Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is often underrated – and we’re here to change that. Whether you’re just joining, eyeing an elite upgrade, or plotting your next ANA First Class redemption, here’s the definitive guide to making the Flying Club work for you. No fluff, no sales pitch – just everything you need to know.
In This Post
The Basics: What is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?
Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program, Flying Club, uses Virgin Points as its reward currency. Members can earn and redeem points across Virgin Atlantic, partner airlines, and an entire constellation of Virgin Group companies. Better yet, points never expire – even if your motivation does.
Flying Club has three status tiers:
- Red – The free tier (you exist!)
- Silver – Mid-tier perks without the drama
- Gold – Lounge access, upgrades, and elite SkyTeam perks
Unlike BA’s new tier system, which requires a maths degree to decode, Flying Club status is still based on Tier Points earned through flights and holidays, not raw spending.
How to Earn Virgin Points: A Thousand Ways to Climb
Fly Virgin Atlantic
Your Virgin Points haul depends on ticket class and Flying Club status:
- Economy Light/Class/Delight: 25–50 points
- Premium: 50–100 points
- Upper Class: 100–200 points
Fly Partner Airlines (SkyTeam + More)
Virgin is part of SkyTeam, so you can earn Virgin Points and Tier Points when flying with:
- Delta, KLM, Air France, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, and more
- Non-SkyTeam partners: ANA, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, etc.
Note: Points earned and booking class rules vary wildly by airline. Use Virgin’s partner calculator before you fly. Click here to read my full review of Aeromexico, as an example of another Skyteam Alliance member.
Virgin Red: Points From Everyday Life
Link your Flying Club account to Virgin Red to earn points from:
- Tesco Clubcard conversions
- Virgin Wines, Virgin Experience Days, Virgin Trains
- Shopping portals (Shops Away)
- Hotel sites, food delivery, and more
Credit Cards
Credit Card Earnings & Transfers
Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards (UK):
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card (Free):
- 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 spent
- 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 with Virgin Atlantic/Holidays
- Companion or upgrade voucher for £20,000 spend
Click here to read the full review of the free Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit card.
- Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card (£160/year):
- 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent
- 3 Virgin Points per £1 with Virgin Atlantic/Holidays
- Companion or upgrade voucher for £10,000 spend
Click here to read the full review of the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit card.
American Express UK (Membership Rewards Cards):
- Amex Preferred Rewards Gold (Free first year):
- 1 MR point per £1 spent → transfer 1:1 to Virgin Points
Click here to read our complete American Express Gold Credit Card review.
- Amex Platinum (£650/year):
- 1 MR point per £1 spent → transfer 1:1 to Virgin Points
- Includes travel insurance, hotel status, and lounge access
Click here to read our complete American Express Platinum Credit Card review.
- Amex Rewards Credit Card (Free for life):
- 1 MR point per £1 spent → transfer 1:1 to Virgin Points
Marriott Bonvoy American Express (£95/year):
- Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1 spent
- Transfer to Virgin Points at a 3:1 rate
- Bonus 5,000 Virgin Points per 60,000 Marriott Points
Click here to read our complete Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card review.
Other Hotel Credit Cards with Transfer Options:
- Hilton Honours Amex (US) – Transfer to Virgin Points (not available in the UK)
- IHG, Hyatt, Radisson, via partner points transfers from hotel accounts
5. Virgin Atlantic Holidays
Earn up to 4 points per £1 spent, depending on tier. You’ll also rack up Tier Points: 20 per £500 spent (max 400 per booking).
6. Hotel and Car Partners
Earn Virgin Points through hotel bookings or loyalty point transfers:
- Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, Best Western, Virgin Hotels
- Car rental partners: Avis, Hertz, Sixt, etc.
7. Buy, Boost, or Transfer Points
- Buy: £15 per 1,000 + £15 fee (wait for a promo!)
- Boost: Double/triple points on past Virgin flights
- Household accounts (Silver+): Pool points with up to 9 people
Earning Virgin Status (Red, Silver, Gold)
Virgin Tier Overview:
- Red: Free to join
- Silver: 400 Tier Points
- Gold: 1,000 Tier Points
Example flight paths to elite status:
- Silver: 2x Upper Class returns or 5x Premium returns
- Gold: 5x Upper Class returns or 10x Premium returns
Tier Benefits:
Silver:
- 30% bonus points on Virgin flights
- Extra luggage + Premium check-in/boarding
- SkyTeam Elite status
Gold:
- 60% bonus points
- Clubhouse lounge access (+1 guest)
- SkyTeam Elite Plus perks (lounge, bags, priority everything)
- Birthday bonus, hotel upgrades, exit row seats, and more
Bonus: 2,000 Tier Point year = extra vouchers. 10 years of Gold + 7,500 Tier Points = Gold for Life.
Redeeming Virgin Points: When the Burn is Beautiful
Virgin Atlantic Flights
- Every seat is redeemable (but it’s dynamic pricing, so watch the rates)
- Saver Fares are your friend
Cabin Upgrades
- Economy > Premium or Premium > Upper Class
Partner Airline Redemptions
- ANA First Class: top-tier value, phone booking only
- Delta: Short-haul gems, long-haul roulette
- Air France/KLM: Use when Flying Blue surges
- Virgin Australia, South African Airways, etc.
Non-Flight Redemptions
- Virgin Voyages cruises
- Virgin Holidays packages
- Hotels, experiences, trains, Greggs (yes, really)
- Charity donations and shopping via Virgin Red
Lounges & Clubhouse Access
Virgin’s Clubhouse lounges are legendary. Gold status or Upper Class gets you in, but SkyTeam Elite Plus doesn’t cut it.
Locations include:
- London Heathrow T3
- New York JFK T4
- Washington Dulles, San Francisco, Johannesburg, LAX (NEW)
Heathrow Revivals Lounge is also available for Golds and Upper Class. No guests.
Virgin Flying Club vs. Virgin Red: What’s the Deal?
Virgin Flying Club = airline loyalty program
Virgin Red = wider Virgin Group rewards
Link both to:
- Earn points on groceries, wine, trains, holidays, etc.
- Transfer points between platforms
Bonus Add-Ons You Should Know
Award Booking Quirks
- Some partners (like ANA) require phone booking
- Others (like Air France/KLM) can be booked online
- Always check Virgin’s site for specific redemption rules
Taxes & Surcharges
- Virgin flights: high surcharges (e.g. £500+ on Upper to US)
- ANA redemptions: far lower surcharges
- Include this in value calculations when redeeming
Gold Reward Seat Guarantee
- Gold members are guaranteed an Economy seat on any Virgin flight, even if the flight is “full”
Best-Value Redemptions
- ANA First Class to Tokyo: ~120,000 points + low fees
- Delta short-hauls in the US: from ~8,500 points
- Air France/KLM off-peak US-Europe: solid redemptions
Soft Landing Policy
- Virgin typically offers soft landings, but it’s unofficial. For example, Gold might drop to silver if it is not requalified.
Tier Point Expiry Examples
- Red: Tier Points expire 12 months from when earned
- Silver/Gold: You get a whole 12-month fixed membership period after qualification
Final Thoughts
Virgin Flying Club hits a rare loyalty sweet spot: flexible earning, rich redemptions (if you’re smart), and elite benefits that don’t require a second mortgage. Despite some rough spots (ahem, dynamic pricing), it remains one of the most rewarding programmes for UK travellers, especially those eyeing long-haul Upper Class.
Ready to jump ship from BA or just collect a cheeky ANA redemption? Virgin Atlantic Flying Club might just be your new points playground. Click here to sign up.
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