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Chase Ultimate Rewards 40% Transfer Bonus to Virgin Atlantic: Complete Guide (Ends February 28, 2026)
July 1, 2025
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Chase Ultimate Rewards is offering a 40% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club through February 28, 2026. This limited-time promotion boosts the standard 1:1 transfer ratio to an impressive 1:1.4, making it one of the most valuable transfer bonuses of 2026.
If you hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, this bonus could unlock significant value for your upcoming travel plans.
Here's everything you need to know to take advantage of this offer before it expires.
Quick Overview: Key Details
Bonus details:
- Bonus: 40% extra Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points
- Transfer Ratio: 1,000 Chase points = 1,400 Virgin Points
- Valid Through: February 28, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
- Minimum Transfer: 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points
- Transfer Speed: Instant (typically appears immediately)
- Frequency: Unlimited transfers during promotional period
Which Chase cards are eligible?
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Freedom Flex® (must transfer to a Sapphire or Ink card first)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® (must transfer to a Sapphire or Ink card first)
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (must transfer to a Sapphire or Ink card first)
[[ CARD_LIST * {"ids": ["510", "509", "2883", "497", "1099"]} ]]
Important note: If you're creating a new Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account, your first transfer may take 24 hours for account verification. Plan accordingly if you're booking time-sensitive award flights.
Why This Transfer Bonus Matters
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers exceptional value for transatlantic and international travel, particularly when booking:
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (business class) flights to London
- ANA first and business class to Japan
- Delta domestic and international flights at fixed award rates
- Air France and KLM partner flights without excessive surcharges
With the 40% bonus, you can stretch your Chase points significantly further than standard redemptions.
Best Ways to Use This Transfer Bonus
1. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London
Without Bonus:
- One-way Upper Class: 29,000 Virgin Points
- Round-trip Upper Class: 58,000 Virgin Points
With 40% Bonus:
- Transfer just 21,000 Chase points for a one-way Upper Class ticket
- Transfer 42,000 Chase points for round-trip
Important Note: Virgin Atlantic charges carrier surcharges exceeding $500 one-way for Upper Class tickets departing from or arriving in London. However, paying $500-600 in fees for a lie-flat business class seat that typically costs $3,000-5,000 is still exceptional value.
2. ANA Business Class to Japan
One of the most popular sweet spots in the Virgin Atlantic award chart:
Standard Award Rate: 45,000-47,500 Virgin Points one-way
With 40% Bonus: Transfer just 33,000-34,000 Chase points to book one-way business class between the U.S. and Japan on ANA — consistently ranked among the world's best business class products.
Unlike Virgin Atlantic's own flights, ANA redemptions typically have much lower fees, often under $100 one-way.
3. Delta Flights via Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic's partnership with Delta (which owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic) offers fixed award rates on Delta flights:
Domestic U.S. Examples:
- Short-haul (under 500 miles): 7,500-10,000 Virgin Points
- Medium-haul: 15,000-18,000 Virgin Points
- Long-haul transcontinental: 20,000-25,000 Virgin Points
With 40% Bonus:
- Long-haul domestic flights like SEA-DFW: Just 13,000 Chase points (vs. 18,000 Virgin Points)
- Transcontinental flights: Around 14,000-18,000 Chase points
4. Virgin Atlantic Economy and Premium Economy
Economy to London (Saver Rate):
- Standard: 6,000 Virgin Points one-way
- With Bonus: Just 5,000 Chase points (4,300 transferred)
Premium Economy to London (Saver Rate):
- Standard: 10,500 Virgin Points one-way
- With Bonus: Just 8,000 Chase points (7,500 transferred)
How to Transfer Chase Points to Virgin Atlantic
Step 1: Create a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Account
If you don't already have one:
- Visit Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Click "Join now"
- Complete registration and note your membership number
Step 2: Log Into Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Go to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- Select the credit card you want to transfer from
- Click "Transfer to travel partners" (under the "Travel" dropdown menu)
Step 3: Complete the Transfer
- Find "Virgin Atlantic Flying Club" in the partner list
- You'll see the promotional banner showing "40% Bonus"
- Enter your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club member number
- Select the number of points to transfer (in 1,000-point increments)
- Confirm the transfer
Pro Tip: The bonus is applied automatically — you don't need to enter a promo code. If transferring 10,000 Chase points, you'll receive 14,000 Virgin Points.
Step 4: Check Your Virgin Atlantic Account
Transfers typically appear instantly, though Chase states it can take up to 7 days. The bonus points should show up immediately along with your transferred points.
