5 Ways to Use the 30% Amex & Capital One Transfer Bonus to Virgin Atlantic

Hi bestie! Amex and Capital One are both running a 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club right now, and it’s one of my favorite bonuses of the year. Here are 5 ways to use it. I’m rating each one and saving the best TWO for last!

The bonus details

Amex Membership Rewards → Virgin Atlantic: 30% bonus through November 30, 2026
Capital One miles → Virgin Atlantic: 30% bonus through November 20, 2026
Either way, 1,000 points become 1,300 Virgin points
The difference: Amex transfers in increments of 1,000, but Capital One transfers in increments of 100. That’s why the Capital One numbers below are sometimes a little lower!

Bestie rule #1: Always confirm award availability BEFORE you transfer. Transfers can’t be undone, so never move points speculatively.

Number 1: Virgin Atlantic flights ✈️

Virgin Atlantic flights booked with Virgin points: 6,000 points economy Dulles to London, 35,000 points business Miami to London

You can book economy for as low as 5,000 Amex points or 4,700 Capital One miles transferred, or business class from 27,000 with either! The catch: taxes and fees on Virgin Atlantic’s own flights are HIGH ($163 economy and $699 business on these examples).

With the 30% bonus: economy 5,000 Amex or 4,700 Capital One points, business 27,000 from either. Rating 6/10 due to high taxes and fees

Number 2: Delta One 💺

Delta One Amsterdam to Boston: 57,500 Virgin points plus 1,084 euros vs 380,000 SkyMiles plus 99 euros

Here’s an example from Europe to the US: you’d only need to transfer 45,000 Amex points or 44,300 Capital One miles to Virgin Atlantic versus 380,000 Delta SkyMiles for the EXACT same flight! Taxes are high on this example, but some US-to-Europe routes have lower fees.

Delta One with the 30% bonus: transfer 45,000 Amex or 44,300 Capital One points vs 380,000 Delta SkyMiles. Rating 7/10

Number 3: Domestic Delta 🇺🇸

Delta Seattle to Portland: 7,500 Virgin points plus $6 vs 25,500 SkyMiles plus $6. With the 30% bonus, 6,000 Amex or 5,800 Capital One points

Book domestic Delta flights for as low as 6,000 Amex points or 5,800 Capital One miles transferred! The EXACT same flight costs 25,500 Delta SkyMiles with the SAME $6 in fees (still 21,600 even with the Delta card 15% discount).

Domestic Delta with the 30% bonus: 6,000 Amex or 5,800 Capital One points vs 25,500 SkyMiles. Rating 8/10

Number 4: ANA first class 🥂

ANA First Class Tokyo to Honolulu: found for 90,000 Air Canada points, Virgin Atlantic quoted 57,500 points plus 248 pounds

Now this one’s tricky, but so worth it! First, find availability on a partner airline. I found Tokyo to Honolulu for 90,000 Air Canada points. Then call Virgin Atlantic to confirm availability, which I did! They quoted me 57,500 Virgin points plus £248 in fees.

ANA First with the 30% bonus: 45,000 Amex or 44,300 Capital One points vs $11,708 cash. Rating 9/10

With this bonus, that’s only 45,000 Amex points or 44,300 Capital One miles transferred. For comparison, business class from Tokyo to Honolulu (with a stop) sells for $11,708 in cash, and you’d be flying ANA first class nonstop! Hard to find and book, but incredible value.

Number 5: LATAM business class 💖

LATAM business class Atlanta to Lima nonstop for 50,000 Virgin points plus $56

My absolute FAVORITE! Atlanta to Lima nonstop in business for just 39,000 Amex points or 38,500 Capital One miles transferred, plus $56 in taxes. Low points AND low fees!

LATAM business with the 30% bonus: 39,000 Amex or 38,500 Capital One points plus $56 in taxes. Rating 10/10

How to find availability 🔎

Finding the seats is the hardest part, so here’s exactly how I search. My favorite tool is Seats.aero. Sign up with my link here!

Use the Seats.aero Explore tab for Virgin Atlantic. Open Seats.aero, go to the Explore tab, and choose Virgin Atlantic as the program. Pick your cabin and where you want to go, then browse the dates with award space.
Look for Delta-operated flights in business. On Seats.aero, search Virgin Atlantic in business class and look for flights operated by Delta. That’s how you’ll spot Delta One seats like my Amsterdam to Boston example.
Confirm on Virgin Atlantic’s website. Search your dates with “Points” selected to see the exact price and taxes before you transfer. Delta and LATAM flights both show up there too.
For ANA, search a partner, then call. ANA flights don’t show up on Virgin’s website. Find the seat on another ANA partner first (I used Air Canada), then call Virgin Atlantic to confirm and book.

How to transfer

Find and confirm your flight first (search Virgin Atlantic, or call for partner awards like ANA).
Link your accounts. Amex links to your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club number. Capital One links to your Virgin Red account (connect Virgin Red to Flying Club so your points can move between them). The name on your card account must match your Virgin account.
Transfer only what you need. Divide the Virgin points required by 1.3. Amex transfers in increments of 1,000, so round up to the next 1,000. Capital One lets you transfer in increments of 100 (1,000 minimum), so you can round up to the next 100 and transfer a little less!
Book once the points land in your Flying Club account.

Bestie tips

Capital One’s bonus ends 10 days before Amex’s, so Capital One holders, don’t wait!
Transfers aren’t always instant. Leave time for points to land before counting on a seat.
Award space and taxes change constantly, so the examples above are what I found at the time of writing.

Happy travels,
Taylor ✈️