Virgin Red is the umbrella loyalty program that brings together Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club), Virgin Hotels, Virgin Voyages, and other Virgin-related companies. They have just announced the introduction of the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard in the United States. This new credit card, launched in partnership with Synchrony and Mastercard, is designed to reward Virgin-centered spending. With a great sign-up bonus and the possibility to earn SkyTeam Elite status, Flying Club enthusiast should seriously consider getting this card to maximize their points value!

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Virgin Red Mastercard. (US only)

Virgin Points vs. Flying Club Points: What’s the difference?

Virgin Points and Flying Club points are essentially the same thing. In the past, Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program was called Flying Club, and the points earned were Flying Club points. However, Virgin has unified its various rewards programs under the umbrella of Virgin Red, and the currency across these programs is now called Virgin Points.

While Flying Club still exists as Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program, it is integrated into the larger Virgin Red rewards ecosystem.

Points are interchangeable: Virgin Points earned through Flying Club activities (like flying or using a Virgin Atlantic credit card) can be used across the Virgin Group, including for flights, holidays, experiences, and more.

Combined balance: You can see your total Virgin Points balance (earned from Flying Club and other Virgin Red activities) in one place, usually through the Virgin Red app or website.

Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard: Key Features

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard comes with a strong sign-up offer of 40,000 Virgin Points after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. It’s also atractive that the card rewards up to 50 Tier Points per month for spending, which can be a straightforward way to achieve SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status.

The card’s earning structure is centered to reward spending with Virgin companies and beyond:

  • 3x Virgin Points per $1 spent with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Voyages.
  • 2x Virgin Points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, select streaming services, and EV charging.
  • 1x Virgin Point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

If you often fly with Virgin Atlantic, these earning rates make the card particularly attractive.

Virgin Red Mastercard. (US only)

Exclusive Perks

  • Tier Points for Elite Status: Cardholders can earn 25 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Tier Points for every $2,500 spent, up to 50 Tier Points per month. This feature makes it easier to achieve or maintain elite status with Virgin Atlantic, with Silver status requiring 400 Tier Points and Gold status 1,000 Tier Points. With 400 Tier Points, members earn Silver status (SkyTeam Elite) and with 1000 Tier Points to reach Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus).
  • Annual Bonuses: Every year, cardholders receive a 5,000-point anniversary bonus upon renewal, and they can also take advantage of a third night free after booking two consecutive nights at participating Virgin Hotels.
  • High-Spend Perks: Those who spend $15,000 in a year can select one personal perk, while spending $30,000 or more allows them to choose two. Options include:
    • A companion seat or cabin upgrade voucher with Virgin Atlantic.
    • A free night stay or suite upgrade at Virgin Hotels.
    • A $300 bar tab or Blue Extras package with Virgin Voyages, including perks like laundry service and an exclusive cocktail party.
  • Authorized User Bonus: Adding an authorized user earns 2,500 Virgin Points, up to four times, further boosting the earning potential.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Enjoy your trips abroad without worrying about extra fees on foreign purchases.
  • World Elite Mastercard Benefits: Cardholders have access to World Elite Mastercard perks, such as ID Theft Protection, Zero Liability Protection, and exclusive discounts with a range of partners.

Virgin Red Mastercard. (US only)

Join The Waitlist

AwardFares is not an affiliate nor a partner of this card. You can join the waitlist for the Virgin Red Mastercard here.

How To Spend Virgin Points On Flights

First you will need to transfer Virgin Points to Flying Club. Then, you can search for Flying Club reward flights.

Search for Flying Club flights

  1. Go to AwardFares.
  2. Under Frequent Flyer Program, choose Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
  3. Tap on Airline and select Virgin Atlantic only.
  4. Under Departure city, select an origin airport, e.g., London (LHR).
  5. Similarly, enter a Destination, e.g., New York (JFK)
  6. Choose a date, or use the Timeline view to explore flights for different dates.

That’s it! AwardFares will show you the available seats/flights on the list below.

Easily search for Virgin Atlantic Discounted Rewards.

Transfer Virgin Points to Flying Club

You can easily link your Flying Club and Virgin Red accounts and transfer points between them at a 1:1 ratio. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Link Accounts
    • Log in to your Virgin Red account.
    • Go to the ‘Account’ section.
    • Find the ‘Link accounts’ section and add your Flying Club number.
  2. Transfer Points
    • Once your accounts are linked, you’ll be able to see your combined points balance in both your Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts.
    • To transfer points, log in to either your Virgin Red or Flying Club account.
    • Navigate to the section for managing points and select the option to transfer points.
    • Specify the number of points you want to transfer and confirm the transaction.

The minimum number of points you can transfer at one time is 1,000. Transfers are usually instant, but they can sometimes take up to 24 hours to complete. Once you transfer points from Virgin Red to Flying Club, you cannot transfer them back.

Become a Virgin Red Pro

Try AwardFares for free and discover how to search for the best Flying Club reward flights. With our Gold and Diamond tiers, you can access premium features such as unlimited daily searches, alerts, seat maps, flight schedules, and more!

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