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Why We Like the New Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards
The Virgin Atlantic credit card programme, managed by Virgin Money, remains a standout choice for travel enthusiasts in 2026. As some of the highest-earning rewards cards in the UK market, the Reward and Reward+ Mastercards allow flyers to accumulate Virgin Points rapidly on every pound spent.
Simplicity and Accepted Everywhere
The programme is managed by Virgin Money and offers excellent flexibility because it uses the widely accepted Mastercard network. Unlike traditional travel cards that may face acceptance issues, these Mastercards can be used at almost any retailer in the UK or abroad, making it easier than ever to earn points on your daily commute, grocery shop, or utility bills.
You can choose between a free Virgin Atlantic Rewards card and a £160/year Virgin Atlantic Rewards+ card. The paid card earns Flying Club miles at 2X the rate of the free card, plus you earn the Premium upgrade or Companion ticket (or lounge access) with half the spending.
Virgin Atlantic Rewards Credit Cards: How do the Rewards Compare?
When choosing between the two cards, it comes down to your annual spend and how quickly you want to earn. The free Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card earns 0.75 Virgin Points for every £1 spent (increasing to 1.5 points on Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays spend). For more frequent flyers, the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card (£160 annual fee) doubles those rates, offering a massive 1.5 points per £1 on general spending and 3 points per £1 on Virgin purchases.
| Earning Flying Club Rewards | Virgin Atlantic Rewards | Virgin Atlantic Rewards+ |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday Spending | 0.75 mile/£1 | 1.5 miles/£1 |
| Virgin Atlantic/Virgin Holidays Spending | 1.5 miles/£1 | 3 miles/£1 |
Depending on how you redeem your miles, you can achieve rewards rates on general spending around 0.75% on the free card and 1.5% on the paid card, assuming a value of £0.01 per Flying Club mile.
| Estimated Rewards Rates | Virgin Flights and Holidays Spend (via Contact Centres and online only) | Other General Spending |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Rewards+ | 3% | 1.5% |
| Virgin Rewards | 1.5% | 0.75% |
Drawbacks to the Virgin Atlantic Rewards Scheme
The biggest drawback to the new cards is the higher annual fee on the paid card, which has risen from £140 per year to £160 per year. Despite this, big spenders will still find more potential value on the Virgin Atlantic Rewards+ card than practically any other rewards card in the UK.
In addition to earning miles on spending, cardholders can earn a Virgin Atlantic Reward each year if you spend enough on your card (£10,000 on the paid card and £20,000 on the free card). Depending on your membership tier at the time you redeem, a Virgin Atlantic Reward can be redeemed for:
- an upgrade
- a Companion Voucher
- lounge access
This additional reward takes spending to earn, and if you're not going to hit the target than that paid card, especially, becomes less attractive.
For more information on the newly re-launched cards, please see our Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Cards Review.