Your Ultimate Guide to Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers
- Helena
- Aug 26
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 4
What could possibly be better than an upgrade or flying with a companion? How about being treated with a voucher to do exactly that? Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers are a prized benefit that many frequent flyers seek, allowing you to enjoy upgrades or bring a companion along on your journey, often at a significant points saving.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers, including how they work, how to earn them, how to redeem them, and tips for maximising their value.
What Are Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers?
Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers, otherwise known as the Flying Club Reward Voucher, provides a flexible way to reduce the number of Virgin Points needed for flights or upgrades.
Whether earned via the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card, or through reaching Flying Club Gold status, these vouchers appear in your Flying Club account and can be redeemed on any Virgin Atlantic flight.
What’s New With Flying Club Reward Vouchers?
Virgin Atlantic simplified its rewards by combining previous companion and upgrade vouchers into one versatile Flying Club Reward Voucher.
This means you can redeem your voucher either for an upgrade or a companion reward, depending on your preference.
Redemption is available on any flight, including:
A round trip for one person, or
Two one-way flights on the same booking for yourself and a companion.
The voucher’s points value depends on your Flying Club tier at the time of booking:
Red Members get up to 75,000 points.
Silver and Gold Members get up to 150,000 points.
If your chosen seat costs more points than your voucher’s value, you can top up using your existing Virgin Points or by purchasing more.
Vouchers are valid for 24 months from the date of issue, and you must fly on or before the expiry date.
How to Earn Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers
1. Through Your Virgin Atlantic Credit Card
Either spend £20,000 in a year on the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card to earn one voucher annually.
Or, spend £10,000 in a year on the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card to earn one voucher annually.
Each voucher is automatically credited to your Flying Club account within 30 days of hitting the spend threshold. You can only earn one voucher per membership year, which resets on the anniversary of your card account opening.
2. Through Flying Club Gold Tier Status
Gold members earn vouchers based on their Tier Points:
One voucher upon renewing Gold status.
Two vouchers upon earning 2,000 Tier Points within your membership year.
How to Redeem Your Flying Club Reward Voucher
Redeeming for Upgrades
You can use your voucher to upgrade an existing booking (which could have been paid with points or money) to a higher cabin:
Economy → Premium
Premium → Upper Class
Upgrades can apply to a round trip for one person, or two one-way flights for you and a companion.
If your original booking is a reward seat, you’ll pay:
The price in points of the higher cabin minus the price in points of your original seat
Plus, any difference in taxes and fees between your original and new cabin you’re travelling in.
If your original booking was paid for fully in money or using Points Plus Money, you’ll pay:
The price in points of your new higher cabin minus the maximum Saver reward seat price for the cabin you’re upgrading from.
Plus, any difference in taxes, fees and charges between your original and new cabin you’re travelling in.
The amount you’ll pay in money will include a deduction of the carrier surcharge at the maximum Saver reward seat rate for the cabin you’re upgrading from.
Some key things to note, "Economy Light" bookings are excluded and cannot be upgraded. Also, similarly to an Avios redemption, you will have to pay the taxes and fees that apply to your booked cabin.
Redeeming for Companion Tickets
Buy a ticket (with points or cash) and use your voucher to add a companion on the same booking.
Taxes and fees apply.
Booking Process
You cannot redeem vouchers online. We know, it's ridiculous and a really poorly thought out part of the redemption process but there is a reason for this. The vouchers, as explained earlier, are earned through the Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards. Essentially the voucher is stored on the Virgin Money system, which the Virgin Atlantic call centre then have to log into for them to redeem on your behalf.
It's not often we praise British Airways for their IT Systems however on this occasion they really do get it right with the automatic depositing of the American Express Companion Vouchers and the Barclays Cabin Upgrade Voucher into your account so that you can book easily online at the click of a button.
You have to contact the Virgin Atlantic Customer Centre on 0344 412 2414 to redeem your voucher.
Important Terms and Conditions
Voucher Validity
Vouchers earned on or after 30th October 2024 are valid for 24 months.
You must have flown the outbound flight by the expiry date.
Vouchers earned before 30th October have been converted automatically to the new Flying Club Reward Voucher and retain their original expiry dates.
Voucher Value & Tier Changes
Your voucher’s value is based on your Flying Club tier at the time of redemption, not when it was earned.
Red members: vouchers are worth up to 75,000 points.
Silver and Gold members: vouchers are worth up to 150,000 points.
Booking Value vs Voucher Value
If your booking requires more points than your voucher is worth, you can pay the difference using Virgin Points.
If your booking for a round trip, or two one-way bookings requires fewer points, the voucher will still be fully redeemed - leftover points cannot be saved or reused.
A caveat to this is a story from a friend of ours who recently had an issue with their Virgin Atlantic voucher. They wanted to upgrade two flights one way, but on separate bookings. The member of staff at Virgin initially said that they wouldn't let him redeem part of the voucher on one flight, and then save the rest of the value on another. This was incorrect. After speaking to another member of staff, they confirmed that you absolutely can do this so never allow the value of the points to go to waste!
Use on Multiple Flights
One voucher can be used for either a round trip for one person or a one way trip for two people on the same booking. We have previously saved up two vouchers so that we can upgrade on both legs of a holiday for two people.
Changes and Cancellations
Should you need to make any changes or cancellations, contact the Customer Centre to do so.
Cancellation fees apply of £70 for flights originating in the UK, or $100 (or local currency equivalent) for flights originating outside the UK.
It is also important to note that if your tier status changes after booking, the new status will apply if you rebook.
An extremely useful tip here: always, and I mean always, ask for the voucher value in points as a refund and not the voucher back. This means you will get either 75,000 or 150,000 points added to your account which could end up helping you more when you rebook due to the dynamic pricing model that Virgin Atlantic utilise.
Gifting Vouchers
Silver and Gold members can gift vouchers to other Flying Club members.
The recipient’s tier at redemption determines the voucher’s value.
You don’t need to be travelling with the recipient.
To gift, contact Customer Centre on 0344 412 2414.
If you have multiple vouchers, the earliest expiry voucher will be gifted by default; you can request a different voucher.
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Partner Airlines
Vouchers are only valid on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights booked directly with the airline. The vouchers cannot be used on Virgin Atlantic partner airlines.
Tips for Maximising Your Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers
Book Early: Reward seats and upgrades can be limited (I'm looking at you Maldives Premium). Flights go live 331 days before the date of travel.
Stay Flexible: If possible, travel on off-peak dates to increase your chances of a good fare. We appreciate that this might not always be possible but if it is possible to be flexible with your dates you could be quids in regarding the amount saved.
Combine Points and Vouchers: Use your vouchers alongside Virgin Points to access better seats or routes.
Monitor Tier Status: If you’re close to Silver or Gold, consider the timing of bookings to maximise voucher value.
Keep Track of Expiry: Use vouchers well within the 24-month validity period to avoid losing them.
Gift Vouchers Strategically: Silver and Gold members can share the benefits by gifting vouchers to friends or family which is a lovely gift option.
Ultimate Guide to Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers: A Summary
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Reward Vouchers are a powerful tool to save points and enjoy premium travel experiences. Whether upgrading yourself or flying with a companion, these vouchers add flexibility and value to your Flying Club membership.
Understanding how to earn, redeem, and manage these vouchers ensures you get the most from your Virgin Atlantic travel. Be aware of expiry dates, redemption rules, and tier-based values to make every journey more rewarding.
For redemption or enquiries, always contact Virgin Atlantic Customer Centre at 0344 412 2414 or log into your Flying Club account to check your voucher balance.
This guide is designed to help you master Virgin Atlantic Reward Vouchers in all their forms, making your next flight more enjoyable and cost-effective. Safe travels!
Helena
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