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 $8,000 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 $12,000 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.
- 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 150,000 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
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.