Key Points

• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers some of the best-value redemptions for premium cabin travel, especially to Europe and Asia.
• You can earn Virgin Atlantic points through transfers from Amex, Chase, Citi, Bilt, and Capital One at 1:1 ratios.
• Sweet spots include ANA business class to Japan for 95,000 miles and Delta One to Europe for 50,000 miles each way.

Introduction

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles are one of the travel rewards world's best-kept secrets. While most people focus on Chase, Amex, or airline-specific programs, Virgin Atlantic's program offers exceptional value for premium cabin travel—especially if you know where to look.

Here's what makes these miles special: you can transfer points from five major credit card programs, book flights on multiple partner airlines (including Delta and ANA), and access some genuinely fantastic redemption rates that haven't been devalued like many competitor programs.

Let me walk you through exactly how to maximize Virgin Atlantic miles for luxury travel that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.

What Are Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is the loyalty program for Virgin Atlantic Airways, the British airline founded by Richard Branson. But here's where it gets interesting: you don't need to fly Virgin Atlantic to earn or use these miles effectively.

The program uses a distance-based award chart rather than dynamic pricing, which means you can predict costs and find consistent value. You earn miles through flights, credit card transfers, and occasionally through promotions—though the real power comes from credit card point transfers.

Why Virgin Atlantic Miles Matter

Unlike programs that have moved to dynamic pricing (looking at you, Delta SkyMiles), Virgin Atlantic maintains published award charts. This transparency lets you plan redemptions strategically and find genuine value.

The program also partners with Delta, Air France-KLM, and All Nippon Airways (ANA), giving you access to extensive route networks while maintaining reasonable redemption rates.

How to Earn Virgin Atlantic Miles

Credit Card Transfer Partners

This is the primary way most people accumulate Virgin Atlantic miles, and for good reason—the transfer ratios are excellent. If you're looking to maximize your credit card rewards strategy, understanding how to use Chase points and other transferable currencies is essential.

American Express Membership Rewards

• Transfer ratio: 1:1
• Transfer time: Instant to 24 hours
• Best cards: The Platinum Card from American Express, American Express Gold Card

Chase Ultimate Rewards

• Transfer ratio: 1:1
• Transfer time: Instant
• Best cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred

Citi ThankYou Points

• Transfer ratio: 1:1
• Transfer time: 1-2 days
• Best cards: Citi Premier, Citi Strata Premier

Bilt Rewards

• Transfer ratio: 1:1
• Transfer time: 1-2 days
• Best card: Bilt Mastercard (earn points on rent!)

Capital One Miles

• Transfer ratio: 1:1
• Transfer time: Instant to 24 hours
• Best cards: Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture Rewards

Flying to Earn Miles

You can earn Virgin Atlantic miles by flying with Virgin Atlantic or partner airlines. The earning rate varies by fare class and route, but generally:

• Virgin Atlantic flights earn 100% of miles flown in economy
• Premium economy earns 150%
• Business class earns 200%
• Delta and Air France-KLM flights earn miles based on fare class

However, unless you're flying Virgin Atlantic regularly, transferring credit card points is usually more efficient.

Shopping Portals and Promotions

Virgin Atlantic occasionally offers transfer bonuses from credit card programs (typically 15-30% extra miles) and shopping portal bonuses. These can boost your earning rate, but they're unpredictable and shouldn't be your primary earning strategy.

Virgin Atlantic Partner Airlines

Understanding Virgin Atlantic's partner network is crucial because you'll often get better value booking partner flights than Virgin Atlantic's own services.

Major Airline Partners

Delta Air Lines (Most Important Partnership)

• Extensive U.S. and international coverage
• Access to Delta One business class and suites
• Generally excellent availability for Virgin members
• Sweet spot redemptions to Europe and within the U.S.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

• Fantastic business and first class products
• Excellent availability to Japan
• One of the program's absolute best sweet spots
• Round-the-world routing possible

Air France-KLM

• European coverage through Paris and Amsterdam hubs
• Access to La Première (Air France first class)
• Good availability on transatlantic routes

Other Partners Include:

• Air China
• Cyprus Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Singapore Airlines (limited availability)
• South African Airways
• TAP Air Portugal
• Virgin Australia

Best Virgin Atlantic Miles Redemptions (Sweet Spots)

Let's get to what really matters: where Virgin Atlantic miles deliver exceptional value compared to paying cash or using other programs.

