30% Switch Bonus from Amex US MR to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership

The Amex US Membership Rewards program has as soon as once more launched a 30% switch bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.

We are inclined to see Amex US supply the identical promotion just a few occasions a yr, and it’s come up as soon as once more to kick off the nice and cozy journey months.

Whereas the UK-based airline primarily focuses on the transatlantic market, its Flying Membership loyalty program has quite a few partnerships with airways across the globe, such because the five-star Japanese provider ANA – and that’s what makes this switch bonus much more attention-grabbing. 

30% Switch Bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership

Till Could 31, 2024, you may switch Amex US Membership Rewards factors to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and obtain a 30% bonus. 

Factors are usually transferred at a 1:1 ratio between the 2 applications, and might solely be transferred in increments of 1,000. With the 30% bonus, for every 1,000 US Membership Rewards factors transferred, you’ll obtain a complete of 1,300 Virgin Factors.

This switch promotion is barely for many who dabble in US bank cards and have entry to Amex US MR factors.

If you happen to’ve but to get began with US bank cards, it’s attainable to get your first Amex US MR card this month, though you’d have to act shortly. 

Is This Switch Bonus a Good Deal?

One of many optimum makes use of of Amex US MR factors is to switch to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership after which redeem for ANA First Class and enterprise class.

You would possibly recall that redemption prices for First Class flights elevated final yr by as much as 42%. Whereas that’s definitely not superb, the present switch bonus basically brings award costs nearer to what they have been earlier than.

For instance, you may pay solely 72,500 or 85,000 Virgin Factors for a one-way flight in ANA First Class, relying on whether or not your US gateway airport is on the West or East Coast.

If you happen to’re proud of ANA enterprise class, together with its premier product “The Room” on sure routes, it’ll price simply 45,000 or 47,500 Virgin Factors for a one-way flight, relying in your origin metropolis in Canada or america.

If you wish to make the most of the very best candy spot, it’s best to seek for routes that characteristic ANA’s “The Suite” First Class product. Whereas there’s some variance, you may often discover “The Suite” on routes departing or arriving in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. 

Even should you don’t wind up in “The Suite”, you’re nonetheless in for a deal with with ANA’s legacy First Class product.

With the 30% switch bonus from Amex US MR, you’re actually taking a look at simply 56,000 or 66,000 Amex US MR factors to e-book a dream flight in ANA First Class. For ANA enterprise class, the one-way costs drop all the way down to the equal of 35,000 or 37,000 US MR factors, respectively.

If in case you have any aspirations of profiting from this candy spot – nonetheless probably the greatest alternatives throughout – then timing the switch round a 30% bonus like this one will likely be your finest transfer.

With such a aggressive product, the toughest half goes to be discovering award availability, which continues to pose the largest problem. Nevertheless, with ANA award availability additionally being scarce or non-existent by different applications, together with Aeroplan, Flying Membership stays probably the greatest all-around choices.

In any other case, you may look to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership for transatlantic flights with Virgin Atlantic at aggressive charges when it comes to factors required. Nevertheless, be ready to pay some hefty taxes and costs, together with carrier-imposed surcharges and the UK Air Passenger Obligation for flights departing from London.

You may as well redeem Virgin Factors for flights with Delta, however discovering “Saver”-level award availability might show to be difficult.

Convert Canadian MR Factors to Virgin Atlantic

Don’t neglect, there’s additionally the potential of changing Canadian-issued Amex MR factors to US MR factors for many who have an Amex relationship on each side of the border.

In doing so, you may successfully convert your Canadian Amex MR factors to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership at a considerably beneficial ratio. 

Amex describes this course of as an “Worldwide Switch.” So long as the American Specific playing cards are below the identical identify, factors will be transferred from one bank card account to the opposite. 

When changing Canadian MR factors to US MR factors, the prevailing overseas alternate fee is utilized. Proper now, the alternate fee is sitting at round 1 Canadian MR level = 0.73 US MR factors.

Factoring within the 30% bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, the efficient through-conversion fee is 1 Canadian MR level = 0.73 US MR factors = 0.95 Virgin Factors.

This successfully means that you would be able to fly ANA First Class for less than 76,300 or 89,500 Canadian Amex MR factors, which is a a lot better deal than, say, transferring 1:1 to Aeroplan, as you’d have to pay 110,000 or 130,000 factors as a substitute (if awards have been accessible by this system).

To have your Canadian MR factors transferred to US MR factors, you’ll need to name Amex within the originating nation to provoke your Worldwide Switch.

Take into account the method can take 1–2 weeks to finish, and each cardholder is proscribed to at least one Worldwide Switch per 12-month interval, so it’s finest to behave shortly and decisively should you’d like to use your Canadian Amex MR factors to this April 2024 Virgin Atlantic switch bonus. 

Conclusion

Amex US is providing a 30% bonus when transferring American Specific US Membership Rewards factors to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. The Flying Membership program has one of many lowest mileage charges for flying ANA First Class, so this may very well be a fantastic alternative to lock in a future journey to Japan.

Reserving ANA First Class by Flying Membership is likely one of the finest candy spots throughout all loyalty applications for the time being, even after the devaluation, and reserving ANA enterprise class can also be an excellent deal. 

Be certain that to take benefit earlier than Could 31, 2024 to rack up your Virgin Factors with a 30% bonus.