All about Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
A Family-Friendly Guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Unlocking Affordable Travel with Points
If you’ve ever had that moment where you’re staring at flight prices and wondering if your dream trip is even possible—been there. Especially with a big family, airfare can feel like the biggest barrier. That’s where the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club comes in. It’s one of the most underrated ways to stretch your points further—especially for international trips.
Let’s walk through exactly how to use this program, what kind of redemptions are worth it, and how to avoid the pricey traps.
Why Flying Club Works So Well for Families
Flying Club gives you access to a huge network of airline partners—including Delta, Air France, KLM, and more. That means you’re not limited to just Virgin Atlantic flights to the UK. You can fly all over Europe, Asia, and even South America using points.
Even better? Flying Club is a transfer partner with multiple flexible point programs, so if you’re earning rewards from your favorite travel credit card, you might already have points you can move over.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of my favorite cards for flexible travel rewards. Or if you're completely new to points, my beginner’s guide will walk you through everything.
Best Ways to Use Virgin Points (and When to Skip It)
Some of my favorite redemptions we’ve personally booked through Flying Club:
Delta Main Cabin ATL–Louisville: 7,500 points + $5.60
Virgin Atlantic Economy ATL–Manchester: 7,500 points + ~$72 (even less when there's a transfer bonus)
Air France business class from Zurich to ATL: 58,500 points + taxes and fees
Heads up: Flights in Delta One or Virgin Atlantic Upper Class between the U.S. and Europe can come with sky-high surcharges—sometimes over $1,000 one-way. Unless you find a transfer bonus or great deal, those are often best to avoid.
Great redemptions include:
Short-haul Delta flights (especially under 1,000 miles)
Delta economy flights to Europe
Air France/KLM business class deals when on sale
Economy flights on Virgin Atlantic (look for the “Saver” rate tag)
Select flights on LATAM, ANA, Korean Air, and ITA Airways
How to Search and Book Virgin Atlantic Flights with Points
Create a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account
You’ll need one to search for availability and transfer points.Search one way at a time
The site is cleaner now, but it still sometimes struggles with multi-segment or partner itineraries. I usually start by searching the long-haul flight and then add connections separately if needed.Look for the “Saver” tag
This generally shows the lowest available award rate for Virgin-operated flights.Check total pricing per person
The site shows the total price for everyone traveling, so divide by passengers to get the per-person breakdown.Booking partner flights?
If you’re trying to book flights operated by ANA or Air New Zealand, you’ll need to search for availability using a Star Alliance airline site (like United or Air Canada), then call Virgin Atlantic to book. You’ll want to confirm availability with the agent before transferring your points. Their number is: +1 (800) 862-8621
Tip: Use the Monthly Reward Seat Checker
This tool lets you see a calendar view of the lowest award rates on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights. Just plug in the route and month, and you’ll quickly spot which dates have the best value. After that, you can go through the normal search process to complete your booking.
Avoiding Fees & Booking Smart
Here’s what to watch for:
High surcharges on premium cabins to/from the UK, especially Delta One
Distance-based pricing on most partner flights (shorter = cheaper)
Lap infants cost 5,000 points each way (for Virgin and most partners—book online)
Change/redeposit fees: Around $100 unless taxes are under $50, in which case agents may waive it
Our Booking Workflow
Whenever I book through Flying Club, here’s what I do:
Search long-haul award space first
Confirm availability before transferring points
Use shopping portals to earn extra points toward my next redemption (here’s how)
If I’m using a Capital One card, I book through Capital One Travel when the value makes sense
More Resources
If you’re just starting out with points and want a few simple wins, I share weekly tips and family travel deals in my newsletter. Sign up here to stay in the loop.
You can also follow along on Instagram and join our private Facebook group where we chat about award availability, deals, and family itineraries.
