Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is one of the most underrated loyalty programs—especially for families. While the program uses dynamic pricing, you can still find incredible value, with award flights starting as low as 6,000 points one-way from the U.S. to London. The catch? Taxes and fees on certain routes can be steep. But with a little strategy, I’m going to show you how to uncover redemptions that avoid those high surcharges and make your points stretch much further.

Step 1: Set up your accounts
Start by setting up a free Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account. It’s smart to do this in advance, as new accounts can sometimes take longer to receive transferred points. You’ll also want to create a Virgin Red account and link it to your Flying Club profile. This connection allows you to move points between the two programs when needed. For example, Capital One Venture Miles only transfers directly to Virgin Red—but once linked, those points can be combined with your Virgin Atlantic balance. You can skip setting up a Virgin Red account if you are transferring directly to Virgin Atlantic.

Step 2: Learn how to search
When you’re ready to book, be sure to select “Reward Flights” when searching on Virgin Atlantic’s website. Another useful tool is the Reward Seat Checker, which makes it easier to see availability for your preferred dates and routes. Families in particular benefit from planning ahead and using this tool to lock in multiple seats on the same flight.

Step 3: Earn points with transfer partners
Virgin Atlantic is a transfer partner of nearly every major flexible points program. That means you can transfer points to your account with:

• American Express Membership Rewards®
• Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Citi ThankYou® Rewards
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One Miles (via Virgin Red)
• Wells Fargo Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy (transfers at 3:1, with a bonus when you transfer 60k)

Two of my favorite cards for earning Capital One Venture Miles:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Having so many transfer options makes it easy for families to combine points from multiple accounts and book big trips together.

Can You Share Points With Family?
Yes! Virgin Atlantic offers Household Accounts, which let you pool points with up to nine people living at the same address. This is perfect for families since everyone’s points combine into one balance, making it much easier to book award flights together. Just keep in mind that only the head of the household can make the bookings, but having all the points in one place is a huge advantage for family travel.

With your loyalty accounts set up and your points strategy in place, you’re ready to explore some of the best Virgin Atlantic Flying Club redemptions for families. Below, I’ll share 10 of the top ways to maximize your Virgin points for unforgettable family trips.

1. Fly from USA to Seoul, South Korea via Korean Airlines

One-way economy flights start at just 31,000 miles plus $30 in taxes, and return trips are 31,000 miles plus $36 in taxes. With up to 9 award seats available, this can be an excellent option for families. I personally like booking one-ways, since it gives the flexibility to return from a different country—but here’s what the pricing looks like each way.

Hot Tip: Banks frequently run transfer bonuses—often around 30%. That means your cost could drop to as low as 23,000 miles. For families booking multiple tickets, this is one of the best ways to stretch your points and save big on award flights.

2. Fly to Hawaii from the USA via Delta Airlines

From just 22,000 points, you can fly nonstop from the West Coast to Hawaii on Delta, with taxes as low as $5.60. While it’s not the absolute best deal out there, pairing it with a transfer bonus can make it much sweeter—bringing the cost down to around 17,000 points each way.

3. Fly from the USA to the UK via Virgin Atlantic Airways

For as little as 6,000 miles, you can book a one-way economy flight from the East Coast to the United Kingdom—one of the most unbelievable award sweet spots out there. From the West Coast, economy flights to London start at just 9,000 miles one-way.

Another standout value is Premium Economy for just 10,500 miles or Business Class from 29,000 miles when flying from the East Coast (slightly higher from the West Coast). These are some of the lowest mileage rates available for transatlantic flights. While the taxes can add up, these business class awards are still among the best deals you’ll find—especially if you’re booking for the whole family. Even better, Virgin Atlantic often releases multiple award seats, making it a fantastic option for families traveling together if you can manage the fees.

That said, taxes and fees have increased significantly. Expect around $110 in economy to the UK (depending on the airport) and about $400-$600 in business class. Taxes are much higher on the return from the UK, so departing from the U.S. is where you’ll get the most value. For families booking multiple seats, this can still be a huge savings compared to paying cash.

Pictured above is the upper class (business class) on the A330-900neo.

Hot Tip: If you’re booking Virgin Atlantic business class, look for flights on the Airbus A330-900neo or Airbus A350-1000 for the best experience with Virgin’s newest product. The older aircraft are significantly dated and don’t offer the same comfort.

4. Fly to Paris from Phoenix on Air France

You can also use Virgin Atlantic points to book flights on KLM and Air France, often at lower mileage rates than booking directly through their Flying Blue program. For example, a flight from Phoenix to Paris can cost just 15,000 Virgin points, compared to 25,000 points with Flying Blue.