ANA Business Class to Japan

The Deal: 95,000 miles round-trip in business classCash Price: Often $5,000-8,000+Value: 5-8+ cents per mile

This is arguably the single best use of Virgin Atlantic miles. ANA's "The Room" business class product is considered one of the world's best, and you're getting it for significantly fewer miles than booking through ANA's own program (which charges 170,000-180,000 miles for the same flights).

How to Book: Search for ANA availability on United's website first (ANA releases space to Star Alliance partners), then call Virgin Atlantic to book by phone.

Delta One Business Class to Europe

The Deal: 50,000 miles one-way in off-peak season (October-May)Cash Price: $2,500-4,500+Value: 5-9 cents per mile

Virgin Atlantic's off-peak pricing for Delta flights to Europe represents tremendous value, especially considering Delta's own SkyMiles program uses dynamic pricing that typically costs 70,000-100,000+ miles for the same flights. For more on maximizing airline miles, check out our complete guide to airline credit cards.

Routes include: New York to London/Paris/Amsterdam, Atlanta to London/Paris, Los Angeles to London

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London

The Deal: 50,000-60,000 miles one-way (depending on departure city)Cash Price: $3,000-5,000+Value: 5-8 cents per mile

If you want to fly Virgin Atlantic's own Upper Class product—which features a bar, excellent service, and direct aisle access—this represents solid value, especially from the East Coast. Learn more about maximizing travel credit cards for premium cabin redemptions.

Delta Domestic First Class

The Deal: 12,500-20,000 miles one-way for cross-country first classCash Price: $400-1,200Value: 2-6 cents per mile

While not as spectacular as international business class, Virgin Atlantic often prices Delta domestic first class flights more reasonably than Delta's own program, especially for transcontinental routes.

Air France First Class (La Première)

The Deal: 100,000 miles one-wayCash Price: $6,000-10,000+ (when available)Value: 6-10 cents per mile

Air France's La Première is one of the world's most exclusive first class products, and Virgin Atlantic is one of the few programs that can book it. Availability is extremely limited, but if you can find it, this is a bucket-list redemption.

How to Search for Virgin Atlantic Award Availability

Finding available award seats requires patience and the right tools. Virgin Atlantic's own search tool isn't always comprehensive, so you'll often need to search partner airline websites first.

Step-by-Step Search Process

For Delta Flights:

1. Go to Delta.com
2. Search for award flights using SkyMiles
3. Note dates with "SkyMiles" availability shown
4. Check Virgin Atlantic's website for the same flights
5. Confirm pricing matches Virgin Atlantic's award chart

For ANA Flights:

1. Go to United.com
2. Search for "Saver" award space on ANA-operated flights
3. Note available dates and flight numbers
4. Call Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club team to book by phone (ANA flights don't show on Virgin's website)

For Air France-KLM Flights:

1. Search on AirFrance.com or the Air France app
2. Look for "Reward" flights with miles pricing
3. Check Virgin Atlantic's website to confirm availability
4. Book online or by phone

Best Booking Windows

• ANA flights: 355 days in advance (book early—space goes fast)
• Delta flights: 331 days in advance
• Virgin Atlantic flights: 355 days in advance
• Air France-KLM: 360 days in advance

What Good Availability Looks Like

Don't expect every date to have award space. Focus on:

• Off-peak travel seasons (October-May for Europe, avoiding holidays)
• Weekday departures (Tuesday-Thursday)
• Less popular routes (try multiple gateway cities)
• Booking far in advance for peak travel dates

How to Book Virgin Atlantic Award Flights

Booking Online

Virgin Atlantic's website allows you to book most Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and some Air France-KLM flights directly.

The Process:

1. Log into your Flying Club account at virginatlantic.com
2. Search for your desired route and dates
3. Select "Use miles" option
4. Review the redemption rate and taxes/fees
5. Complete the booking

Pros: Instant confirmation, see exactly what you're bookingCons: Limited inventory shown, can't book ANA or some partners

Booking by Phone

For ANA flights, complex routings, or when the website shows errors, you'll need to call Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club team.

Contact Information:

• U.S. number: 1-800-365-9500
• International: +44 344 874 7747
• Hours: 24/7 (though wait times vary)

Phone Booking Tips:

• Call during off-peak hours (early morning U.S. East Coast time)
• Have your exact flights and dates ready
• Reference specific flight numbers when possible
• Be patient—ANA bookings require holding while the agent confirms space

Phone Booking Fee: Virgin Atlantic charges a $30 booking fee for phone reservations, though this is often waived if the booking isn't available online.

