Update: The 30% transfer bonus ends today. The stackable 30% Virgin Atlantic coach redemption is no longer live, but it will be back in the future. However the best uses of points are likely on partner carriers like Delta or Virgin America.
Originally posted on 5/3:
Get A 30% Bonus When You Transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points To Virgin Atlantic
This offer expires 5/31/16.
Virgin Atlantic miles never expire as long redeem or earn at least 1 mile every 36 months.
I’m not a big fan of Virgin Atlantic miles as their premium class awards are expensive and have high fuel surcharges, but they do have their uses.
You can search mileage requirements for Virgin Atlantic flights on their homepage without logging in.
For example:
-A one-way ticket from JFK to London is 12,250 miles+$134.60 (normally 17.5K miles). That’s about 9,423 AMEX points.
-A one-way ticket from Los Angeles to London is 14,875 miles+$134.60 (normally 21,250 miles).. That’s about 11,442 AMEX points.
But it’s the return ticket from London that gets slammed with the fuel surcharges and UK APD.
-A one-way ticket from London to JFK is 12,250 miles+$313.06.
-A one-way ticket from London to Los Angeles is 14,875 miles+$313.06.
You can also book travel on Virgin Atlantic partners. Though you need to call to book partner award travel.
Their Delta award chart is pretty good though Delta saver award space is notoriously stingy.
There are no fuel surcharges for Delta flights. You can only redeem for a round-trip ticket on Delta.
You can fly in coach from the US to South America for just 45K miles round-trip (about 34,615 AMEX points) or from the US to Europe for 60K miles round-trip (about 46,153 AMEX points). You can fly in business from the US to South America for just 90K miles round-trip (about 69,230 AMEX points) or from the US to Europe for 100K miles round-trip (about 76,923 AMEX points).
Domestic first class on Delta is just 45K miles round-trip (about 34,615 AMEX points).
Their Virgin America award chart is decent as well.
There are no fuel surcharges for Virgin America flights.
A one-way from LA to San Francisco is 5K miles (about 3,846 AMEX points) plus $5.60. A one-way from JFK, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Philadelphia, or Washington DC to LA or San Francisco is 12.5K miles (about 9,615 AMEX points) plus $5.60 in coach or 37.5K miles (about 28,846 AMEX points) plus $5.60 in first class.
American Express is a DansDeals.com advertiser.
-American Express Membership Rewards points can be earned from credit cards like The Amex EveryDay Preferred Card or The Amex EveryDay Card.
The Everyday Preferred card awards 1.5 points per dollar everywhere, 2.5 points per dollar on Uber, 3 points per dollar on gas, and 4.5 points per dollar on groceries if you make 30 transactions per month. It has a $95 annual fee.
The EveryDay card awards 1.2 points per dollar everywhere, 2.2 points per dollar on Uber, and 2.4 points per dollar on groceries if you make 20 transactions per month. It’s the only no annual-fee card that can directly transfer points into miles.
You can also earn Membership Rewards points from consumer cards like the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, and from business cards like the AMEX Business Gold Rewards Charge Card or The Business Platinum Card.
The Blue for Business® Credit Card from American Express has no annual fee and a limited time increased signup bonus. It earns a generous 1.3 points per dollar everywhere, but you’ll need one of the membership rewards cards listed above to transfer points from that card into airline miles.
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37 Comments On "Get A 30% Bonus When You Transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points To Virgin Atlantic; JFK-London For Less Than 10K Points+$134.60 One-Way, JFK-Los Angeles For Less Than 10K Points+$5.60 Each Way"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
You can unofficially book vx ow awards, I do it all the time over the phone.
Jfk-fll is 7.5k and is readily available
@DAN
I spoke with Etihad(US call center) about availability for Brussels Airlines in July and August and they did not have very much available in coach. Is this because it is too far in advance? Do you think this may change?
Thanks
According to the post, you can book with Delta as its a partner airline. Since Delta flies round trip from NYC to TLV, how many Amex points would be needed to accomplish this? Thanks so much!