For economy, the trade-off comes down to taxes and fees: booking through Flying Blue runs about $89, while Virgin Atlantic charges around $163. Even with the higher taxes, the lower mileage requirement can make Virgin a smart choice—especially for families booking multiple seats or when taking advantage of a bank transfer bonus.

The taxes can vary in business class. An Air France business class ticket (pictured above) booked with Virgin Atlantic points comes with taxes of about $163, compared to $209 through Flying Blue. While Virgin may require more miles, stacking it with a transfer bonus often tips the scale in your favor. Since taxes and mileage requirements can vary (we recently paid $381 for taxes on an Air France business class flight booked through Flying Blue), it’s always worth checking both programs when booking Air France or KLM award flights.

5. Fly from the USA to French Polynesia via Air France

Starting at just 42,000 miles plus $6 in taxes, you can book a one-way economy Air France flight to the stunning bucket-list destination of French Polynesia, within just a short flight to Bora Bora or Mo’orea. While this may feel a bit high for an economy ticket, pairing it with a 30% transfer bonus could bring the cost down to around 32,000 miles.

Related: Ultimate Guide to Tahiti, Mo’orea, & Bora Bora on Points and Miles

For comparison, the same flight can be booked through Flying Blue for 30,000 miles plus $89 in taxes. Families traveling with kids may prefer Flying Blue to take advantage of their 25% discount for children 11 and under. That said, the lower taxes with Virgin Atlantic, combined with a transfer bonus—or when the flight isn’t available on Flying Blue—can make booking through Virgin a smart choice for family trips to this once-in-a-lifetime destination.

Related: The Best Way for Families to Fly to Europe

6. Fly from the USA to Africa on Virgin Atlantic or Air France

Starting at just 16,500 miles one-way in Virgin Atlantic economy from the West Coast, this is an incredible deal for a journey lasting more than 21 hours.

From the East Coast, you can fly Air France economy starting at 24,000 miles, or fly in business class for 97,000 miles plus $478 in taxes—giving you nearly 16 hours in a lie-flat seat, which is a game-changer for families on long-haul flights.

For comparison, booking the same routes directly through Flying Blue would cost 40,000 miles in economy or 115,000 miles in business class. That makes Virgin Atlantic a clear winner, especially when you’re booking multiple seats for the whole family.

7. Fly from the USA to Peru via Latam Airlines

Starting at just 25,000 miles one-way from the East Coast to Lima, Peru, plus only $55 in taxes in economy, or take the whole family in business class for just 50,000 miles each—an incredible deal for a South American adventure!

Here is the award rate from the West Coast:

Picture credit via Latam Airlines (Business Class Product)

8. Fly domestic flights on Delta Airlines

You can book Delta flights with Virgin Atlantic points starting at just 7,500 miles for short-haul routes and around 21,000 miles for domestic first class. Even longer U.S. flights top out at about 22,000 miles in economy, making this a great way to save on family trips within the States.

9. Fly to Europe on Delta, SAS, or ITA Airways (avoid high taxes)

Want to cut down on those hefty taxes to Europe? Look for flights on ITA Airways, Delta, or SAS, which typically have much lower surcharges. To make the search easier, try using Seats.aero, a tool that lets you filter for award flights with low taxes—perfect for families booking multiple tickets.

Here’s my referral link to seats.aero.

10. Fly to Japan on Korean Air from the USA

For about 38,000 miles, you can fly from the West Coast to Japan, with only minimal taxes. Pair this with a transfer bonus, and the value gets even better. Even without a bonus, it’s still a fantastic deal—especially when you compare it to American Airlines flights to Japan starting at 35,000 miles.

Related: Ultimate Guide for Vacationing in Japan with your Family on Points and Miles

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club may not be the first program families think of, but it’s packed with sweet spots that can unlock incredible value for long-haul flights, bucket-list destinations, and even affordable economy awards. Whether you’re heading to Europe, Japan, Hawaii, or French Polynesia, having Virgin points gives you flexibility and savings that are hard to beat—especially when booking multiple seats for your family. Don’t forget that banks frequently offer 30% transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Red, which can make these already-great deals even cheaper. With a little planning, Virgin points can take your family further than you might expect.

Not sure which cards are best for these award bookings? Check out my best offer page to start earning flexible points!

Have questions? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram @melissastraveladdiction!

Continue Reading:

How to Book Economy Flights to Europe for as Low as 10k Points (With a 30% Bonus)

How to book American Airlines flights through Airline Alliances

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