Virgin Atlantic Award Chart Breakdown

Understanding Virgin Atlantic's award pricing helps you identify good deals quickly. The program uses zone-based pricing that varies by distance and cabin class.

Sample Award Pricing (One-Way)

Transatlantic (U.S. to Europe) on Delta/Virgin Atlantic:

• Economy: 20,000-30,000 miles (off-peak: 20,000)
• Premium Economy: 40,000-50,000 miles (off-peak: 35,000)
• Business Class: 50,000-75,000 miles (off-peak: 50,000)

U.S. to Japan on ANA:

• Economy: 35,000 miles
• Business Class: 95,000 miles round-trip (sweetest spot)
• First Class: 110,000 miles round-trip

Domestic U.S. on Delta:

• Under 650 miles: 7,500-10,000 miles economy
• 651-1,150 miles: 10,000-15,000 miles economy
• Over 2,100 miles: 20,000-25,000 miles first class

Europe to East Africa:

• Economy: 18,750 miles
• Business Class: 37,500 miles

Peak vs. Off-Peak Pricing

Virgin Atlantic implements peak and off-peak pricing for many routes:

Off-Peak Months (typically):

• January-May
• October-mid December

Peak Months:

• June-September
• Late December/early January

The difference can be 10,000-20,000 miles per ticket, making off-peak travel significantly better value.

Taxes and Fees on Virgin Atlantic Awards

Here's an important consideration: Virgin Atlantic passes along the United Kingdom's Air Passenger Duty (APD) on flights departing from the UK, which can add $150-250+ per ticket in business class.

Typical Taxes and Fees by Route

U.S. to Europe (on Delta):

• $50-150 depending on departure city
• No UK APD if avoiding London Heathrow departures

U.S. to UK (on Virgin Atlantic/Delta):

• Outbound to UK: $30-80
• Return from UK: $150-250+ in business class due to APD

U.S. to Japan (on ANA):

• $80-150 typically
• Lower than UK routes due to no APD

Domestic U.S. (on Delta):

• $5.60 per one-way flight (just the security fee)

How to Minimize Taxes

Book positioning flights separately: Fly to a non-UK European city, then continue to your final destination.

Example: Instead of New York to London to Paris all on one award, book New York to Paris (lower taxes), then buy a cheap cash ticket London if needed.

Avoid London Heathrow departures: Fly into London, but return from Amsterdam, Paris, or another European city to skip the hefty UK departure taxes.

Virgin Atlantic Upgrade Awards

Virgin Atlantic allows you to upgrade paid tickets using miles, though availability can be limited and pricing isn't always competitive with cash upgrades or simply booking an award ticket.

Upgrade Pricing

• Economy to Premium Economy: Starting at 9,000 miles
• Economy to Upper Class: Starting at 15,000 miles (short-haul)
• Premium Economy to Upper Class: Variable pricing

Worth It? Generally only if you booked a cheap fare and upgrade space opens up close to departure. Otherwise, you're often better off booking an award ticket from the start.

Maximizing Your Virgin Atlantic Miles

Transfer Strategically

Don't transfer miles until you've found available award space. Credit card points are more flexible than airline miles, so keep them in your credit card program until you're ready to book. Our guide on transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards explains this strategy in detail.

Exception: If a transfer bonus is running (15-30% extra miles), calculate whether the bonus outweighs the flexibility of keeping points in your credit card program.

Combine Partner Programs

You can book a Delta outbound and Virgin Atlantic return (or vice versa) on the same award. This flexibility helps when availability is limited on one airline.

Watch for Transfer Bonuses

Virgin Atlantic typically offers transfer bonuses 2-4 times per year. If you have flexible travel dates, waiting for a bonus can stretch your points 15-30% further.

Book ANA During Award Space Releases

ANA releases business class award space approximately 355 days before departure, and popular routes fill up within hours. Set calendar reminders and be ready to book immediately.

Use Stopovers Strategically

Virgin Atlantic allows one free stopover on round-trip international awards. This lets you visit two destinations for the price of one award ticket—though you'll pay taxes for the additional segments.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Transferring Before Confirming Availability

This is the number one mistake. Always search for available award space first, confirm the exact flights you want, then transfer miles. Transfers are one-way and can't be undone.

Ignoring Off-Peak Pricing

The difference between peak and off-peak pricing is substantial. If your travel dates are flexible, waiting a few weeks can save 20,000+ miles per ticket.

Not Calling for ANA Flights

ANA award space doesn't show on Virgin Atlantic's website. You must call to book, and many people miss out on these incredible redemptions simply because they don't know to call.

