account
2. Navigate to Membership Rewards
3. Select "Transfer to Travel Partners"
4. Choose Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
5. Enter the amount (in 1,000-point increments)
6. Confirm the transfer

Transfers typically appear instantly, though first-time transfers may take 24 hours.

Step 5: Book Your Award Flight

Once points appear in your Virgin Atlantic account, book immediately. Award availability can disappear quickly, especially on premium cabin flights.

Important Considerations

Virgin Atlantic's Dynamic Pricing

Virgin Atlantic moved to dynamic pricing for its own flights in October 2023. This means award prices fluctuate based on demand. The good news? Low-demand dates offer unprecedented value. The bad news? Peak travel periods can be expensive, even with points.

High Taxes and Fees on Virgin Atlantic

One significant drawback of booking Virgin Atlantic's own flights is the high fuel surcharges and fees. A business class round-trip to London can cost $1,000+ in taxes and fees alone. Partner airlines like ANA, Air France, and KLM typically have much lower fees.

Award Availability Challenges

Premium cabin award seats on partners like ANA are highly sought after. You'll need flexibility with dates and destinations. Book as far in advance as possible—generally 330 days out.

No Speculative Transfers

Only transfer points when you've confirmed award availability and are ready to book. Virgin Atlantic has a history of sudden devaluations, and transferred points lose the flexibility of staying in your Amex account.

Alternative Transfer Options

If Virgin Atlantic doesn't fit your travel plans, Amex currently offers transfer bonuses to other partners as well:

• Avianca LifeMiles: Various bonuses for Star Alliance flights
• Marriott Bonvoy: 30% bonus (though generally poor value)

Chase is also running a Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus, though it dropped from 40% to 30% on November 21, making Amex the better option through year-end.

Who Should Transfer Points Now

This transfer bonus makes sense if you:

• Have specific Virgin Atlantic award availability confirmed
• Want to book ANA business or first class to Japan
• Need to fly Virgin Atlantic to London and accept the high fees
• Have upcoming Delta domestic travel needs
• Want Air France/KLM business class to Europe

This bonus doesn't make sense if you:

• Don't have a specific redemption in mind
• Prefer to keep your points flexible
• Can't find award availability on your desired routes
• Don't want to pay high taxes and fees on Virgin Atlantic flights

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Amex points back from Virgin Atlantic?

No, transfers to airline partners are permanent and can't be reversed. Only transfer when you have confirmed award availability.

Do Virgin Atlantic points expire?

Virgin Atlantic points expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any point-earning or redemption activity resets the clock.

Can I combine Virgin Atlantic points from different sources?

Yes, you can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic from multiple programs including Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt. All transfers go into the same account.

How long does the transfer take?

Amex to Virgin Atlantic transfers are typically instant. First-time transfers to a new Virgin Atlantic account may take up to 24 hours.

Will I see the bonus advertised on the Amex website?

No, Amex often doesn't advertise transfer bonuses on the transfer page. The bonus applies automatically. Do a small test transfer if you're unsure.

Can I transfer points from a business Amex card?

Yes, all Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points can transfer to Virgin Atlantic, including business cards.

Conclusion

The 40% Amex to Virgin Atlantic transfer bonus represents one of the year's best opportunities to stretch your points further. Whether you're dreaming of ANA's exceptional business class to Japan, want a lie-flat business class seat to London, or simply need to book Delta domestic flights more affordably, this bonus unlocks significant value.

Just remember: only transfer points when you have confirmed award availability and a specific booking in mind. The offer expires December 31, 2025, giving you over a month to plan, but the best award seats disappear quickly.

If you have Amex Membership Rewards points sitting idle and upcoming travel plans that align with Virgin Atlantic's sweet spots, this is your chance to maximize their value.

This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.