50% Off Award Flight Prices Using Virgin Atlantic Points through November 7th
Many redemptions using Virgin Atlantic Miles booked by Nov 7 for flights on Virgin to or from the US or Caribbean until March 25 are being provided a 50% points rebate after travel with no blackout dates.
Here are some examples from DC to London flying 1 way without factoring in the 50% rebate:
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
5k points from the US to the UK is pretty strong, as are those other prices when the 50% rebate is factored into the equation as well as a 30% transfer promo bonus is factored in.
The basics of the promo, per The Points Guy
"Virgin is discounting the number of Virgin Points required for all award seats to and from the United States and the Caribbean by 50% for travel from Oct. 28, 2022, through March 25, 2023... Simply redeem your Virgin Points from Oct. 28, through Nov. 7, 2022, for a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic to any destination they fly in the U.S. or the Caribbean from now through March 25, 2023, on any date in any cabin, and you will receive 50% of your Virgin Points back after you travel. With no blackout dates and all cabins applicable, this is likely to be the best points and miles redemption deal you will see this year." Go here to book.
Here is the route map for Virgin Atlantic, but most viable routes beyond the UK are excluded
Here are some of the places where you can go from the US
UK: 1. Orlando (MC0) to Edinburgh (EDI) 2. To Manchester (MAN) from: Orlando (MC0) or Atlanta (ATL) or New York (JFK) 3. To London (LHR) from: Miami (MIA), Orlando (MC0), Tampa (TPA), Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Washington (IAD), New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), or Seattle (SEA)
Outside of UK from US cities above that can go to London (LHR): 4. To Lagos, Nigeria (LOS); 5. To Shanghai, China (PVG) You'll notice that places like South Africa, Pakistan, Israel, & India are excluded.
Peak vs off-peak dates of travel to/from the US
Here are the standard (non-peak) travel dates for the offer period (with other dates during the promo being peak): Nov. 2 through Dec. 9, 2022. Jan. 5 through March 23, 2023.
Example value in 1 way business class from DC to London today (21.6 cents per point)
Travel close to departure tends to be higher value per point, and this one is no exception, if looking at direct 1-way business options departing today, you'd spend over $6k per ticket regardless of airline:
Image courtesy Google Flights
Here's that same ticket on points, before you factor in the 50% points rebate:
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Doing the math, that's ($6015-$875.30)/(47500 points/2)=$.216 per point (21.6 cents per point)
23750 points for business class to Europe is pretty strong.
Example value in 1 way business class from DC to London March 17 (10.3 cents per point)
If looking at direct 1-way business options departing on March 17, you'd spend over $2.7k per ticket regardless of airline:
Image courtesy Google Flights
Comparing United vs Virgin Atlantic isn't comparing apples to apples though, as Virgin Atlantic is ranked #10 in the world for business class according to Skytrax, while United is unranked in the top 20. The actual value then is the Virgin Atlantic total price.
You'd spend the same amount as with the previous example in points and fees.
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Doing the math, that's ($3330-$875.30)/(47500 points/2)=$.103 per point (10.3 cents per point)
Example value in 1-way premium economy class from DC to London Sunday Nov 20th (17.7 cents per point)
With Virgin Atlantic being at the top of the premium economy rankings, Virgin premium economy is superior to some carriers' business class. Sundays, booked relatively close from departure, tend to be high $ prices.
Image courtesy Google Flights
Because Virgin premium economy is ranked higher than any other airline, we should count the actual $1870 rather than a lower amount.
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Doing the math, that's ($1870-$325.30)/(17500 points/2)=$.177 per point (17.7 cents per point)
Example value in 1 way premium economy class from DC to London March 17 (6.5 cents per point)
With Virgin Atlantic being at the top of the premium economy rankings, Virgin premium economy is superior to some carriers' business class.
Image courtesy Google Flights
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Doing the math, that's ($891-$325.30)/(17500 points/2)=$.065 per point (6.5 cents per point)
Example value in 1 way economy class from DC to London March 17 (9.8 cents per point)
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Image courtesy Google Flights
Like business class, Virgin is ranked higher than United in economy, at #10 in economy vs unranked United in the top 20.
Doing the math, that's ($640-$150.30)/(10,000 points/2)=$.098 per point (9.8 cents per point)
Example value in 1-way economy class from DC to London this Friday (15.7 cents per point)
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Image courtesy Google Flights
Doing the math, that's ($936-$150.30)/(10,000 points/2)=$.157 per point (15.7 cents per point)
Lower Value Example round trip economy DC to London on a cheap $ flight for 2.6 cents per point or 3.4 cents per original point if transferring during a 30% transfer period)
All of the options to London on this booking aren't good though. The return flights in economy have significantly higher fees, for example.
With this points option, the cash fares aren't too far away from the fees:
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Image courtesy Google
Image courtesy Google Flights
Image courtesy Virgin Atlantic
Doing the math, that's ($720-$459.65)/(20,000 points/2)=$.026 per point (2.6 cents per Virgin point or 3.4 cents per original point if transferring during a 30% transfer period)
USD to British Pound is the Best Ratio since 1985
While not the lowest it's been this year, the conversion rate of the US Dollar to the British Pound at the moment is lower than it's been since 1985 before this year, making now a fantastic time to visit the UK.
Image Courtesy Google Finance
Enhanced Value from 30% Transfer Promo
Capital One just had a 30% transfer promo to Virgin red that ended on 10/31. Chase has one going until November 11th. Citi, Amex, and Chase have all had prior 30% transfer promos to Virgin. I believe that all of my Virgin Atlantic rewards were acquired during 30% transfer promos (all from Amex I think).
Image courtesy Frequent Miler
With a 30% transfer promo stacked into the equation, things just get sweeter. For instance, a 1 way flight to London from DC is as low as 5k miles when factoring in the rebate, or 3.85k Amex MR, Citi TYR, Capital One Miles, or Chase UR when you include the 30% transfer bonus. Of course, you've got some hefty fees involved, but still, that's incredible!