Virgin Atlantic exclusive: Guaranteed award seats, Gold members book any seat for 2x points
Some loyalty programs have come under increased scrutiny recently for reducing the amount of rewards seats made available to members, including the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
There are some positive moves, however.
For example, with the new British Airways Companion Vouchers, extra award availability has now opened up when using the vouchers and there are certain discounted business class cash fares available.
We can now exclusively reveal that Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club has added two significant new benefits.
1. A guaranteed minimum number of award seats on all flights
The first new benefit is that a minimum of 12 award seats will be initially available on every Virgin Atlantic-operated flight as soon as the flight is put on sale. These minimum twelve seats will be available as:
- Two seats in Upper Class
- Two seats in Premium
- Eight seats in Economy
There are no blackout dates for this minimum seat guarantee, meaning those Flying Club members booking ahead will have more options for school holidays and Christmas in 2023.
This does not mean there will always be 12 seats available at all times for every flight, but only when the flights are loaded 331 days in advance. Once Flying Club members redeem the 12 seats, there may be extra seats added, or there may not. For peak periods, anyone looking to redeem Virgin Points should book well in advance.
All flights departing from July 29, 2022, onwards will include this minimum guarantee unless 12 seats have already been redeemed before June 29, 2022, or the flight has sold out.
This means if you have your eye on a particular Virgin Atlantic flight or route and have struggled to find the availability you should check back from midday on June 29 as extra award seats may be loaded then.
Related: 3 great ways to redeem Virgin Atlantic points now that Delta awards are devalued
2. Gold members can book any seat with double points
The second new benefit allows Gold members to book a Gold Reward Seat. This allows Gold members to pay for a reward seat in any cabin, even when there is no A, P, or G fares available. You’ll need to pay double the usual points and book more than 60 days in advance.
Just like the upgrade reward and companion reward earned through the Virgin Atlantic credit cards, you can only book these over the phone or via web chat.
This Gold benefit is set to launch on June 29, 2022. Here's what we know so far:
Who can book?
Only Gold Flying Club members can book Gold Reward seats. They must also be Gold at the time of booking and must travel on the booking. However, other Tiers and non-members can be included in the booking.
What classes of travel can you book?
All revenue booking classes in Economy, Premium and Upper Class are eligible, excluding Economy Delight and Light. Economy tickets can be booked in Economy Classic only.
When can you book?
This is the key restriction to this benefit. Tickets are bookable up to 60 days before departure, you’ll have to plan ahead for these. Gold Rewards issued at the launch of this new benefit will be valid during the member’s current membership year and bookings must be made in this period.
Gold Rewards triggered on renewal of Gold are valid for 12 months. You must book flights in this period. However, you can travel after, as long as you are Gold at the time of booking.
How much will a Gold Reward cost?
You'll pay double the amount of points and the usual taxes, fees and carrier charges apply.
On certain routes, at certain times, this could save huge amounts of money.
For example, regular reward tickets are hard to come by in the next few months on certain Virgin routes such as Tel Aviv. A one-way economy ticket from Tel Aviv to Heathrow could set you back as much as $853 in September around the Jewish holidays. However, utilizing a Gold Reward ticket will cost just 18,000 Virgin Points plus $70 in taxes and fees.
You'll find sweet spots on other busy routes where you may need to travel on specific dates and where there are no available reward seats.
Using a Gold Reward, a return flight to New York will cost 40,000 Virgin Points plus $341 in taxes and fees in economy. It will cost 70,000 Virgin Points plus $647.58 in taxes and fees in Premium and 190,000 Virgin Points plus $1,208.57 in taxes and fees in Upper Class. Peak dates will cost more points.
Will you earn points on these bookings?
During the pandemic, Virgin changed its stance and now credits tier points on reward flights. The standard tier points will be awarded but not Virgin Points.
Can you change or cancel Gold Rewards?
You can cancel your ticket, but you cannot change the date, cabin or route on your ticket. You’ll have to cancel and rebook to change, which will be a problem if you need to make last-minute changes.
Cancellations will incur a fee of $36.59 for flights originating from the U.K., $50 for flights originating from the U.S. or the local currency equivalent of $50 for flights originating from any other region.
Can you combine Gold Rewards with other vouchers?
You won’t be able to combine a Gold Reward with Virgin’s upgrade or companion vouchers.
Other rules
- You can book a maximum of eight sectors per membership year.
- Gold redemption rewards cannot be gifted.
- You cannot use Gold Rewards for Virgin Holidays or flight plus hotel package bookings.
Bottom line
The addition of Gold Rewards provides a true additional benefit to Gold members. If you're close to achieving Virgin Gold, it may spur you to make the final jump to this elite level. The benefit will be particularly valuable on shorter, busy routes where award availability is hard to come by and cash prices are sky-high.
Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.