Virgin Points: the best ways to use them (and how to value each option)

Last checked: 1 November 2026.

The short answer: Virgin Points usually go furthest on reward seats and upgrades on Virgin Atlantic flights, as long as the points price is low compared with the cash fare. Virgin's Points Plus Money gives a fixed 0.55p per point (3,000 points = £16.50 off). That makes a useful floor: if another use works out below 0.55p a point, Points Plus Money is better. Virgin promotes its points as ones that "never expire", so there's no rush to spend them on poor value.

Option 1: reward seats

What Virgin says:

• Any seat, any date. "Every seat onboard, for any date, is available to buy with Virgin Points when flying with Virgin Atlantic."
• Prices vary with demand. "The price varies based on demand, just like money." Quieter flights may need fewer points.
• Saver seats are the lowest-priced reward seats, "starting from only 6,000 points" one way plus taxes, fees and charges (Virgin's example is economy, Heathrow to New York JFK). Look for the red Saver label, or use Virgin's Reward Seat Checker to see them by month.
• You still pay cash for taxes, fees and carrier charges, which are shown before you book.
• Reward flights earn Tier Points, according to Virgin.

About the cash charge: Virgin's page also shows a sample charge for its Saver example. The amount on 1 November differed from the one we recorded on 30 October for the same route and calculation date (15 October 2026), so we haven't quoted it. Always check the live price.

Changes: a change costs £70 per person on flights that start in the UK. For bookings made on or after 5 November 2025, only the sector you change is repriced. If the new seat costs less, Virgin refunds the difference in points, taxes and fees.

Infants on your lap cost 1,000 points in Economy, 2,500 in Premium and 5,000 in Upper Class, one way.

Option 2: upgrades

Virgin says you can "upgrade anytime. Use points to upgrade to Premium or Upper, even if you booked with money", subject to availability and the rules of your booking. Upgrades can be good value when the cash difference between cabins is large. Compare the points cost with what the upgrade would cost in cash.

Option 3: Points Plus Money (the floor)

• You need at least 3,000 points per person, then you can use points in multiples of 3,000 for a £16.50 discount.
• It works on Virgin Atlantic flights or Virgin Atlantic Holidays (UK only).
• Value: £16.50 ÷ 3,000 = 0.55p per point, fixed.

It's not usually the highest-value option, but it's predictable. It's a sensible way to use small or leftover balances on a trip you were booking anyway.

Option 4: partners and other Virgin brands

Virgin lists SkyTeam and partner airlines, Virgin Red rewards, other Virgin companies (Virgin Voyages, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Active) and travel partners (Eurostar, hotels, car hire). Virgin doesn't publish one value per point for these, so work out the pence per point yourself for each one (see below).

Option 5: pool or move points

• Household accounts. Virgin allows up to nine household members who live with you. Points earned through Flying Club after linking go into the household balance, and only the household leader can spend them. Members stay in for at least 12 months. Points earned through Virgin Red don't pool automatically, but linked members can request a transfer (maximum one per month).
• Transfers to another member cost "a flat fee of £10/$15", according to Virgin's household page.

How to compare value: one simple sum

Pence per point = (cash price − cash you still pay with points) ÷ points used × 100

Then compare the result with the 0.55p Points Plus Money floor.

Worked example 1 (the floor): 6,000 points used with Points Plus Money take £33.00 off a Virgin booking (2 × £16.50). That's 0.55p per point.

Worked example 2 (a reward seat, using made-up cash prices): suppose a one-way economy flight costs £400 in cash. The same flight as a Saver reward seat costs 6,000 points plus £150 in charges. (The £400 and £150 are illustrations only, not Virgin's prices.) You save £250 for 6,000 points, which is 4.2p per point. That's well above the floor. If the same seat cost 30,000 points, it would be 0.83p per point. That's still above the floor, but far less impressive.

Our redemption value guide and calculator do this sum for you.

Tips for UK members

1. Be flexible on dates. Prices follow demand, so the same route can cost very different amounts of points.

2. Check Saver seats first with the Reward Seat Checker.

3. Don't use points below 0.55p. Use Points Plus Money instead.

4. Top up from partners carefully. Virgin lists conversions such as Tesco Clubcard (1 Clubcard point = 2 Virgin Points) and Amex Membership Rewards (1:1). Conversions can't be reversed. See Tesco Clubcard to Virgin Points.

5. There's no expiry pressure. Points "never expire", according to Virgin, but schemes can change their pricing. Our Virgin Atlantic Flying Club profile tracks changes, and you can sign up for RewardsSorted's free email alerts.

Never share your Flying Club login details with anyone. We'll never ask for them.

FAQ

What's the cheapest Virgin reward seat? Virgin advertises Saver reward seats "from only 6,000 points" one way, plus taxes, fees and charges. Availability and prices vary.

How much is a Virgin Point worth? There's no single value. Points Plus Money fixes it at 0.55p (3,000 points = £16.50). Reward seats and upgrades can be worth more or less, depending on the cash price.

Can I upgrade a cash ticket with Virgin Points? Yes. Virgin says you can upgrade to Premium or Upper with points even if you paid cash, subject to availability and your booking's rules.

Do Virgin Points expire? Virgin promotes "points that never expire".

How much does it cost to change a reward booking? £70 per person for flights starting in the UK, plus any difference in points, taxes, fees and charges.

Sources and last checked

All checked on 1 November 2026:

• Virgin Atlantic, Ways to spend points (Points Plus Money; upgrades; transfers): https://www.virginatlantic.com/flying-club/spend-points
• Virgin Atlantic, Reward seats (Saver from 6,000 points; change fees; infants; Tier Points): https://www.virginatlantic.com/flying-club/spend-points/reward-seats
• Virgin Atlantic, Ways to earn points ("points that never expire"; partner conversion rates): https://www.virginatlantic.com/flying-club/earn-points
• Virgin Atlantic, Household accounts (nine members; leader spends; £10 transfer fee): https://www.virginatlantic.com/flying-club/household-accounts

RewardsSorted is independent and has no commercial relationship with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Red. Information only, not financial advice.