Want more travel hacks and credit card perks? For our entire collection of reviews and guides, click here. Your next Avios windfall might just be a swipe away. The Basics
Ready to earn Virgin Points and enjoy some solid travel perks? Let’s have a look at the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard – a £160-a-year ticket to companion vouchers, attractive points, and more. Is it the best non-Amex card around? Read on as we break it down in true Wingtips style.
- Annual Fee: £160 (but does it pay for itself? We shall see)
- APR: 69.7% variable (only matters if you carry a balance)
- Purchase APR: 26.9% variable
In This Post
The Annual Fee: £160 – Is It Worth It?
Unlike the BA Amex, this Fee is not pro-rata refundable. It works best for frequent flyers who can comfortably hit the £10,000 annual spend to unlock the companion voucher and maximise the points earning potential. If you rarely travel with Virgin Atlantic or its partners, you might be better off with the free version of this card.
The Sign-Up Bonus: Easy as Pie
Forget complicated spending requirements – immediately make your first purchase and earn 18,000 Virgin Points. Whether you buy a coffee or book a flight, you are in for a treat.
Eligibility:
- Haven’t had a Reward+ card in the last six months? You qualify.
- Already own the free Virgin Atlantic Reward card? You can still claim the bonus.
- Hold another Virgin Money card (other than Virgin Atlantic)? That works, too.
- You’re eligible even if you are a supplementary cardholder on someone else’s account.
The Companion Voucher: Your Annual Bonus
Spend £10,000 a year, and Virgin Atlantic will reward you with a companion voucher. This voucher is your passport to premium travel perks and can be used in two smart ways:
- Bring a friend: Buy a cash or points ticket and get a second ticket in the same cabin absolutely free (excluding taxes and fees).
- Upgrade yourself: Boost your travel experience by upgrading your ticket one class higher – imagine the luxury of moving from Premium to Upper Class.
Voucher Value:
- Flying Club Red members can redeem up to 75,000 Virgin Points.
- Flying Club Silver and Gold members can redeem up to 150,000 Virgin Points.
- The voucher’s value is fixed at the time of redemption, so any later status upgrade does not increase its value.
- Planning a big redemption? You can always top up your voucher with extra points if necessary.
Earning Points: A Robust Return
- Earn 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent – one of the best rates on a Visa or Mastercard.
- Book through Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays and receive 3 Virgin Points per £1 spent.
- Note that monthly earnings are capped by your credit limit. This detail mainly affects those who pay down and re-spend within the same month.
The Foreign Exchange Factor
Travelling abroad? Here’s what you need to know about FX fees:
- Zero per cent FX fees in the Eurozone (EUR, SEK, RON) – perfect for European jaunts.
- A 3 per cent fee applies elsewhere – a drawback if you frequently travel outside these regions.
SkyTeam alliances redemption’s.
When it comes to redeeming your points, Virgin Atlantic isn’t your only option; in fact, there are 17 airlines for which you can redeem those Virgin points, and here is the complete list of airlines.
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- ITA Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- SAUDIA
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Air
Other ways how to get Virgin points.
There are a number of other ways to obtain more Virgin points if needed to make a redemption, and they are.
- Transfer your American Express points from your gold card or platinum cards at a 1:1 ratio.
- Transfer via Heathrow Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio.
- Tesco Clubcard. 1 Clubcard point = 2 Virgin Points.
- Transfer from hotel loyalty programs.
- Virgin Points never expire as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 36 months.
Read my full review of Virgin Atlantic Upper-Class London to Maimi onboard the B789.
Compared with Cashback Cards
This card stands out among those who enjoy travel rewards rather than cashback.
While most UK cashback cards offer only about 0.1–0.25 per cent back, Virgin Points can be roughly 0.75p to 1p per point when used for premium flights. This means you could effectively receive around 1.5 per cent back per £1 spent – a notable bonus for dedicated travellers.
The Final Verdict
The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard is a strong contender among non-Amex airline cards in the UK, standing proudly alongside rivals like the Barclaycard Avios Plus.
Why it stands out:
- A generous 18,000 Virgin Points sign-up bonus with no spending target.
- An excellent earning rate of 1.5 Virgin Points per £1.
- The annual companion voucher is unlocked at £10,000 spent.
- Zero FX fees within the Eurozone.
Who should consider this card?
- Travellers who frequently fly can comfortably meet the £10,000 annual spending.
- Fans of Virgin Atlantic and the SkyTeam network.
- Big spenders looking for a rewarding non-Amex option.
Who might want to think twice?
- Those who prefer a refundable annual fee upon cancellation.
- Individuals who rarely fly with Virgin Atlantic or its partners.
You can apply for the card here:
