Redeem Virgin Points on Trains, Spend 5000, Get 1000 Back – Smart or Wasteful?

Get the party hats out – the modern railway is turning 200 and Virgin is marking the occasion with a special offer. It’s a nod to the rail romantics, the daily commuters and the points-hungry adventurers who like to stretch their Virgin Points in different ways to which we would normally advocate.

Until 9 October, when you redeem Virgin Points on Trains, by spending 5000, you'll get 1000 back. It’s a neat way to give yourself a small boost while saving on rail travel.

Until 9 October, use 5,000 Virgin Points or more with Virgin Trains Ticketing and you’ll get 1,000 points back

But before you redeem, it’s worth looking at what you’re actually getting for your points. This offer can make sense for some travellers, but for many it’s not the highest-value redemption.

How the Offer Works

Virgin Trains Ticketing lets you pay with cash, Virgin Points, or a mixture of both. Here’s the process in plain English:

• Choose your train journey on the Virgin Trains Ticketing platform.

• At checkout, decide how many Virgin Points you’d like to use. Points can cut the cost of your ticket or even cover it entirely.

• If you use at least 5,000 points on a single booking before 9 October, Virgin will return 1,000 points to your account as a celebratory bonus.

• You also earn Virgin Points on any cash portion you pay, so you’re not losing out completely if you part-pay with points.

This “book with points, get points back” deal is simple and immediate, and for commuters it can feel like a quick win.

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A Real-Life Example

Let’s make it concrete. Suppose you’re planning a return journey from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, departing Tuesday 18 November and returning Friday 22 November.

• The standard cash fare for this journey is currently £68.10.

• Or, you could redeem 10,000 Virgin Points to take £50 off the price.

Even with the 1,000-point rebate for spending 5,000+ points, you’re still parting with 9,000 points for a £50 saving. That works out at about 0.55p per point – well below the potential value of Virgin Points elsewhere.

For context, you can book an economy flight to the Maldives from just 12,000 Virgin Points. Suddenly, trading 10,000 points for a modest train discount doesn’t feel quite so celebratory.

The Catch: Points Value

This is where many members get tripped up. Not all redemptions are created equal. Some (like long-haul flights, premium cabin upgrades or one-off experiences) can deliver several pence per point in value. Others (like low-cost rail tickets) often deliver a fraction of a penny per point.

The 1,000-point rebate sweetens the deal a little, but it doesn’t change the basic maths. If your goal is to squeeze every drop of value from your Virgin Points, using them on train tickets is not going to be the smartest move.

If your goal is to squeeze every drop of value from your Virgin Points, this is not going to be the smartest move.

When It Could Still Make Sense

That doesn’t mean the offer is useless. It could be a handy option if:

• You’re a regular commuter and want to reduce out-of-pocket costs without dipping into cash.

• You’ve built up a small points balance that isn’t enough for a flight, and don't wish to save further.

• You simply prefer the convenience of spending points rather than paying cash for everyday travel.

For these scenarios, the 1,000-point rebate might be a sensible option. You’re spending points you might not otherwise use and still getting some of them back.

Enjoying this weeks Thursday Travel Tips? Here are some of our other recent Virgin Tips!

• How to Turn Experiences into Virgin Points with Virgin Experience Days - Thursday Travel Tips

• Earn 2000 Virgin Red Points Buying a Railcard Plus Double Points on all Train Tickets - Thursday Travel Tips

• Earn 2000 Virgin Points When You Refer a Friend (They Get Them Too!) - Thursday Travel Tips

• Earn 3500 Virgin Points with Virgin Money Travel Insurance. Protect Your Trips and Get Rewarded: Thursday Travel Tips

Redeem Virgin Points on Trains, Spend 5000, Get 1000 Back: Bottom Line

• Great for: daily commuters, rail fans or anyone already planning to book train tickets and wanting an instant discount.

• Think twice if: you’re saving points for bucket-list flights, premium cabins or unique experiences where you’ll get far more value per point.

  
  

Virgin’s 200th-birthday railway offer is a fun nod to the history of travel and a nice perk for those who value convenience. But before you click “redeem,” do the maths: 10,000 points for a £50 train discount versus 12,000 points for an economy flight to the Maldives.

Sometimes the best way to celebrate is to keep your points for something bigger.

Helena

Points Well Made is a passion project of Sam and Helena with a loyal following. If you like what we do, and wish to help us continue to create the content you love, please consider buying us a Kofi, or subscribing monthly. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.