Turning Chase Points Into a Family Beach Getaway (With a Transfer Bonus Win)
June 2024 brought one of those bookings that reminds us why we love points and miles—especially when traveling as a family of six. ✈️🌴 This time, we locked in round-trip flights from Salt Lake City to Cancun using a transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Virgin Atlantic, stretching our points much further than usual.
Here’s exactly how we did it—and why this was such a solid family travel win.
The Transfer Bonus That Made It Happen
Chase was running a limited-time transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which meant every Chase point transferred gave us extra Virgin points.
154,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Thanks to the bonus, that became 200,200 Virgin Atlantic points
The catch? We weren’t quite done earning Chase points when the promo started. So once we had more points available, we made a second transfer of 22,000 Chase points (no bonus that time), adding:
22,000 more Virgin Atlantic points
👉 Total Virgin Atlantic balance used: 222,000 points
👉 Total Chase points spent: only 176,000
That’s the power of transfer bonuses—especially when you’re booking multiple seats for a family.
Booking 6 Round-Trip Tickets to Cancun
Using those Virgin Atlantic points, we booked 6 round-trip tickets for our entire family from Salt Lake City to Cancun (on Delta-operated flights, booked through Virgin Atlantic).
The numbers:
✈️ Flights: SLC ↔ CUN (round trip)
🎟️ Tickets: 6
💳 Points used: 222,000 Virgin Atlantic points
💰 Out-of-pocket taxes & fees: $755
💵 Cash price at booking: $5,099
The Final Value (Yes, We Did the Math)
Even after accounting for the taxes and fees, this redemption came out to:
2.47 cents per point (based on Chase points used)
For international flights to a beach destination during peak family travel times, that’s a very respectable return—especially when paying cash for six tickets would have been painful.
Why This Was a Big Win for Families
✅ Transfer bonuses = fewer points needed
✅ Booked 6 seats at once (no splitting itineraries)
✅ Used one primary points currency (Chase Ultimate Rewards)
✅ Saved over $5,000 in cash
This is exactly the kind of redemption that makes family travel feel doable—even luxurious—without blowing the budget.
Takeaway: Always Watch for Transfer Bonuses
If you’re sitting on Chase points and planning future travel, transfer bonuses can completely change what’s possible. In our case, they turned 176,000 Chase points into a full family international vacation.
If Cancun is on your radar—or you’re just dreaming of warm beaches and turquoise water—keep Virgin Atlantic in mind. It’s one of those programs that quietly delivers huge value when the timing is right.
Happy booking, and may your next transfer bonus be even better than this one 🌞✈️