- Mr Plane Guy
- Sep 17
- 10 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Guide to Virgin Red: How to Earn and Spend Virgin Points Like a Pro
Written by me, your ex-Virgin cabin crew turned Virgin Points Guru
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my travel blog and allows me to continue creating useful content. Thank you for your support!
(Very limited time offer be quick!)
Virgin Red is Virgin Group’s lifestyle rewards program that links with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Both use Virgin Points.
You can earn Virgin Points from flights, Tesco Clubcard, credit cards, online shopping, transfer partners, and even quirky Virgin experiences.
Virgin Points can be redeemed for Virgin reward flights, seat upgrades, hotels, cruises, and even once-in-a-lifetime splurges like Richard Branson’s Necker Island.
Virgin Points never expire, so you can stash them away without worrying about losing them.
What is Virgin Red?
Virgin Red is Virgin’s “all-access” rewards club launched in 2021. It’s not here to replace the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Virgin’s frequent flyer program) it works alongside it. The key thing to know is this:
👉 Both Virgin Red and Flying Club use the same currency, Virgin Points.
That means you don’t have to juggle different balances or exchange rates. If you’ve got Virgin Points, you can spend them in either program.
And here’s where it gets clever: link your Flying Club and Virgin Red accounts, and suddenly you can pool your points from both. Whether you’re earning through a Virgin Atlantic credit card, Tesco Clubcard, or flying long-haul with Virgin, all those points end up in the same pot.
How to earn Virgin Points
There are more ways to earn Virgin Points than most people realise and the beauty is, you don’t have to be flying every week to rack them up.
1. Flying Virgin Atlantic and SkyTeam partners
Flying Virgin Atlantic is the most obvious way. You’ll earn Virgin Points based on the cabin and fare you book. Economy Light earns fewer points, while Premium and Upper Class stack them up faster.
Since Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam Alliance, you can also earn Virgin Points with partner airlines like Delta, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Aeromexico. Handy if you’re flying routes Virgin doesn’t cover directly.
Always credit your flights to your Flying Club account even partner flights. Those points add up faster than you think.
Note: I’m not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
2. Tesco Clubcard
This is a goldmine for U.K. members. Every Tesco Clubcard point can be converted into Virgin Points at a 1 Clubcard = 2.5 Virgin Points rate.
That means your weekly shop, petrol fill-ups, and even Tesco Mobile bill can quietly build toward your next Virgin reward flight.
I’ve turned my Tesco grocery runs into transatlantic flights more than once. You can read my Tesco tips in more detail on my Blog Post: How I Turned My £34 Worth of Tesco Clubcard Points into a Flight from London to New York.
You can also get a huge bonus just by turning on the Tesco Clubcard auto exchange, I got an extra 5000 points just for doing this, ( a one way ticket to New York is just 6000!) They usually run this promotion twice a year,
This silly little Tik Tok explains it quite well, don't forget to follow!
Note: I’m not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
3. Virgin Atlantic credit cards
The Virgin Atlantic credit card range is one of the fastest ways to earn Virgin Points:
U.K. cards
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card (no annual fee).
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card (£160 annual fee, higher earning rate, plus companion vouchers).
U.S. card
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard® ($99 annual fee, earns up to 3x points per £1/$1, plus a 60,000-point welcome bonus if you spend $4,000 in the first 90 days).
If you’re serious about Virgin Points, a card is almost essential. They supercharge your earning, and pairing them with Tesco or transfer partners creates a points snowball effect.
4. Transfer partners
Virgin Red and Flying Club are partners with almost every major flexible points program:
American Express Membership Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Citi ThankYou Points
Capital One Miles
Bilt Rewards
Most transfers are 1:1, and a few times a year, there are transfer bonuses (like 30% extra Virgin Points). That’s when I stock up.
5. Shopping and Virgin experiences
Virgin Red has its own shopping portal with brands like Apple, M&S, John Lewis and even Deliveroo. Click through, shop as normal, and points land in your account.
