Lots of one-way business class flights from New York to Zurich for 50,000 Virgin Points plus $6

Delta Air Lines is, as most readers know, a 49% shareholder in Virgin Atlantic, and you can book reward flights on Delta with Virgin Points.

If you book flights from the US to the UK on Delta with your Virgin Points, you are hit with high surcharges. This appears to be down to the transatlantic joint venture agreement that the two airlines have, which means that surcharges are identical across carriers.

To other parts of Europe, however, you only pay Delta’s standard surcharges – which are effectively nothing.

This means that a one-way flight FROM the US to Europe (excluding the UK) will only come with $6 (yes, $6) of taxes and charges on Delta Air Lines.

The snag is that availability is exceptionally hard to find.

Via US site View From The Wing, which itself quotes US subscription newsletter Thrifty Traveller, a lot of Delta business class reward space has appeared between New York JFK and Zurich in October and November.

The screenshot below shows dates when you can get FOUR seats on the same aircraft. There are far more dates with just one or two seats:

You still need to get back from Zurich, of course, but that won’t be too expensive.

This only leaves you on the hook for the taxes and charges for a one-way British Airways or Virgin Atlantic flight TO New York.

You may also be willing to book a World Traveller Plus (BA) or Premium (Virgin Atlantic) ticket outbound, with lower surcharges, given that it would be a day flight, knowing that you’ve got your dirt cheap Delta flat bed for the return.

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points and the free card has a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 50,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points.