The Citi ThankYou program is currently offering a 30% bonus on transfers to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through tomorrow, 16 March 2024. This transfer bonus offer can be quite valuable, especially considering that Virgin Atlantic is currently offering a 50% discount on transatlantic awards booked by 20 March 2024 for travel between 14 March and 30 June 2024.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are not known for their versatility, and awards booked with these points often come with high surcharges. However, with the current transfer bonus and the 50% discount on select awards, it may be worth considering transferring points from the Citi ThankYou program to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for certain bookings.
For example, you can book one-way Business Class awards from New York/Boston to London for 19,000/23,000 Citi Points plus $997.80, West Coast to London for 26,000/30,000 Citi Points plus $997.80, and Miami to London for 19,000/23,000 Citi Points plus $997.80. Similarly, Premium Economy awards are available for even fewer points.
When factoring in the 30% bonus from Citi, the effective cost of these award bookings can be quite reasonable, especially if you value Citi ThankYou points at 1.5 cents each. Roundtrip award bookings on Virgin Atlantic typically come with high surcharges, but with the 50% discount and 30% transfer bonus, some of these costs may become more acceptable.
In addition to booking awards on Virgin Atlantic, there are other ways to get value out of Virgin Atlantic points. One popular option is to book premium cabin awards on ANA, a partner airline of Virgin Atlantic. The mileage costs for ANA awards are quite reasonable, especially when factoring in the Citi transfer bonus.
Another option is to use Virgin Atlantic points to book Delta awards for travel to destinations outside of the UK. While surcharges can be high for Delta awards to/from the UK, one-way Delta One awards to Europe can be booked for a relatively low number of Virgin points.
Overall, while Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points may not be as versatile as other loyalty currencies, the current transfer bonus and award discount offer a unique opportunity to get value out of these points. It’s essential to check award availability before transferring points and to compare the cost of using points versus cash for a booking to ensure you’re getting a good value. With some careful planning and consideration, you can make the most of the current offers and maximize the value of your points when booking awards through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.