Ready to rack up Virgin Points faster than an A350 taking off from Heathrow? The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card is Virgin Money’s top-tier offering – complete with a generous welcome bonus, a powerful voucher, and points on everything from holidays to lunch. But is it worth the £160 annual fee? Let’s do a proper deep dive. Want more travel hacks and credit card perks? For our entire collection of reviews and guides, click here.
In This Post
Points Earning: Built for the Bold
- 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday spend
- 3 Virgin Points per £1 when booking Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays
- No cap on how many points you can earn
Link your Flying Club account to Virgin Red for broader redemptions – flights, spa days, theatre tickets, Greggs sausage rolls, you name it.
Sweet Spot Tip: Virgin Points can be used not just on Virgin Atlantic but also with partners like ANA (Tokyo in First for 120k points), Air France/KLM, and Delta, sometimes at better value.
Essential Card Details
- Annual Fee: £160 (tax-deductible if used for business)
- Welcome Bonus: 15,000 Virgin Points after your first purchase
- Representative APR: 69.7% variable incl. fee (26.9% on purchases)
- Foreign Spend FX Fee: 2.99% (unless you’re in Euros, Lei, or Koruna zones)
- Eligibility: UK resident, 18+, good credit score
Welcome Bonus: What’s It Actually Worth?
Make one purchase, earn 15,000 Virgin Points. No minimum spend, no pressure.
What that gets you:
- Off-peak one-way flight to NYC in Economy (10,000 points + taxes)
- Premium cabin upgrade on many short-hauls
- £75+ of value via Virgin Red (Eurostar, shopping, wine)
Pro Tip: To get even better returns, stack the bonus with double points offers via Virgin Red or Virgin Money Cashback.
The Reward Voucher: Let’s Talk Real Value
Spend £10,000 per card annually and unlock a Reward Voucher, valid for 2 years.
You can choose:
- A companion ticket in the same cabin when booking a reward flight
- A one-cabin upgrade (e.g., Premium to Upper Class) on a reward flight if travelling solo
Fine Print Reality Check:
- Vouchers are only valid on Virgin Atlantic reward flights
- Availability can be tight in peak season – book early
- Taxes and fees still apply (expect ~£200+ per long-haul ticket)
Flying Club Tier Multiplier:
- Red Tier: use on reward seats up to 75,000 points
- Silver/Gold Tier: up to 150,000-point flights
Case Study: Say, for instance, someone flies Virgin once a year in Premium and spends £15k on the card. and spends ~£15k on the card. The voucher will get you a free upgrade to Upper Class worth £700+. The 15,000-point bonus goes on wine via Virgin Red. Net gain: huge.
Who’s It For?
This card is ideal for:
- People spending £10,000+ annually who can trigger the Reward Voucher
- Virgin Atlantic flyers looking to upgrade or fly with a companion
- Anyone looking for a reliable, high-earning Mastercard to replace Amex
- Points nerds who know how to squeeze every drop from Virgin partners
Not ideal for:
- Low spenders who won’t hit the voucher threshold
- Travellers who mostly redeem cash fares (voucher only works on reward bookings)
- Anyone allergic to Virgin Atlantic taxes/fees (they’re no joke)
Travel with the Virgin Reward+ Card: Yay or Nay?
Yay:
- 3x points on Virgin spend = fastest-earning UK airline Mastercard
- Companion/upgrade voucher is fantastic value
- 15,000-point bonus with no spend hurdle
- No FX fees in the Eurozone, Romania or Slovakia
Nay:
- 2.99% FX fee outside of select currencies
- £160 fee needs a proper plan to offset
- Voucher locked to points bookings only – no cash fares
Avoid FX fees outside Europe with Currensea. It links to your bank and charges only 0.5%. Check it out here.
Extra Perks (No Champagne, But Still Nice)
- Virgin Money Cashback: Built-in deals – no opt-in required
- Virgin Red App: One-click redemption on hundreds of brands
- Mastercard Acceptance: Accepted globally, unlike Amex
Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards: Reward vs Reward+
| Feature | Reward (Free) | Reward+ (£160/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | £0 | £160 |
| Welcome Bonus | 3,000 points (after 1st spend) | 15,000 points (after 1st spend) |
| Earn Rate – Everyday Spend | 0.75 points per £1 | 1.5 points per £1 |
| Earn Rate – Virgin Spend | 1.5 points per £1 | 3 points per £1 |
| Reward Voucher Threshold | £20,000/year | £10,000/year |
| Voucher Validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| FX Fees | No FX in Eurozone, RO, SK | Same as Reward |
| Bonus Value | ~£20–30 | ~£100+ depending on use |
Final Verdict: Is It Worth £160?
If you fly Virgin Atlantic even once a year and plan to spend over £10k, this card pays for itself. What about the bonus, the voucher, and 3x points on flight spending? No-brainer.
But it might not be the one if you’re not hitting the voucher threshold or mostly fly BA. Consider a free alternative or the basic Reward card if you’re just starting.
Verdict: Virgin Value with a Kick of Upper Class.
Apply for the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card here.
Still Taxiing? Read On:
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Voucher vs Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher: Which One Wins?
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Voucher vs. British Airways Amex 2-4-1 Voucher: Which One Wins?
- Review: Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card UK Free (UK 2025 Update).
