The Virgin Atlantic Reward and Reward+ Credit Cards earn Virgin Points on spending, plus an annual reward redeemable for a cabin upgrade or companion seat. This review covers how much they earn, what the annual reward is actually worth, and how they compare to alternative rewards cards in the UK.

ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.

Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Review

There are two cards to choose from: a free card (Reward) an a £160/year card (Reward+) that earns points at a faster rate, as you can see in the following table.

One important limitation: points earning is capped each month based on your credit limit. With a £5,000 limit, points accrue on only the first £5,000 of card purchases that month, resetting at each statement date. The cap doesn't apply to bonus points.

Rewards Rate

We calculate that the spending rewards rate on a Virgin Reward+ card is 1.5% on general spending and 3% on Virgin Atlantic spending, assuming each Virgin Point is worth £0.01. The free card can earn 0.75% and 1.5%, respectively. (For example, the Reward+ card earns 1.5 points/£1 spent, so the rewards rates is 1.5 * £0.01 = £0.015, or 1.5% of every £1 spent.) The actual rate depends entirely on how points are redeemed.

The annual Virgin Atlantic Reward

In addition to earning points on spending, cardholders can earn a Virgin Atlantic Reward each year by hitting a spending threshold: £10,000 on the Reward+ card, or £20,000 on the free Reward card. Qualifying spend excludes cash withdrawals, currency purchases and gambling.

The reward can be redeemed for either a round-trip companion reward seat or a round-trip cabin upgrade, on Virgin Atlantic operated flights. Its value is capped in Virgin Points, and that cap depends on Flying Club tier status at the time of redemption, not when it was earned:

Where the reward costs more than the voucher's value, the difference can be topped up with additional points. Taxes, fees and surcharges remain payable, and upgrades can't be applied to Economy Light bookings.

Only one reward can be earned every 12 months, resetting on each account anniversary. Once the threshold is met, the reward is added automatically within 30 days — there's no wait until year end. Vouchers are valid for 24 months from issue: the outbound flight must be taken within that window, though the return leg can fall afterwards. Bookings must be made by phone with the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

The 24-month validity is longer than the free BA Amex Companion Voucher (12 months) and matches the BA Amex Premium Plus card.

Comparing Reward and Reward+

Earn rates apply to all spending from the outset. The spending thresholds affect only the annual Virgin Atlantic Reward: the Reward+ card earns it at £10,000, while the free Reward card requires £20,000. Someone spending £15,000 a year would earn the annual reward on the Reward+ card but not on the free card, while earning points at double the rate throughout.

Using Abroad

These cards are less suited to spending abroad. Purchases in a foreign currency carry a 2.99% foreign transaction fee, and cash withdrawals abroad incur that 2.99% fee plus an additional 5% cash fee.

A credit card without foreign transaction fees may be worth holding alongside for overseas spending.

Bottom line: Both cards offer the same annual reward — a cabin upgrade or companion seat, capped by Flying Club tier — on identical terms. The difference is the spending threshold (£20,000 free vs £10,000 paid) and the earn rate, which is double on the Reward+ card across all categories.

Benefits & Features

Eligibility and acceptance are decided by each lender and depend on its own criteria and checks. Checking your eligibility does not guarantee that you’ll be accepted.

Representative Examples

Virgin Atlantic Reward+: Representative 69.7% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% p.a. (variable) and a £160 annual fee.

Virgin Atlantic Reward (free): Representative 26.9% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

Both cards carry a purchase rate above the UK market average; carrying a balance can quickly outweigh the value of any points or rewards earned.

Welcome offers change more often than other card features, so it's worth checking the current offer directly. At the time of writing, it's 18,000 Virgin Points on the Reward+ card and 3,000 on the free Reward card, earned by making any purchase within the first 90 days — no minimum spend applies to either.

At an assumed 1p per point, that's roughly £180 on the Reward+ card (more than covering the first year's £160 fee) and around £30 on the free card.

What is a Virgin Point Worth?

Virgin Atlantic moved to dynamic pricing for reward flights and upgrades in October 2024, replacing the old fixed award chart. The points price now tracks the cash fare and moves with demand, dates and how far ahead you book, so there's no fixed "X points = Y pounds" conversion.

The general pattern that holds under dynamic pricing: redeeming for a higher cabin, or for an upgrade rather than a full reward booking, tends to deliver more value per point than a standard Economy seat.

A dummy booking on Virgin Atlantic's site is the most reliable way to work out the current points cost for a specific route and date.

The value of a companion reward depends on how it's used. An Upper Class redemption delivers more value than a lower cabin, since the companion seat is worth more — but the Flying Club member must first book a seat in the same cabin.

Virgin Points can be used with Virgin Atlantic's partner airlines for destinations Virgin doesn't serve directly. Partners include SkyTeam members such as Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Scandinavian Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, alongside non-SkyTeam partners including Air New Zealand, ANA, LATAM and Virgin Australia.

Note that the annual Virgin Atlantic Reward voucher itself can only be redeemed on Virgin Atlantic operated flights.

FAQs

Can I use my Virgin Atlantic credit card abroad? Yes, but non-sterling transactions carry a 2.99% fee, and cash withdrawals from an ATM carry an additional 5% cash withdrawal fee on top.

How do I earn the annual Virgin Atlantic Reward? Spend £10,000 in a card year on the Reward+ card, or £20,000 on the free Reward card. Only one reward can be earned every 12 months.

Can I upgrade my seat using the Virgin Atlantic Reward? Yes — the reward can be used for a round-trip cabin upgrade, up to the voucher's points value based on your Flying Club tier. Upgrades can't be applied to Economy Light bookings.

Who issues the Virgin Atlantic credit cards in the UK? The Virgin Atlantic Credit Card is issued by Nationwide Building Society, trading as Virgin Money.

How the Virgin Atlantic cards compare

Both earn 1.5 points per £1 on general spending and run on the Mastercard network. The main difference is the currency: Virgin Points versus Avios, which suit different route networks. Barclaycard's card offers a cabin upgrade voucher at £10,000 of annual spend rather than a companion seat.

The free BA Amex earns 1 Avios per £1 on general spending, slightly ahead of the free Virgin card's 0.75 points per £1. Its Companion Voucher requires £15,000 of annual spend — lower than the free Virgin card's £20,000 threshold — but expires after 12 months rather than 24.

Representative example: Representative 29.1% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee.

The Platinum Cashback Credit Card by American Express earns 0.75%–1.25% cashback on all purchases (with a higher initial rate of 5% up to £125 cashback in the first three months), for a £25 annual fee.

Representative example: Representative 34.6% APR variable. Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and a £25 annual fee.

The trade-off: Virgin Points can be worth more than 1p each when redeemed for upgrades or via the annual reward, but realising that value takes active management. Cashback pays a flat rate automatically. American Express also isn't accepted everywhere, so a second card is likely needed either way.

ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender.

Card details correct as of 10 September 2026. Terms, rates and features are subject to change — always verify current details before applying. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.