@Wondering: @Wondering if you look on the link Dan referenced (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/flying-club-partners/airlines/delta-air-lines.html) You’ll see it’s 80K Coach and 120K B/F. This is in my understanding one way.
@Wondering: +1
Wondering as well for sample dates and NYC – LHR – TLV
@CM: I should clarify I looked for JFK-BRU, BRU-TLV, TLV-BRU, BRU-JFK
Can you use the Delta chart to book Delta partners via Virgin points or just flights on DL metal?
I looked at booking round trip from NY to London and I wanted to share the following observation
Once you factor in the fuel charges plus the value of your Amex points that you would need to transfer to Virgin miles (even with the 30% bonus) you are looking at a cost of around $750 for a round trip coach ticket – not exactly a steal!
$447 in fuel charges (round trip) plus 20,000 Amex at an estimated value of 1.5 cents per Amex point
You need to book roundtrip on delta not on virgin America. I confirmed this with a few agents, and have ticketed a one way award myself.
When you book a Virgin flight from London by phone the taxes may be lower depending on the exchange rate. Worth a try.
Taxes from the UK are somewhat lower for children. Many airlines don’t seem to pass on the savings but Virgin does.
@insider: I called Virgin and they say they don’t have partners that fly LHR-TLV.
Virgin Atlantic points only work when there is delta Saver Availability ? or they can work on any delta award
I see it says 25,000 points is that 1 way or round trip?
TIA
my virgin atlantic miles expired due to no activity anything to do about this?
@High end hobo: Please elaborate what is “vx ow awards”
From experience, some Delta routes are not available with Virgin miles even with saver award availability.
@ Avi.
vx ow = Virgin Atlantic One Way
@Joyce:
*Virgin America
@Waiting: Last year I booked a RT EWR-LHR for July. The revenue price for my dates was over $2500 economy. So I got some bargain using using this double sale.
BTW have you checked recently. Last time I checked Amex points were not selling for anything near 1.5 more like 1.1. Just saying
I’m looking to book round trip JFK-LHR for next week. How do I go about this? Regular tickets seem to run at about $1500 now.
@sara:
On their website.
Thanks. Someone above mentioned that about $750 it’s not such a big deal, but compared to $1443 it’s a steal!! I need only 19,000 rewards to meet this.
I still cant figure out is delta included in the “30% off for economy tickets” or is this just for the flights on virgin metal?
Also the sites quote is before the reduction correct?
All Virgin America flights are bookable with points. Does Virgin Atlantic offer 100% availability for Virgin America partner awards?
@yhung1r
Not sure about your first question, but the quoted prices are AFTER the reduction. I can see where you can get confused because it’s less than 10k points and you see 12,500, but the 10k is for the MR points.
anyway to reinstate expired miles?
@anon:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/50750
@ams, I was wondering the same. VX flies LAX-CUN RT for 20,000 points (15,400 MR). Other than calling VS, is there a way to check availability?
According to the chart that is linked in the post, Virgin America flights NYC-LAX are 25K coach and 75K first class. What am I missing?
just booked several tickets for a family wedding in london using virgin america saved nice sum of money thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was looking to book RT NYC-LHR for my child and myself. On line it priced 49k miles plus $825.82. Called the 1 800 booking center and booked each way separately total came to $679.99 for a savings of $145.83. By phone the outbound flight priced at $269.20 and the inbound flight at GBP283.19, at the going exchange of $1.44 GBP-USD that came to $407.79.
Dan are there any book able flights from LIH or OGG to NYC?
@Dan: All Virgin America flights are bookable with points. Does Virgin Atlantic offer 100% availability for Virgin America partner awards?
Just tried to connect new virgin Atlantic account to AMEX but it says it take up to two weeks which means I lose out on this.
Any suggestions on how to move it quicker?
@Pini:I’ve transferred many times to Virgin Atlantic and it transfers instantly.
I apply led for the Amex 100k and got the bounss and can’t use it comes up err pls call and I call thy say that. Thy don’t know why it’s not working
Can you hepme why its not working ?????!
@Anex: You’re under Review.
@Anonymous: thy toll me review is over but stell not working