Virgin also throws in unique experiences where you can earn big chunks of points
like stays at Virgin Hotels or even Necker Island (if you’re ready to splash serious cash).
6. Buying Virgin Points 7. Refer Everyone You Know
Sometimes you’re this close to booking that dream redemption, but you’re a few thousand points short. That’s where buying Virgin Points comes in.
Virgin Atlantic lets you buy Virgin Points outright (or gift them to someone else). The price per point usually works out higher than the value you’d get from flying or credit cards, but if topping up a small amount means unlocking a Virgin reward flight or an Upper Class upgrade, it can be worth it.
💡 My rule of thumb:
Don’t buy Virgin Points speculatively (they’re usually not “cheap”).
Do buy them if you’re topping up for a specific redemption you’ve already found.
7. Refer Everyone You Know
Normally you can get 1000 free points by referring someone, you can easily generate a link to send them, right now for a limited time they have doubled it, use mine and then pass it on!
(Very limited time offer be quick!)
How to Redeem Virgin Points
So, what can you actually do with your Virgin Points? Honestly, a lot more than just flights.
Virgin reward flights
This is where Virgin Flying Club shines. Saver seats start at 6,000 Virgin Points one-way in economy.
My personal favourite redemption? London → New York in Premium Economy for 11,000 Virgin Points + taxes.
Other sweet spots include:
Short-haul Europe flights with Air France/KLM from 6,000 points.
Delta domestic flights in the U.S. from 7,500 points.
Upper Class London → East Coast USA from 47,500 points.
Taxes and fees can sting, but the base points value is outstanding.
Seat upgrades
Got a cash ticket in economy or premium? Use Virgin Points to upgrade. This is often a better deal than redeeming for a full reward ticket, especially if you find a cheap cash fare.
Hotels, Virgin Voyages, and quirky experiences
Virgin Red isn’t just about flights. You can redeem points for:
Virgin Hotels stays.
Virgin Voyages cruises.
Got points burning a hole in your account? 2 million Virgin Points gets you a week on Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s private Caribbean paradise. Helicopters, flamingos, the lot.
My Virgin hacks
A few of my favorite tricks from years of playing the Virgin Points game:
Mix Tesco with credit card spend. Tesco Clubcard gets you steady everyday points, and your Virgin Atlantic credit card accelerates things. Together they’re powerful. Turn on the auto exchange when they run a pro ( usually twice per year and boom 5000 extra will appear!
Transfer during bonuses. Amex, Chase, and Citi often run 30% transfer promos. That’s free points.
Book off-peak flights. Virgin’s reward chart is cheaper if you fly on quieter days.
Upgrades > redemptions sometimes. Don’t ignore upgrades they can be better value than full reward seats.
Recommend all your friends, they get free points, you get free points everybody wins!
💳 New to Virgin Red? Use my link to unlock 2,000 bonus points instantly.
Linking Virgin Red with Flying Club
This step is crucial:
Go to “Link accounts.”
Done.
Once linked, you’ll see your pooled Virgin Points in both apps. It makes earning and redeeming much smoother.
Strategies to Maximise Your Virgin Red Points
Here’s how I squeeze the most value out of Virgin Red when I’m chasing Virgin Points:
Stack with a Points-Earning Card
If you pay with a rewards card like the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold, you’ll double-dip: Virgin Points from Virgin Red on one side, plus Membership Rewards® points from Amex on the other.
And the beauty? You can later transfer those Amex points 1:1 into Virgin Flying Club. That means you’re effectively boosting your Virgin balance twice from a single purchase.
Note: I’m not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
💳 Grab the American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card – Earn up to 45,000 Points!
Apply Here → Here is the link.
Final Boarding Call
Virgin Red and Virgin Flying Club together are one of the most underrated loyalty setups out there.
