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American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic.
The Deal
- 1,000 Membership Rewards points transfer to 1,300 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles
Key Terms
- Transfer in increments of 1,000 points
- Offer expires 11/30/17
Quick Thoughts
If you’ve been inspired by the The Hunt for Virgin Duckies, this transfer bonus could help you get there a lot quicker. Alternatively, Virgin Atlantic miles are generally known to be the best way to redeem for ANA First Class award flights. Either way, a 30% transfer bonus is a great way to top up your account.
Keep in mind that Virgin Atlantic miles also transfer to IHG at a 1:1 ratio, and those points count toward status with IHG. This means that 58,400 Membership Rewards points transferred to Virgin Atlantic and then IHG would get you the 75,000 IHG points necessary for Spire Elite status. Once you achieve Spire Elite status, you can get an extra 25,000 IHG points. In total, you would transfer 58,400 Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic (75,400 Virgin Atlantic miles) and then transfer 75,000 to IHG and end up with a total of 100,000 IHG points and Spire Elite status. I had IHG Spire Elite status in 2015 and 2016 and I wouldn’t bother transferring Membership Rewards points just to get that status. However, if you often have paid IHG stays (perhaps for work trips), the extra points per dollar could certainly be worth it. I think this prospect is more attractive if you’re already part of the way toward status. For example, if you have already earned 50K IHG points through stays and IHG credit card spend this year, transferring 20K Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic (26K miles) and then to IHG (26K points + 25K for reaching Spire Elite) might make sense for you. That’s not bad — you’re essentially turning 20K Membership Rewards points into 51K IHG points and status. IHG status is light with regard to on-property benefits — most of the benefit you’ll reap will be extra points on paid stays.
This transfer bonus comes and goes. We’ll add it to our Current Point Transfer Bonuses resource page as soon as possible.
H/T: Reddit
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time for another Amex to Virgin bonus
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Fyi it is almost impossible to use this offer. I have called Virgin Club today trying to book a flight from lax to Tokyo with ANA first or business class and nothing was available from now till 09/2018. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but the representative said all inquiry he sent over was denied. I just want to share this just in case anyone is looking to book similar flight.
am waiting on the next bonus for this exact reason. Did ANA site show space and VS couldnt find it?
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consider to do a xfer for the ihg spire in early jan. for 2018-19 status…hopefully ihg won’t change rule by then; will save the pts for point breaks stays & reward night sale
nick, do u know any ihg may have any hotel property that offer complimentary club lounge to spire member?
Lounge access isn’t a published benefit, so most hotels don’t do this and it’s hit or miss. We did get lounge access at the LAX Crowne Plaza and the Amsterdam Crowne Plaza, but as I understand that location is no longer a CP. And it was a pilot program they were doing too. There’s really no point to top tier status with IHG since they’re so stingy. At least the other big chains guarantee lounge access or at least breakfast in the restaurant.
Thx Ken, so it’s Crown plaza…will keep in mind if happen to stay there in future
As Ken said, it’s not a published benefit, so you can’t count on it. I only stayed at a couple of hotels with lounges during my Spire time, but none of them offered club lounge access without a paid upgrade.
I was once with a friend who talked all 3 of us into the lounge at a CP even though he only had Platinum status at the time (and he was staying, my wife and I were just there for a few hours). So it’s not necessarily impossible, but you’re at the mercy of whoever is working that day in the best case scenario.
That’s why I say that IHG status is mostly about getting extra points for paid stays….you don’t even get breakfast at a Holiday Inn.
Thx for info, Nick
Transfer bonus pages have been updated.