Offloading Amex for Virgin – how to get value from points

[adelegreen]

Hi. I live close to Manchester Airport and I am not getting any use from my Avios points or companion voucher collected via Amex. So much for a national flag carrier if you live outside the M25.
I’m considering ditching my Amex for a Virgin Mastercard (lots of Manchester options) but I’d like to use my Avios on something. Is there anywhere I can transfer them to – preferably to get them to Virgin if I can. Thanks!

[Sam777]

Hi

Whilst I can’t answer your Virgin question, could you use them for Aer Lingus out of Manchester? I know it’s only a couple of routes, but could any work for you?

Thanks

[CarpalTravel]

I get the convenience but just wanted to check – have you compared the redemption costs? I have 500k virgin miles that I just cnnot bring myself to use as it works out unbelieveably expensive for me over using Avios with BA.

[NorthernLass]

Virgin – a few routes from MAN, high surcharges but you need fewer points than on BA. If you have the cc voucher you can actually get great value.
BA – goes to a lot of places MAN doesn’t serve so you’d need to connect anyway if you wanted to go to them (just off the top of my head – LAX, MIA, BOS, IAD, TPA, most Caribbean routes, anywhere vaguely cultural, like Florence!)

Also check out Aer Lingus before you get rid of your avios. They don’t offer the same RFS fares as BA but can still be good value when cash rates are high.

Otherwise you can use avios to book hotels via ba.com, and also transfer to Nectar. I don’t know of any route to get them to Virgin.

Or live in hope, like I do, that one day BA might re-start the direct weekend routes to Europe!

[NorthernLass]

Forgot to add as well:

You can use avios on QR which departs MAN 2/3 times per day.

Also on IB, which flies MAN-MAD daily, where you can also connect to many destinations not served from MAN.

[memesweeper]

Royal Jordanian and Cathay fly from Manchester, bookable with Avios

[adelegreen]

Hmmm.. I had considered the Aer Lingus but didn’t know of the others. I suppose it’s the Virgin Holidays which appeal rather than the flight & hotel options with BA. Ain’t no way I’m flying to London to hop to Florence when there is a direct flight!
Thanks all, I’ll give it another look via AL and also QR.

[Rob]

Our 13 part series on using Virgin Points is here https://www.headforpoints.com/category/virgin-redemption-university/

[NorthernLass]

There isn’t a direct flight to Florence, that’s my point! You have to start down south or at Edinburgh so you may as well use avios on BA.