Virgin Atlantic is one of our favorite frequent flyer programs for a reason: it has some incredible redemptions to some of our favorite places to travel. This article will highlight some of Virgin Atlantic's best award redemption opportunities.
Current Virgin Atlantic Transfer Bonuses
Virgin Atlantic will oftentimes run transfer bonuses with its various credit card partners, typically about 20-30% (Bilt has been the anomaly, offering up to 150% for very short periods of time).
With transfer bonuses, you can effectively discount the amount of points you're paying by the % transfer. For example, if an award flight costs 72,500 Virgin miles after a 30% transfer bonus, then that flight will only run you ~55,500 points.
BRAND
Transfer Partner
Transfer Bonus Details
End Date
North America, Europe, Australia <> Japan On ANA Business/First Class
This is arguably one of the best point deals in all of travel, even after its devaluation in 2023. If departing/flying into Australia, Canada, or the Western US (e.g. SFO, LAX), you can fly on ANA’s top-tier business class for just 45,000 Virgin points in each direction.
Notably, you could even fly on ANA’s first class product for just 72.5–85k Virgin points each direction as well. For context, ANA’s first class can sometimes sell for upwards of $20,000 roundtrip from the East Coast, meaning you can really get a lot out of your hard-earned points with this redemption.
Given its popularity and how high in demand Japan travel is right now, booking ANA's business and first class is notoriously difficult however, but it is doable. Click here to learn more about how to do it!
U.S. <> Europe On Air France/KLM Business Class
You can use Virgin Atlantic points to book Air France/KLM business class tickets for as low as 48,500 points + taxes during off-peak seasons and as high as 58,500 during on-peak seasons. Given award inflation over the last few years, this is a fantastic deal to hop on a fantastic business class product over the Atlantic.
Virgin uses a zone based system to determine its award pricing when booking Air France/KLM tickets. As such, you will see these excellent prices for flights flying to/from Zone 1 and Zone 6 (defined below):
- Zone 1: UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Balearic Islands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway and Sweden.
- Zone 6: East Coast USA, East Canada, Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Caiman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Martinique, Haiti, Porto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Marteen.
You can use Roame's premium SkyView product to easily search for deals:
West Coast U.S. <> Europe In Air France/KLM Economy Class
Flying from the West Coast (what Virgin calls Zone 7) can also be very cheap with Virgin Atlantic points. You can find flights to Europe starting at just 15,000 points + taxes in each direction.
Virgin uses a zone based system to determine its award pricing when booking Air France/KLM tickets. As such, you will see these excellent prices for flights flying to/from Zone 1 and Zone 7 (defined below):
- Zone 1: UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Balearic Islands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway and Sweden.
- Zone 7: Central & West USA, Hawaii, Central & West Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua.
East Coast U.S. <> Europe In Air France/KLM Economy Class
Similarly, Virgin offers excellent pricing for East Coast U.S., with flights starting at 12,000 points + taxes in each direction.
Virgin's zone-based system for its award pricing here is also very favorable when booking Air France/KLM flights:
- Zone 1: UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Balearic Islands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway and Sweden.
- Zone 6: East Coast USA, East Canada, Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Caiman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Martinique, Haiti, Porto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Marteen.
Intraeurope Flights Via Air France/KLM
Continuing on the Air France/KLM hype train, Virgin Atlantic has several fantastic offerings here as well. Based on its award chart pricing, more outsized value can be derived with partner flights:
Departing from either CDG or AMS, you can cover a huge portion of Europe using Virgin miles.
U.S. <> Auckland On Air New Zealand Business Class
Flying over the Pacific Ocean to Auckland in business class sounds pretty fun to me. Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic's partnership enables some incredibly exciting award redemptions: just 62,500 Virgin miles going each way + minimal taxes/fees. However, finding these high-value award redemptions is no easy feat.
This Roame search shows a Air New Zealand flight at 110k pts, but the fact that this flight exists is very promising. Since it's in fare class I, that means it should also exist on Virgin Atlantic's side. You can book these flights by calling Virgin Atlantic directly and talking with one of their many competent agents.
- Give Virgin Atlantic a call at 1 (800) 862-8621
- Confirm the award availability with the agent and request the award booking to be held for 24-48 hours (this may not be possible)
- Transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic
- Call Virgin Atlantic again at 1 (800) 862-8621 to pay for your booking
- Note the Air New Zealand record locator
U.S. <> Europe On Delta One
Virgin Atlantic offers excellent pricing to fly on Delta One going to/from Europe (including the UK) via the United States.
These are fantastic prices to the UK, but be wary of the hefty taxes/fees you might pay. However, flights to other parts of Europe are extremely cheap, in that taxes/fees departing from the U.S. are only $5.60 USD!
Conclusion
Virgin Atlantic is a quirky program that requires you to oftentimes talk with their agents and to confirm availability via partner airlines. However, significant value can be derived with some of their offerings, helping you truly stretch the value of your miles. This is why Virgin remains as one of the top players in the points space, despite some of its technical difficulties.
Get the free daily email of the latest award flight deals.
