Last updated: August 2026. Sign-up bonuses and fees change often — confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before you apply.
Straight talk first: the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® from Bank of America no longer exists for new applicants. It was discontinued in October 2024, and existing accounts were converted to a Bank of America cash-back card. Virgin's current US card is the Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, issued by Synchrony — a broader Virgin-brands card whose points still power Flying Club, home of some of the best partner awards in the points world. This guide covers what changed, what the new card offers, and why Virgin Points remain worth collecting.
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At a glance
| The old card | Discontinued October 2024; accounts converted by Bank of America |
| Its successor | Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard (Synchrony Bank) |
| Successor's annual fee | $99 |
| Successor's bonus | 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 90 days (verify current offer) |
| Best for | Flying Club redeemers — especially ANA and Delta partner awards |
| Points earned | Virgin Points (usable across Virgin Red and Flying Club) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
See current options → card details
What happened to the old card
For years the $90 Bank of America card was the direct way to earn Flying Club miles — 3x on Virgin Atlantic purchases, 1.5x on everything else, tier points toward status, and a companion/upgrade voucher after $25,000 of annual spend. Bank of America stopped accepting applications and discontinued it in October 2024; remaining cardholders were transitioned to the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card. If you're holding old reviews of that product, they describe a card you can no longer get.
What the points are worth
Virgin Points are among the most interesting currencies anywhere — not because Virgin Atlantic's own award pricing is generous (it has gone dynamic and fee-heavy), but because Flying Club still publishes fixed partner charts for partners like ANA while nearly everyone else prices dynamically. A single well-booked partner award can return five cents or more per point. Value on Virgin Atlantic's own flights is much spottier once surcharges enter the math — more below. Points are easy to accumulate: every major transferable currency (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt) transfers to Virgin, with periodic bonuses (like this 30% Chase promo). See how we value each currency.
Where your points can go
Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member, and Flying Club books awards on Delta, Air France, KLM and other SkyTeam carriers — plus its long-standing non-alliance gems, above all ANA. Virgin Points earned on the Virgin Red card also work across Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages. The essential partner plays:
- ANA first class, US–Japan: 72,500–85,000 points one-way (west coast at the lower end) — "The Suite," a cabin that sells for five figures. Availability is scarce and you must call Flying Club to book; ANA space doesn't price online.
- ANA business class ("The Room"): 52,500–60,000 points one-way — dramatically easier to find than first, and one of the best business products flying. (Our ANA first via Virgin write-up.)
- Delta One on short routes: 21,000 points, and Delta economy hops from 7,500 — with minimal taxes.
- Air New Zealand business, ~45,000 points on its South Pacific–LA routes.
Earning rates (Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard)
| Rate | Category |
|---|---|
| 3x | Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages purchases |
| 2x | Grocery stores, dining, select streaming and EV charging |
| 1x | Everything else |
The 2x everyday categories are broader than the old card's, though the flat 1.5x base is gone.
Benefits & credits
Perks change — verify each is current before you count on it.
- 5,000 anniversary bonus points every year.
- Tier points from spend — 25 per $2,500, up to 50 a month, building toward Flying Club status.
- Spend perks — choose a reward at $15,000 in annual spend and a second at $30,000 (options set by Virgin; check current choices).
- Virgin Hotels: book two nights, get a third free once per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Best uses (sweet spots), with examples
1. ANA business class to Japan — the marquee play. 60,000 points or fewer one-way for a $6,000-class seat, booked at a fixed chart price while ANA's own program and most others float. Transfer in from a bank program when you find space, or earn on the card. No fuel surcharges on ANA awards via Virgin — the all-in fees are modest.
2. Delta partner awards without surcharge pain. Virgin doesn't add fuel surcharges on Delta redemptions; short-haul Delta One at 21,000 points is a niche but real bargain.
3. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class — with eyes open. Off-peak Upper Class to London has priced from 29,000 points from the East Coast — but carrier-imposed surcharges on those low-point fares run $500-plus each way, and Virgin has been raising them. Sometimes still worth it against a $4,000 cash fare; do the full cash+points math every time. That's the honest trade at the heart of this program.
4. Fifth-freedom and SkyTeam add-ons. SkyTeam membership keeps widening what Flying Club can book — check our sweet spots guide for current standouts.
Fine print worth knowing
- The old BofA card's companion voucher died with the card; the Synchrony card's spend perks at $15k/$30k are chosen from a menu — confirm what's currently offered before counting on an upgrade or companion reward.
- Virgin's own-metal awards price dynamically and carry heavy surcharges; partner charts are where the fixed value lives.
- ANA bookings require a phone call, and space should be confirmed before you transfer points in — transfers are one-way.
- Card points post into the Virgin Red ecosystem; linking your Flying Club account is what makes them bookable on flights — set that up on day one.
Who should get it
Get the Virgin Red Rewards card if you're invested in the Virgin ecosystem — Atlantic flights to the UK, Hotels, Voyages — and want anniversary points and tier progress on top. It's also for anyone who wants a steady drip of Virgin Points without burning bank-program transfers.
Skip the card and transfer instead if you just want one ANA redemption: Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One and Bilt all reach Flying Club, often with transfer bonuses. The card is a commitment; transfers are a tactic.
Bottom line
The old World Elite Mastercard is gone — but the reason you wanted it survives. Virgin Points still buy ANA's The Room and The Suite at fixed chart prices, still dodge fuel surcharges on ANA and Delta, and are still the points world's favorite arbitrage. Earn them via the Virgin Red Rewards card if you live the brand, or via transfers if you don't. Just never book Upper Class without adding up the surcharges first. Plan your route in Points Path and track balances in your Rewards Wallet.
See current options → card details
Related: ANA first class via Virgin · 30% Chase → Virgin transfer bonus · Transfer partners chart · Best sweet spots
