- Mr Plane Guy
- 1 day ago
- 14 min read
The Plane Guide to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club
Earn, Spend & Maximise Virgin Points Like a Pro
By Mr Plane Guy | Plane Travel News & Reviews With Altitude
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support Mr Plane Guy and allows me to continue producing honest airline reviews, airport lounge guides and travel tips.
Looking for the ultimate guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?
If you've been searching for Virgin Flying Club, you've come to the right place.
Officially called Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, it's one of the UK's best airline loyalty programmes, helping members earn Virgin Points through flights, everyday spending and travel partners before redeeming them for reward flights, upgrades and unforgettable trips.
After spending 15 years working for Virgin Atlantic, I've seen the airline from both sides of the cabin door. Since leaving, I've continued flying with Virgin Atlantic, reviewing its cabins, airport lounges and loyalty programme here on Mr Plane Guy.
Over the years I've used Flying Club to upgrade flights, save money on premium travel and book reward flights that would otherwise have cost hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds. Many people still search for "Virgin Atlantic air miles", but Virgin Atlantic now uses Virgin Points as its loyalty currency through Flying Club.
One of my favourite redemptions was flying from London Heathrow Terminal 3 to New York JFK in Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy aboard the airline's impressive Airbus A350, costing just 11,000 Virgin Points plus taxes for a one-way flight.
For me, that's exactly what Flying Club is all about: turning everyday spending into memorable travel experiences.
Whether you're completely new to Virgin Flying Club or looking to maximise the value of your existing Virgin Points, this guide explains everything you need to know.
Is Virgin Flying Club worth joining?
Yes.
Virgin Flying Club is free to join and one of the UK's best airline loyalty programmes.
You can earn Virgin Points through flights, Tesco Clubcard, Virgin Red, credit cards and partners before redeeming them for reward flights and upgrades.
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club is Virgin Atlantic's free loyalty programme, allowing members to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points whenever they fly Virgin Atlantic, travel with SkyTeam airlines or spend with dozens of travel and retail partners.
Virgin Points can be redeemed for reward flights, cabin upgrades, partner airlines, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages, while Tier Points unlock Red, Silver and Gold membership levels with increasingly valuable travel benefits.
If you fly Virgin Atlantic even once a year, or regularly collect Virgin Points through Tesco Clubcard, Virgin Red or a rewards credit card, joining Flying Club is well worth it.
Want to earn Virgin Red Points on your next trip? Book direct here, Every flight earns points, even Economy Light
In This Plane Guide
In this guide I'll explain:
What Is Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club?
Is Virgin Flying Club Free?
How Do You Join Virgin Flying Club?
How Do Virgin Flying Club Points Work?
Virgin Flying Club Membership Levels Explained
How Do You Earn Virgin Flying Club Points?
What's the Best Way to Spend Virgin Flying Club Points?
Is Virgin Flying Club Better Than British Airways Club?
Frequently Asked Questions
Along the way, I'll also link to my detailed Virgin Atlantic reviews, baggage guides, airport lounge reviews and New York travel guides to help you plan your entire journey.
What Is Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club?
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club is the airline's free frequent flyer programme.
Members earn Virgin Points whenever they fly Virgin Atlantic, travel with eligible partner airlines or spend with participating travel, shopping and financial partners.
Those Virgin Points can then be redeemed for:
Reward flights
Cabin upgrades
Partner airline flights
Virgin Hotels
Virgin Voyages
Selected travel experiences
Alongside Virgin Points, you'll also earn Tier Points.
Tier Points determine your Flying Club membership level, allowing you to progress through Red, Silver and Gold while unlocking benefits such as priority check-in, extra baggage allowances, bonus Virgin Points and access to Virgin Atlantic's famous Clubhouses.
Since joining the SkyTeam Alliance, Flying Club has become even more valuable, allowing members to earn and redeem points across airlines including Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air and many others.
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 programme) 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.
Is Virgin Flying Club Free?
Yes.
Virgin Flying Club is completely free to join, and I'd recommend creating an account before booking your very first Virgin Atlantic flight.
Once you've joined, you'll receive your own Flying Club membership number, allowing you to earn Virgin Points whenever you:
Fly Virgin Atlantic
Travel with eligible SkyTeam airlines
Shop through Virgin Red
Convert Tesco Clubcard points
Transfer American Express Membership Rewards
Stay with hotel partners
Hire cars through participating companies
Plane Tip: Always add your Flying Club number when booking your flight. Although it's possible to claim missing Virgin Points afterwards, it's much easier if they're credited automatically.
I’ve turned my Tesco grocery runs into transatlantic flights more than once. You can read my Tesco tips in more detail on 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.
How Is Virgin Flying Club Different from Virgin Red?
This is probably one of the most common questions I receive.
The answer is actually very simple.
Virgin Flying Club is Virgin Atlantic's airline loyalty programme.
Virgin Red is Virgin Group's wider rewards programme, bringing together offers and rewards from across the Virgin family of brands.
The good news is that both programmes use the same rewards currency, Virgin Points.
Once you've linked your accounts, every Virgin Point you earn appears in one balance, making it much easier to save towards flights and upgrades.
You can earn Virgin Points through:
Virgin Atlantic flights
SkyTeam partner airlines
Tesco Clubcard
Virgin Red
American Express Membership Rewards
Virgin Atlantic credit cards
Hotel stays
Car hire
Shopping promotions
If you haven't already, I'd recommend linking your Flying Club and Virgin Red accounts as soon as possible.
Plane Related guide: The Plane Guide to Virgin Red: How to Earn & Spend Virgin Points.
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 welcome bonus if you meet spend targets).
If you’re serious about Virgin Points, a credit card can dramatically accelerate your earning. They supercharge your points earning, and pairing them with Tesco or transfer partners creates a points snowball effect.
👉 Use my Virgin Atlantic Reward+ referral code at checkout:
dtkJLUuPjzWyCqbQUtJNTw==
This will unlock your extra 5,000 bonus Virgin Points, on top of the standard welcome offer.
How Do Virgin Flying Club Points Work?
One of the biggest misconceptions about Virgin Flying Club is that Virgin Points and Tier Points are the same thing. They're actually used for completely different purposes.
Virgin Points are your reward currency.
You'll earn them through flights, shopping, hotels, Virgin Red and partner offers before redeeming them. The more Virgin Points you collect, the more travel options become available.
Virgin Atlantic Tier Points
Tier Points can't be spent. Instead, they're used to measure your loyalty to Virgin Atlantic.
The more Tier Points you earn during your membership year, the higher your Flying Club membership level becomes.
Think of it like this:
Virgin Points help you book flights. Tier Points help improve every flight you take.
Virgin Flying Club Membership Levels Explained
Every member begins at Red.
As you collect Tier Points, you'll progress through Flying Club and unlock increasingly valuable travel benefits.
Membership | Tier Points | Key Benefits |
Red | Free to join | Earn and spend Virgin Points |
Silver | 400 | 30% bonus Virgin Points, extra baggage, SkyTeam Elite |
Gold | 1,000 | 60% bonus Virgin Points, Clubhouse access, SkyTeam Elite Plus |
For occasional travellers, Red offers plenty of value.
If you regularly travel with Virgin Atlantic or SkyTeam airlines, Silver and Gold can significantly improve your airport experience. Most leisure travellers will remain Red, and that's absolutely fine.
How Do You Earn Virgin Flying Club Points?
One of the biggest strengths of Virgin Flying Club is that you don't actually need to be on an aircraft to earn Virgin Points.
In fact, many of the Virgin Points I earn each year come from everyday spending rather than flying.
You can earn Virgin Points through:
Flying Virgin Atlantic
Flying Delta, Air France, KLM and other SkyTeam airlines
Virgin Red
Tesco Clubcard
American Express Membership Rewards
Virgin Atlantic credit cards
Hotel stays
Car hire
Virgin Atlantic Holidays
Shopping promotions
For many UK travellers, combining everyday spending with occasional flights is enough to build a healthy Virgin Points balance surprisingly quickly.
Plane Tip: Always check Virgin Red before making an online purchase. You might already be buying from a retailer that earns Virgin Points.
Earn Virgin Flying Club Points by Flying Virgin Atlantic
Flying with Virgin Atlantic remains one of the quickest ways to build your Virgin Points balance.
One of my favourite Flying Club redemptions was travelling from London Heathrow Terminal 3 to New York JFK in Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy aboard the airline's Airbus A350.
The one-way flight cost me just 11,000 Virgin Points plus taxes, representing fantastic value for one of the airline's newest aircraft and, in my opinion, one of the best Premium Economy products flying across the Atlantic.
If you're planning a similar trip, you might also find these guides useful:
Together, they'll help you plan everything from choosing the right cabin and lounge to packing correctly and making the most of your time in New York.
What's the Best Way to Spend Virgin Flying Club Points?
Earning Virgin Points is the easy part. The real value comes from knowing when to spend them.
Over the years I've redeemed Virgin Points for upgrades, reward flights and premium cabins, and in my experience, using them for flights almost always offers the best value.
Rather than spending points on merchandise or gift cards, I nearly always save mine for flights.
That's where Flying Club really shines.
Can You Upgrade Virgin Atlantic Flights with Virgin Points?
Yes and it's one of my favourite ways to use Flying Club.
If reward seats are available, Virgin Points can be used to upgrade from:
Economy to Premium
Premium to Upper Class
For many travellers, upgrading offers better value than booking a reward flight from scratch, particularly on longer routes such as New York, Los Angeles or Orlando.
If you're travelling overnight, upgrading to Upper Class can completely transform the experience.
Can You Spend Virgin Points on Other Airlines?
Absolutely.
Since Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam Alliance, Flying Club has become far more flexible.
You can redeem Virgin Points on partner airlines including:
Delta Air Lines
Air France
KLM
Korean Air
SAS
Vietnam Airlines
Aeroméxico
China Eastern
Middle East Airlines
This means Flying Club is no longer just useful if you're flying Virgin Atlantic.
It has become a genuinely global loyalty programme.
Is Virgin Flying Club Better Than British Airways Club?
This is probably the question I get asked most.
The honest answer? It depends how you travel.
If you mostly fly from Heathrow to North America, I'd personally choose Flying Club.
Virgin Atlantic's Premium cabin is one of my favourites across the Atlantic, the onboard service is consistently excellent, and I generally find Flying Club simpler to understand than British Airways Club.
British Airways offers a much larger route network, but Virgin Atlantic often provides a more rewarding onboard experience. For UK travellers who collect Tesco Clubcard points, use Virgin Red and occasionally fly Virgin Atlantic, Flying Club is an excellent programme.
My Tips for Getting the Most from Virgin Flying Club
If you're serious about earning free flights, these are the habits I'd recommend.
Join Before You Book
Always create your Flying Club account before purchasing your ticket. You'll avoid having to claim missing points later.
Link Virgin Red Immediately
This is one of the easiest wins.
Linking your accounts means every Virgin Point appears in one place.
Don't Ignore Tesco Clubcard
Many people overlook this.
Converting Tesco Clubcard vouchers into Virgin Points can dramatically increase the value of your shopping.
Watch for Transfer Bonuses
American Express and other rewards programmes occasionally run bonus promotions.
Waiting for one can significantly increase the value of your points.
Redeem for Flights
Personally, I'd avoid spending Virgin Points on merchandise.
Flights and upgrades almost always provide much better value.
Virgin Flying Club FAQs
People Also Ask
Does Virgin Flying Club Cost Anything?
No.
Joining Virgin Flying Club is completely free.
Do Virgin Points Expire?
Virgin Atlantic currently does not expire Virgin Points provided your account remains in accordance with the programme rules. It's still worth checking the latest Flying Club terms from time to time.
Can I Earn Virgin Points Without Flying?
Yes.
You can earn Virgin Points through Virgin Red, Tesco Clubcard, American Express Membership Rewards, hotel partners, shopping promotions, car hire and much more.
Can I Transfer Virgin Points?
Yes.
Virgin Points can be transferred between certain Virgin programmes and partner schemes, although the rules vary depending on the programme.
Is Flying Club Worth Joining?
Without question.
Even if you only fly Virgin Atlantic once each year, joining takes only a few minutes and gives you the opportunity to earn points towards future travel.
How Much Are Virgin Flying Club Points Worth?
There isn't a single fixed value for a Virgin Point.
The value you receive depends entirely on how you choose to redeem them.
Generally speaking, you'll get the best value by using Virgin Points for:
Reward flights
Cabin upgrades
Premium Economy and Upper Class redemptions
Partner airline reward flights
Personally, I aim for around 1p to 2p per Virgin Point, although exceptional redemptions can be worth even more.
The best value often comes from redeeming points on flights you genuinely want to take, rather than chasing the highest theoretical value.
Can I Pay Part Cash and Part Virgin Points?
Yes.
Virgin Atlantic allows you to combine Virgin Points with cash on selected bookings, making reward flights accessible even if you haven't collected enough points for the full fare.
If you're a little short, don't automatically spend your points. Sometimes it's worth waiting until you've earned a few more, particularly if a transfer bonus or shopping promotion is just around the corner.
Can I Buy Virgin Points?
Yes.
Virgin Atlantic allows you to purchase additional Virgin Points throughout the year.
However, I'd rarely recommend buying them at full price.
Plane Tip: Virgin Atlantic regularly runs promotions offering bonus Virgin Points when you buy them. Waiting for one of these sales can significantly reduce the cost of your next reward flight or upgrade.
Can I Upgrade My Flight After Booking?
Absolutely.
One of my favourite uses of Virgin Points is upgrading an existing booking.
If reward availability exists, you can usually upgrade:
Economy to Premium
Premium to Upper Class
For overnight flights, particularly to destinations like New York, Orlando or Los Angeles, I often think this offers better value than booking a reward ticket from scratch.
Can I Use Virgin Points for Companion Tickets?
Yes.
If you hold a qualifying Virgin Atlantic Reward or Reward+ Credit Card, you can unlock companion vouchers or upgrade vouchers after meeting the annual spending target.
These can dramatically reduce the number of Virgin Points needed for two people travelling together.
How Does Virgin Atlantic's Dynamic Reward Pricing Work?
Unlike some airlines that publish fixed reward charts, Virgin Atlantic now uses dynamic reward pricing on many routes.
That means the number of Virgin Points required varies depending on:
Demand
Season
Route
Cabin
Availability
The good news is that if you're flexible with your travel dates, you can often find excellent value.
Plane Tip: I always search around 11–12 months before departure, when reward seats are first released. That's often when you'll find some of the lowest Virgin Points prices.
What's the Fastest Way to Earn Virgin Points?
Honestly?
It's rarely by flying alone.
Most of my Virgin Points come from combining several earning methods.
My favourites are:
Tesco Clubcard
Virgin Red
American Express Membership Rewards
Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards
Shopping promotions
Hotel stays
Flights
Stacking several earning methods together is how your points balance really starts to grow.
Can I Transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic?
Yes.
If you collect American Express Membership Rewards, you can transfer them directly into Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
I do this myself.
Plane Tip: Don't rush. American Express usually runs a transfer bonus once or twice each year. I recently transferred my Membership Rewards during a 30% bonus promotion, receiving thousands of extra Virgin Points completely free.
Can I Earn Virgin Points When Shopping?
Yes and this is one of the easiest ways to boost your balance.
Virgin Red regularly partners with well-known retailers, allowing you to earn points on purchases you'd probably make anyway.
For example, I recently bought some clothes in the H&M sale and earned 11 Virgin Points for every £1 spent.
Virgin also regularly runs offers with brands such as Marks & Spencer, so it's always worth checking the latest offers in the Virgin Red app before making a purchase.
Plane Tip: Before booking train tickets, buying wine, shopping online or even ordering flowers, have a quick look at Virgin Red first. You might be surprised how many extra points you can earn.
What's Virgin Atlantic's High Five Bonus?
Virgin Atlantic recently launched High Five, one of the most interesting loyalty promotions I've seen.
If you've flown Virgin Atlantic in any five separate calendar years between 2021 and 2025, you'll receive:
12,000 Virgin Red Points
10% bonus Virgin Points on future Virgin Atlantic flights (if you're not already Silver or Gold)
Even reward flights count towards qualifying years.
I actually think it's a clever piece of loyalty marketing. If you've already flown in four qualifying years, it gives you a great reason to book another Virgin Atlantic flight and unlock the bonus.
Can I Use Virgin Points for Virgin Holidays?
Yes.
Virgin Points can be used towards selected Virgin Atlantic Holidays bookings, allowing you to reduce the overall cost of your holiday.
Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club remains one of my favourite airline loyalty programmes.
It's free to join, straightforward to understand and, with a little planning, can unlock some fantastic value.
Whether you're saving for your first reward flight, hoping to upgrade to Premium or Upper Class, or simply looking to make your travel budget stretch further, Flying Club has helped me travel better for years. Hopefully it'll do the same for you.
If you're planning a Virgin Atlantic trip, I'd also recommend exploring some of my other guides:
Flying Virgin Atlantic:
Want Cheap Virgin Atlantic Flight Deals?
I don’t just review the food, I track the fares too.
If you want mistake fares, flash sales and long-haul Virgin Atlantic deals from the UK delivered to your inbox for £1, this is the tool I personally use.
My aim with Mr Plane Guy is simple: help you travel better, spend less and make every journey a little more rewarding.
The Plane Guide to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club
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