Is the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard Credit Card Right for You?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard credit card, offered by Virgin Money, is a standout option in the UK loyalty credit card market. This review explores its benefits, drawbacks, and overall value proposition.

Key Features

• Annual Fee: £160, not refundable pro-rata upon cancellation.
• Interest Rates: Representative APR of 69.7% variable, including the annual fee; 26.9% variable APR on purchases.
• Reward Scheme: Earn 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 spent, with double miles on Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Atlantic Holidays bookings.

Sign-up Bonus

• Bonus Points: Receive 15,000 Virgin Points after your first purchase, with no spending target.

Spending Targets and Vouchers

• Annual Bonus: Spend £10,000 in a membership year to receive a choice of a 2-4-1 voucher, a return upgrade, or Virgin Clubhouse lounge passes (for Silver or Gold status members).

Card Usage and Benefits

• Applicability: Best suited for regular Virgin Atlantic flyers.
• Travel Benefits: Notably, Virgin Atlantic vouchers can be used on cash tickets, subject to certain conditions.
• Card Management: Account management via Virgin Money app or paper statements only; no web-based management.
• Additional Benefits: 0% interest on balance transfers for six months (3% fee).

Points Value and Usage

• Point Worth: Virgin Points can be valued at approximately 0.75p – 1p each, with flexible transfer options to Hilton Honors and IHG One Rewards.
• Redemption: Points can be used for flight bookings, upgrades, and more, with a variety of partner airlines.

Cashback Comparison

• Reward vs. Cashback: At 1.5 points per £1, the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ card outperforms most Mastercard or Visa cashback cards in the UK market.

SkyTeam Alliance

• Added Value: As of March 2023, Virgin Atlantic’s inclusion in the SkyTeam alliance opens up additional redemption options on various airlines.

Conclusion

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard is a top contender in the airline or hotel credit card category, rivaled mainly by the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard. Its generous sign-up bonus, high point-earning rate, and added SkyTeam alliance benefits make it a compelling choice, especially for frequent flyers of Virgin Atlantic.