How to Redeem Miles with the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
My friend Dp & I flying to Japan in ANA business class using a total of 75,000 Virign Atlantic Miles
Why Use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?
Virgin Atlantic offers direct 1:1 transfers from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi, plus generous transfer bonuses, unlocking exceptional value for partner flights with airlines such as ANA (flying on the Honu), Delta, Air France/KLM and more.
The real magic lies in booking partner awards, especially ANA business or first class to Japan, often at a fraction of the cost with other programs.
You'll still need proof of award availability before transferring, because once transferred, points can’t be reversed.
Step 1: Search for Award Availability
Virgin Atlantic's platform does not display ANA inventory. To check:
Use Seats.aero (has ANA First Finder tool) or United.com to search ANA partner award availability. On United, look for flights marketed “NH...” (ANA) on the calendar.
For ANA business class availability, departures are usually available within 14 days out, so plan accordingly.
Seats.aero showing ANA Business & First class Award Availability through Virign Atlantic.
United.com (a star alliance partner) showing ANA award availability indicated by “Operated by ANA” & “Saver Award” notes.
Once you identify a desirable flight, note:
Flight numbers
Dates, cabin class
Whether it's confirmable with partner airlines
Step 2: Transfer Points to Virgin Atlantic
You can transfer points from:
Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
American Express Membership Rewards (1:1)
Capital One Miles via Virgin Red linked to Virgin Atlantic (1:1)
Citi ThankYou Points (1:1)
Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses (e.g. 25–40%) that amplify your value significantly.
Enter in your Virign Atlantic Membership number to connect it to your bank (ex. ChasEe)
Virgin Atlantic’s Award chart with ANA.
Step 3: Booking ANA, Delta & Other Partner Flights
A. If booking with ANA
Call Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at 1-800-365-9500.
Tell them you want to book an ANA partner award using Virgin points.
Provide flight details from your award search (flight number, dates, cabin).
Request a 24-hour hold, then transfer points while the hold is active (most transfers are instant so I do over the phone).
Confirm booking once points appear, and pay taxes/fees.
If booking ACROSS multiple sectors (e.g., Hawaii ↔ Tokyo, Tokyo ↔ Europe), book separately since Virgin seats only cover one partner segment per award.
B. If booking Delta, Air France/KLM, etc.
✅ You can often book those directly online at “Spend Your Points” → “Reward Flights” on Virgin Atlantic’s site.
East Coast US – Boston, New York, Philadelphia
Central US – Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa, Miami
West Coast US – Salt Lake City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland
See delta’s full redemption chart.
Step 4: Virgin Atlantic Award Chart for ANA Flights
Virgin Atlantic’s zone-based award chart gives fixed mile rates for ANA flights one-way (you can book one-ways because they’re half of roundtrip pricing),
| From / To | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii ↔ Japan | 22,500 | 37,500 | 57,500 |
| West Coast ↔ Japan | 32,500 | 52,500 | 72,500 |
| Mainland USA ↔ Japan | 35,000+ | 60,000 | 85,000 |
These are standard benchmarks, even after Virgin’s May 2024 devaluation, these remain strong values when availability is found
Step 5: Tips for a Smooth Booking
ANA imposes carrier fuel surcharges; expect ~$150–$300 per roundtrip depending on route and cabin class.
After booking, you'll receive an ANA record locator number. Use ANA’s Manage Reservation page to select seats—use exact name matching (if middle name is on Virgin account, include it).
You can make changes or cancellations through Virgin Atlantic within their standard fee time windows.
Quick Summary
Find award availability for ANA or Delta/KLM/AF via external tools.
Call Virgin Atlantic to hold ANA awards or search and book partner awards online.
Transfer points only after availability is confirmed.
Confirm booking, pay taxes/fees, and track record locator.
Choose optimal value by utilizing transfer bonuses and flexible date or route options.
Scottie’s Take 🤙🏽
I know how intimidating it can feel trying to book these crazy good redemptions, especially when it involves transferring points, calling airlines, and crossing your fingers that the space is still there. But trust me…it’s worth it.
I’ve helped local families fly to Japan in lie-flat ANA business class for less than what most people pay to fly to Vegas in coach. That’s why I love Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. It’s one of those hidden gem programs that nobody talks about until they’ve seen what it can actually do for Hawaii travelers.
The key is:
Be patient.
Search smart (tools like Seats.aero help a ton).
And don’t transfer until you’re ready to book.
It might take a couple tries, but once you lock in that 37,500 mile business class seat to Tokyo and experience that warm ANA service with your feet up and a meal tray of steak & whiskey… you’ll realize why we hustle points in the first place.
You got this, and if you ever feel stuck, hit me up. I'm happy to help.
Aloha,
Scottie