Important Considerations Before Transferring
Check Award Availability First
Always search for award availability BEFORE transferring points. Transfers are irreversible, so confirm your desired flights are bookable with points.
How to Search:
- Log into Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Use the "Book a reward flight" search tool
- Look for "Saver" fares for the best rates
- Verify availability on your preferred dates
Understand Virgin Atlantic's Award Pricing
Virgin Atlantic uses two award pricing structures:
- Saver Awards: Fixed, predictable pricing (best value)
- Dynamic Awards: Variable pricing that can exceed 200,000 points for business class
Always aim for Saver-level availability when possible.
Factor in Carrier-Imposed Surcharges
Virgin Atlantic adds significant surcharges to awards on their own flights:
- Economy: $100-200 in fees
- Premium Economy: $200-400 in fees
- Upper Class: $500-700+ in fees
UK Air Passenger Duty adds further costs for flights departing London:
- Economy: £87-91
- Premium/Business: £191-200
Lower-fee alternatives: ANA, Delta, and Air France/KLM partner redemptions typically have much lower surcharges.
Virgin Points Don't Expire
Once transferred, Virgin Atlantic points have no expiration date, making this a good opportunity to bank points for future travel. However, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are generally more flexible, so only transfer what you plan to use in the foreseeable future.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Waiting until the last minute
Solution: Transfers are usually instant, but new Virgin Atlantic accounts require 24-hour verification. If you don't have a Virgin account yet, create one now.
Mistake 2: Transferring without checking award availability
Solution: Always search for available award flights BEFORE transferring points. Use United.com for ANA flights or Virgin Atlantic's website for Virgin and Delta flights.
Mistake 3: Forgetting about the 30% bonus
Solution: If you miss the November 20 deadline for the 40% bonus, you can still get 30% extra through December 5. Mark both dates in your calendar.
Mistake 4: Ignoring taxes and fees
Solution: Virgin Atlantic charges high fuel surcharges on flights to/from London (around $550-600 roundtrip). Factor this into your value calculation. ANA flights via Virgin have reasonable fees (~$350 roundtrip).
Mistake 5: Not having a Virgin Atlantic account
Solution: Create your free Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account at virginatlantic.com before attempting your first transfer. This avoids delays.
Should You Transfer Points Now?
Transfer if:
- ✅ You have confirmed award availability for your travel dates
- ✅ You're planning Virgin Atlantic, ANA, or Delta flights in the next 6-12 months
- ✅ The 40% bonus helps you reach an award redemption threshold
- ✅ You have specific Upper Class or ANA business class aspirations
Wait if:
- ❌ You don't have specific travel plans
- ❌ You haven't checked award availability
- ❌ You might need Chase points for other transfer partners
- ❌ You prefer keeping points in Chase for flexibility
Final Verdict: Should You Take Advantage?
This 40% transfer bonus represents exceptional value for travelers planning:
- Transatlantic business class on Virgin Atlantic (despite high fees)
- ANA premium cabin flights to Japan or Asia
- Delta domestic or international travel at fixed rates
- Strategic point accumulation for high-value redemptions
The key is having specific travel plans and confirmed award availability. Don't transfer speculatively just because of the bonus — Chase Ultimate Rewards points offer more flexibility when kept in your account.
However, if you've been eyeing a business class trip to London or Tokyo, this is the time to make it happen.
Promotion ends February 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Don't miss this opportunity to boost your Virgin Atlantic points by 40%.
FAQ
How long does the transfer take?
Usually instant. However, new Virgin Atlantic Flying Club accounts may experience a 24-hour delay for verification on the first transfer.
Can I transfer points multiple times during the promotion?
Yes, there's no limit to how many transfers you can make before February 28, 2026.
Can I transfer from multiple Chase cards?
Yes. You can pool points from multiple personal and business Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards into one account, then transfer the combined total to Virgin Atlantic.
Do Chase Freedom cards earn transferable points?
Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Freedom Flex℠ earn Ultimate Rewards points, but you must first transfer them to a Chase Sapphire or Ink card before transferring to airline partners.
Can I cancel if plans change?
Virgin Atlantic charges $100 to cancel award tickets and redeposit miles. Plan carefully before booking.
Are there blackout dates?
No blackout dates for award travel, but availability varies significantly by route and season. Popular routes during peak times (summer to Europe, holidays to Japan) book up quickly.
Can I transfer points back to Chase?
No. Once you transfer Chase points to Virgin Atlantic (or any airline partner), the transfer is permanent and irreversible.
Does the bonus apply to hotel transfers too?
No. This bonus only applies to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club transfers. Hotel partners transfer at the standard 1:1 ratio.
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