You’ve got multiple ways to earn flights, Tesco Clubcard, credit cards, transfer partners, online shopping all feeding into the same Virgin Points balance. And with redemptions from short-haul bargains to once-in-a-lifetime splurges, there’s something for everyone.
The fact that Virgin Points never expire is the cherry on top. You can stash them guilt-free until the right trip comes along.
For me, the highlight will always be that 11,000-point flight to New York. Proof that even groceries and credit card spend can get you across the Atlantic.
If you’re not already in Virgin Red, it’s free, easy to join, and honestly a no-brainer if you fly Virgin Atlantic or shop at Tesco.
👉 Want more Virgin hacks? Check out my other Virgin Atlantic guides and Tesco Clubcard
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Related Links
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Flight Review 787 Dreamliner London to LA
Is the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow T4 Worth the Hype? Find out HERE
How I Travelled Business Class on Qatar Airways for Less Than £250
Qatar Airways Economy Class Review: London to Zanzibar via Doha
What Is British Airways Euroflyer? How are they different to BA?
Flying in Style: My Qatar Airways Business Class Experience on the 787 from Doha to London
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class & The New LAX Clubhouse, Flying in Style
Follow me on Instagram for the latest lounge reviews, PLANE tips, and PLANE deals.
Here is a little easy to follow summary and Guide to Virgin Red: How to Earn and Spend Virgin Points Like a Pro
Plan Your Airport Parking: Booking in advance can make your journey more seamless.
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Virgin Points FAQs
How much is 50,000 Virgin Points worth in dollars? On average, Virgin Points are worth around 1–1.5 cents each when redeemed for flights. That means 50,000 Virgin Points = about $500–$750 in value. The exact amount depends on how you redeem flights and upgrades usually give the best value compared to hotels or shopping.
How much is 10,000 Virgin Points to buy? Buying Virgin Points normally costs around $210–$230 for 10,000 points (prices vary slightly by currency and promotions). It’s rarely worth buying speculatively only top up if you’re close to booking a reward flight.
How to get 100,000 Virgin Points? There are several strategies:
Sign-up bonuses from Virgin Atlantic credit cards (UK & US) can offer up to 60,000 points.
Combine everyday spending (Tesco Clubcard, Amex/Chase transfers, shopping portal).
Look out for 30% transfer bonuses from Amex, Citi, Chase, or Capital One.
Frequent flyers can hit 100,000 by crediting Virgin Atlantic and SkyTeam partner flights.With the right credit card + transfer strategy, you can realistically build 100k points within a year.
Can you convert Avios to Virgin Points? No Avios and Virgin Points are separate currencies. You can’t transfer between them directly. However, you can collect both if you fly on British Airways (Avios) and Virgin Atlantic (Virgin Points), or if you use flexible credit card points (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One) that let you choose which program to transfer into.
Virgin Points Calculator Virgin Atlantic doesn’t have a dedicated “Virgin Points calculator” online, but you can:
Use the Virgin Atlantic reward flight finder to see how many points a route costs.
Check SkyTeam redemption charts for partner airlines.Tip: third-party tools like AwardWallet and SeatSpy also help estimate points costs.
Virgin Points Value On average, Virgin Points are worth 1–1.5p in the UK or 1–1.5¢ in the US when redeemed for flights. Value drops if you spend them on shopping or experiences, and spikes if you grab premium cabin sweet spots (like Upper Class to NYC).
Virgin Points App The Virgin Red app (iOS & Android) is the easiest way to track, earn, and redeem Virgin Points. Once you link it with your Flying Club account, you’ll see your full balance in one place, plus shopping offers and experiences.
How much is 50,000 Virgin Points worth? If redeemed for flights, 50,000 Virgin Points can cover a return economy trip from London to New York, or a one-way Upper Class seat on certain routes. In cash terms, that’s roughly £500–£750 / $500–$750 in travel value, depending on taxes, fees, and route.
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Guide to Virgin Red: How to Earn and Spend Virgin Points Like a Pro.
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