Is the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard worth it?
Editor's Note
If you're a frequent Virgin Atlantic flyer, you may want to consider applying for the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard®. This Synchrony-issued card earns 3 points per dollar spent at Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages and comes with some unique and customizable perks for a $99 annual fee.
Here's what else to you should know if you're thinking about applying.
The information for the Virgin Red Rewards credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard details
Currently, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard is offering a limited-time welcome bonus. New cardholders can earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card in their first 90 days of account opening. The offer expires March 31.
This card's typical bonus offers 40,000 points, so you could earn 20,000 more if you apply for the card during this limited-time offer.
The card also features a host of bonus-earning categories:
- 3 points per dollar spent on spending with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages
- 2 points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, select streaming services and electric vehicle charging
- 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else
Plus, you'll enjoy the following benefits:
- A third night free after booking two nights at a participating Virgin Hotels property once a year
- An anniversary bonus of 5,000 Virgin points each anniversary year upon card renewal
- No foreign transaction fees
- 25 Flying Club tier points for every $2,500 in eligible purchases (up to 50 tier points per month)
- 2,500 Virgin points when you add an authorized user (up to four users; limit of 10,000 Virgin points)
The product also comes with a unique benefit system. Cardholders can choose from the following Virgin perks twice each account anniversary year — one can be selected after spending $15,000, and another can be selected after spending $30,000. The perks include:
- Either book a companion for no extra points or upgrade one passenger round-trip on a Virgin Atlantic flight redemption (fees, taxes and substantial carrier-imposed surcharges are payable)
- One free night at a participating Virgin Hotels property in the United States or United Kingdom
- Upgrade your room at a Virgin Hotels property in the United States or United Kingdom
- Up to $300 bar tab on Virgin Voyages cruise of seven nights or more, or up to $150 tab on cruises of under seven nights
- Access to Blue Extras tier on Virgin Voyages, which includes perks like a Sailing Club cocktail event, $10 daily specialty coffee credit, laundry service and Sailing Club Services Support
Related: Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady review: A look at Virgin's third cruise ship
Is the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard worth it?
Given you can transfer all major credit card points to Virgin Flying Club and/or Virgin Red, Virgin points are easy to earn. The current welcome bonus of 60,000 points is low compared to the welcome bonuses on many transferable currency cards.
However, for just a $99 annual fee, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard and its long list of unique perks can provide value to Virgin loyalists, especially since the Virgin brand now covers flights, hotels and cruises.
You can earn mid-tier Flying Club Silver status just from spending on the card. This usually requires 400 Tier Points a year, which you could earn in eight months by spending $5,000 on the card monthly. This card should be very valuable if you aim for Virgin elite status.
Although the third night free at Virgin Hotels initially looks like a generous perk, remember that it is only valid at a handful of properties and can only be used once yearly.
The twice-a-year customizable perk is where this card gets really interesting and potentially lucrative. Choosing the companion or upgrade perk could save you thousands of dollars on your next flight to or from the United Kingdom, though remember that even if the upgrade or companion can be booked for no extra points, the full fees, taxes and surcharges are payable for that passenger.
Virgin imposes some of the highest surcharges of any airline, so for a round-trip business-class ticket from the United States to London, you must pay around $2,350 in fees, taxes and surcharges for your "free" companion to travel.
The free room night or upgrade is undoubtedly valuable, as is the bar tab on Virgin Voyages. However, many of their most popular cruises are less than seven nights, so only an up to $150 tab is offered on these shorter cruises.
For those wondering, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red points are essentially the same, as you can transfer them between the two programs. TPG's February 2025 valuations place these points at 1.4 cents apiece, making them one of the more valuable airline currencies on the market.
All that said, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard is likely worth getting if you're chasing Virgin status or you're a dedicated fan of Virgin flights and cruises. Otherwise, a card that earns transferable points or miles is the better option.
Related: This concept won't be for everyone: Virgin Hotels Chicago
Other ways to earn Virgin points
You can easily boost your Virgin points balance with the right transferable rewards currency credit card. The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Virgin's Flying Club and Virgin Red:
- American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, upon approval, you'll receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use during your first year.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses currently available
Bottom line
The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard offers a solid and unique value proposition if you fly or sail Virgin often and want a card to take advantage of that.
With healthy earning rates and benefits, plus a unique choose-your-own-perk system that can singlehandedly justify the card's annual fee, it is a notable addition to the Virgin lineup of cards. Just note that if your main goal is a large welcome bonus, there are plenty of better options you can transfer to Virgin points at a 1:1 rate.
Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees