- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
How I Turned My £34 Worth of Tesco Clubcard Points into a Flight from London to New York
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I turned Clubcard Points into a Premium Economy Virgin Atlantic Flight from London to New York (Thanks to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club!) Here is the secret to turning everyday Tesco Clubcard points into a Premium Economy flight from London to New York without spending a fortune!
If you’d told me a few months ago that my weekly Tesco shop and maybe a cheeky few tins of beans here and there, could help me book a Premium Economy flight to New York, I probably would have laughed. But here I am, with a confirmed seat on Virgin Atlantic’s London to JFK flight thanks to the power of Tesco Clubcard points, the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and a very generous 5,000 Virgin Points bonus that landed in my account at just the right time.
Want to know how I did it? Pull up a chair, because this is the ultimate insider hack for turning everyday supermarket points into serious travel magic.
Tesco Clubcard Points: The Travel Secret You Didn’t Know You Had
We all collect Tesco Clubcard points when we shop, but if you’re like most people, you probably redeem them for supermarket vouchers or random offers you never quite use.
Here’s the catch: you can convert Tesco Clubcard points into Virgin Points for the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a brilliant rate.
£1.50 in Tesco Clubcard vouchers = 300 Virgin Points
So my £34 worth of Clubcard vouchers turned into 6,900 Virgin Points
That was enough to nearly book me a one-way Economy Classic flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK, which costs 6,000 Virgin Points + £215 taxes.
The Bonus 5,000 Virgin Points That Took Me from Economy to Premium Economy
But then Virgin Atlantic and Tesco threw a little party.
To celebrate Tesco Clubcard’s 30th birthday, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offered a 5,000 Virgin Points bonus when you signed up to auto-exchange your Tesco Clubcard points into Virgin Points before 23:59 BST on 20 July 2025.
What’s “auto-exchange”? It’s a feature that lets you automatically convert your Tesco Clubcard points into Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points each time you collect them, no manual transfers needed!
I jumped on that faster than you can say “free upgrade,” and those 5,000 points pushed me to 11,900 Virgin Points, just enough to book a Premium Economy seat instead of Economy!
How to Get 5,000 Bonus Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points by Activating Tesco Clubcard Auto-Convert (Now–20th July 2025)
Want to boost your Virgin Points balance? Here’s how to sign up for Tesco Clubcard auto-convert and get 5,000 bonus Virgin Points with the current promotion running until 20th July 2025:
Here’s how to set it up and what you need to know:
Visit the Tesco Clubcard website and sign in to your account.
Click on ‘Clubcard Account’, then select ‘Clubcard Management’ from the menu.
Choose ‘Voucher Schemes’ and tick the “Virgin Points” box to enable auto-conversion of your Clubcard points into Virgin Points.
Enter your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club number or your Virgin Red ID to link your accounts.
To qualify for the 5,000 bonus points:
Sign up for the first time now until 20th July 2025 to automatically convert your Tesco Clubcard points into Virgin Points.
Stay signed up for auto-conversion until at least 20th July 2025.
Have at least 250 Tesco Clubcard points in your account by 20th July 2025 or have made a points transfer request between now and 20th July 2025.
You must not have previously signed up for auto-conversion to Virgin Points, either personally or within your Clubcard household.
If you meet these criteria, 5,000 bonus Virgin Points will be added to your Flying Club account by 17th August 2025.
For full details and official terms, check out Tesco’s complete rules here.
Or Join Virgin Red and Boost Your Points with My Bonus Link
You can also join the broader Virgin Red rewards program to earn, spend, and combine Virgin Points across Virgin Atlantic and many partner brands.
If you want a head start, sign up with my affiliate link and get a 1,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus!
Link your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to Virgin Red to pool your points for quicker upgrades and reward flights.
Set up auto-exchange to turn your Tesco Clubcard points into Virgin Points by 20 July and run the chance to win 1 million Virgin Points. Yaaaasss. 1 MILLION.
*Terms apply.
Booking My Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy Flight
Here’s what I’ve booked for my upcoming trip in September:
Flight: Virgin Atlantic VS153, London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK
Cabin: Premium Economy
Points: 11,900 Virgin Points
Taxes Paid: £370
I haven’t flown yet, but I’m already excited. Sure, £370 taxes isn’t pocket change, but considering a Premium Economy ticket one-way can easily be £900+, I’d say that’s a steal.
What Makes Virgin Premium Economy Worth It?
Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy is the perfect balance between comfort and value, offering:
38” seat pitch with wider seats for more legroom
Premium dining with real cutlery
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks included
Priority check-in and boarding
Extra baggage allowance
All of this makes the 7-hour flight across the Atlantic feel a little less like a journey and more like the start of an adventure.
Where I’ll Stay in NYC: Arlo Hotel Soho
For my New York stay, I’m booking the Arlo Hotel Soho a stylish, boutique spot right in the heart of Soho with great food, nightlife, and easy access to Manhattan’s iconic sights.
If you want to check it out (and help support this blog at no extra cost), here’s my affiliate link:
I always start with Trivago – it compares prices across all the major booking sites, so you can find the best deal in seconds. Whether you're after a boutique hideaway or just somewhere clean to crash near the airport, it's a no-brainer. Give it a try and thank me later when you've saved enough for extra airport lounge snacks.
How Many Tins of Beans Do You Need to Buy to Get an Upper Class Ticket to New York?
Alright, now for the fun part: How much Tesco shopping would you have to do if you wanted to book the ultimate Upper Class seat on Virgin Atlantic from London to New York?
Here’s the breakdown:
Upper Class costs: 47,500 Virgin Points + £672 taxes (one-way)
Tesco Clubcard points convert at 1 Clubcard point = 2 Virgin Points
Tesco awards 1 Clubcard point per £1 spent on shopping
So:
47,500 Virgin Points ÷ 2 = 23,750 Tesco Clubcard points
To earn 23,750 Clubcard points, you’d need to spend roughly £23,750 at Tesco
Now, assuming a tin of beans costs £0.50:
£23,750 ÷ £0.50 per tin = 47,500 tins of beans
That’s right: you’d have to buy 47,500 tins of beans to earn enough points for an Upper Class flight to NYC. A serious bean binge.
Other Popular Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Routes and Points Required
Route | Economy Classic | Premium Economy | Upper Class |
London – New York | 6,000 + £215 | 16,000 + £430 | 47,500 + £672 |
London – Los Angeles | 10,000 + £245 | 22,000 + £440 | 67,500 + £680 |
London – Barbados | 10,000 + £220 | 22,000 + £390 | 57,500 + £670 |
Manchester – Orlando | 8,000 + £200 | 18,000 + £370 | 52,500 + £650 |
Top Tip: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge for Stunning Views
No trip to New York is complete without walking across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Start from Manhattan and take in breathtaking skyline views as you stroll toward Brooklyn. It’s especially magical at sunset, when the city lights start to sparkle and the atmosphere is just unforgettable.
Final Boarding Call
From grocery runs to globe-trotting, your Tesco Clubcard points could be the hidden ticket to your next adventure. Thanks to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and some savvy timing with bonus points, I’ve got a premium seat to New York on the horizon for what’s basically pocket change.
So next time you’re stocking up on tins of beans or those irresistible Tesco bakery treats, remember: your points might just be saving you a seat on a plane.
Happy flying and I’ll see you in NYC!
Lounge Access Before You Fly
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Things to do in New York
When you land in New York, don’t miss out on the amazing experiences the city has to offer. I always use GetYourGuide to book activities, it’s super well organised, offers tons of choices at great prices, and their app makes planning on the go a breeze.
Ready to explore NYC like a pro? Book your tours and tickets with GetYourGuide today!
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 How I Turned My £34 Worth of Tesco Clubcard Points into a Flight from London to New York.