Forgetting About UK Taxes

That amazing 50,000-mile business class ticket to London? It comes with $200+ in taxes departing the UK. Factor this into your planning.

Booking Too Close to Departure

Award availability typically decreases as the departure date approaches. For popular routes and premium cabins, book as early as possible—ideally 6-12 months in advance.

Comparing Virgin Atlantic to Other Programs

Virgin Atlantic vs. Delta SkyMiles

Virgin Atlantic Wins For:

• Predictable award pricing
• Better rates on international business class
• Ability to book ANA flights

Delta SkyMiles Wins For:

• Ability to book SkyTeam partners (beyond Air France-KLM)
• No phone booking required
• Easier domestic redemptions

Virgin Atlantic vs. ANA Mileage Club

Virgin Atlantic Wins For:

• Easier to earn miles (multiple transfer partners)
• Lower redemption rates for ANA flights (95,000 vs. 170,000-180,000 round-trip to Japan)

ANA Mileage Club Wins For:

• More Star Alliance partner options
• Better availability on some routes
• Round-the-world ticket options

Virgin Atlantic vs. Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Virgin Atlantic Wins For:

• Delta award availability
• Fixed pricing (no dynamic pricing)
• ANA partnership

Flying Blue Wins For:

• Monthly Promo Rewards (discounted awards)
• Better for short-haul European flights
• More SkyTeam options

Is It Worth Earning Virgin Atlantic Miles?

For most travelers, Virgin Atlantic miles should be part of your strategy, not your entire strategy. Here's when they make the most sense:

You Should Prioritize Virgin Atlantic Miles If:

• You fly to/from Europe regularly
• You want to visit Japan in ANA business class
• You value predictable award pricing
• You already earn Chase, Amex, or Citi points

Consider Other Programs If:

• You mainly travel domestically within the U.S.
• You prefer more airline partner options
• You want to book award space last-minute
• You fly exclusively on American or United

The sweet spot is keeping points in flexible credit card programs (Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One) and transferring to Virgin Atlantic when you find a high-value redemption. Want to dive deeper into points strategies? Check out our best flexible points programs guide.

FAQ

Can I transfer Virgin Atlantic miles to other programs?

No, Virgin Atlantic miles can't be transferred to other loyalty programs. This is why you should keep points in credit card programs until you're ready to book.

Do Virgin Atlantic miles expire?

Virgin Atlantic miles expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any activity—earning or redeeming miles—resets the expiration clock for all miles in your account.

Can I book one-way awards with Virgin Atlantic miles?

Yes, Virgin Atlantic allows one-way award bookings at half the published round-trip rate (or slightly more on some routes). This flexibility helps when you need positioning or return flexibility.

How many miles do I need for a free flight?

Domestic U.S. economy starts at 7,500 miles one-way. International economy to Europe starts at 20,000 miles. Business class to Japan is 95,000 miles round-trip. Specific pricing depends on your route and travel dates.

Can I book flights for family members or friends?

Yes, you can use your Virgin Atlantic miles to book award tickets for anyone, not just yourself. The traveler doesn't need to be related to you or have their own Flying Club account.

What happens if Virgin Atlantic cancels my award flight?

If Virgin Atlantic or a partner airline cancels your award flight, your miles are automatically returned to your account, and any taxes/fees are refunded. You can then rebook without penalty.

Can I change or cancel Virgin Atlantic award bookings?

Yes, but it costs 5,000 miles per passenger to make changes or cancel within 24 hours of booking. If you cancel, you get your miles back minus the 5,000-mile fee, and any taxes/fees are refunded.

How do I find ANA award space if it doesn't show on Virgin Atlantic's website?

Search for "Saver" award availability on United.com first (United shows ANA partner space). When you find available flights, call Virgin Atlantic to book those specific flights by phone.

Final Thoughts

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles offer some of the absolute best redemption rates in the travel rewards world, especially for premium cabin international travel. The ANA business class sweet spot alone makes these miles worth earning, and the off-peak Delta pricing to Europe provides consistent value year-round.

The key is strategic transfer timing. Keep your points in flexible credit card programs like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold, search for award space carefully, and only transfer when you've confirmed availability. With patience and the right approach, you can experience business class travel to destinations around the world for a fraction of the cash price.

Whether you're booking that incredible ANA business class flight to Tokyo or finding off-peak Delta One space to London, Virgin Atlantic miles reward those who understand the program's quirks and sweet spots. Ready to start earning? Check out our guide to the best travel credit cards to maximize your points earning potential.

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