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. Virgin's current US card is the Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard®, issued by Synchrony, 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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Quick answer
- Best for: Flying Club redeemers who live the Virgin brand — the old Bank of America Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard was discontinued in October 2024 and can't be applied for
- Annual fee: $99 for the replacement, the Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard (Synchrony)
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 90 days (verify current offer)
- Key benefit: Virgin Points buy ANA business ("The Room") from 52,500–60,000 points one-way — a well-booked partner award can return five cents or more per point. Catch: Virgin Atlantic's own Upper Class awards carry $500-plus in surcharges each way
- Earning: 3x on Virgin purchases, 2x on grocery, dining, select streaming and EV charging, 1x elsewhere — or transfer in from Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One or Bilt
At a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 (Virgin Red Rewards card); the old $90 Bank of America card was discontinued October 2024 |
| Sign-up 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 (currency) | Virgin Points (usable across Virgin Red and Flying Club) |
| Points worth (our valuation) | Five cents or more per point on a well-booked partner award; spottier on Virgin's own flights |
| Key perk/status boost | Tier points from spend (25 per $2,500, up to 50 a month) + 5,000 anniversary points |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Card network (issuer) | World Elite Mastercard (Synchrony Bank) |
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. See how we value each currency.
Points are easy to accumulate: every major transferable currency (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt) transfers to Virgin, with periodic bonuses (like the 30% Chase promo that ran June–July 2026).
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
| Rate | Category |
|---|---|
| 3x | Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages purchases |
| 2x | Grocery stores, dining, select streaming and EV charging |
| 1x | Everything else |
These are the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard's rates. 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fifth-freedom and SkyTeam add-ons. SkyTeam membership keeps widening what Flying Club can book — check our sweet spots guide for current standouts.
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.
- Good alternative: Chase Sapphire Preferred — its points transfer to Flying Club, often with transfer bonuses, without committing to a Virgin card.
- Good alternative: Bilt Rewards — another transferable currency that reaches Flying Club.
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.
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.
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 — and never book Upper Class without adding up the surcharges first. Plan your route in Points Path and track balances in your Rewards Wallet.
Note: Sign-up bonuses and benefits change. Always confirm current terms on the issuer's site before applying.
FAQ
Can I still get the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard? No. Bank of America discontinued it in October 2024 and moved remaining cardholders to the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card. Virgin's current US card is the Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard from Synchrony.
What does the Virgin Red Rewards card earn? 3x on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages purchases, 2x at grocery stores, dining, select streaming and EV charging, and 1x on everything else — plus 5,000 anniversary bonus points a year.
What's the best use of Virgin Points? ANA partner awards at fixed chart prices: business class ("The Room") from 52,500–60,000 points one-way and first ("The Suite") from 72,500–85,000, with no fuel surcharges. ANA bookings require a phone call to Flying Club.
Should I get the card or just transfer points? If you just want one ANA redemption, transfer instead — Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One and Bilt all reach Flying Club. The card suits people invested in the Virgin ecosystem.
Did the companion voucher survive? No. The old card's companion voucher died with the card; the Synchrony card's spend perks at $15,000 and $30,000 are chosen from a menu set by Virgin.
