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If you are American and single, Virgin Atlantic wants to help you find love in London

Jan. 31, 2022
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3 min read
Nicky-Kelvin-Virgin-Atlantic-A350-Upper-Class-Suite-LHR-JFK-1-of-1-1 (2)
If you are American and single, Virgin Atlantic wants to help you find love in London
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Virgin Atlantic’s new Valentine’s Day sweepstakes, “Tickets to Love,” offers single Americans the opportunity to fly across the Atlantic in the airline’s Upper Class to find romance in London.

Virgin Atlantic. (Photo by Nicky Kelvin/The Points Guy)
Virgin Atlantic. (Photo by Nicky Kelvin/The Points Guy)

The airline says its own research shows 69% of single Americans are more open to finding love while traveling, and 64% are interested in meeting a Brit. Being Virgin, the airline adds that of the Americans who want to meet a Brit, most say “they find British people more cultured, stylish and well-mannered than Americans.”

Coming out of the pandemic, adventurous first dates are trending, the airline adds, with 72% of single Americans saying they are more interested in “adventurous first dates” following the pandemic.

To enter the contest, you need to write a compelling story about why you deserve a trip to the U.K. to find long-term love and what kind of romance you are looking for. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 13.

Eight winners will be chosen. Just to be clear though, the airline isn’t giving you a lot of time to find love. You fly from New York’s JFK to London’s Heathrow on March 11 and return on March 13, with an included one-night stay in a single-occupancy room at The Standard London in the King’s Cross neighborhood.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. (Photo by Nicky Kelvin/The Points Guy)
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. (Photo by Nicky Kelvin/The Points Guy)

Related: 9 romantic destinations to dream about this Valentine’s Day

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Buses in London with Big Ben in the background
(Photo by Scott E Barbour/gettyimages)

In addition to the trip, contest winners will get advice from TV star and dating expert Jared Haibon (“The Bachelorette” and “The Bachelor”), who will be on hand via video at the Virgin Atlantic Airways Clubhouse at JFK before their flight, as well as a love reading from a psychic.

“Dating is hard – harder today than it's ever been – but travel has a way of opening minds and opening hearts, so hopefully we're able to help change the lives of a few singles ready to finally meet their match,” says Haibon in a press release.

“Our new research shows that single Americans agree – they see travel as a way to meet new people, forge meaningful connections and enjoy new experiences as well as reconnect with loved ones,” adds Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic. “We're looking forward to helping them do just that as they join us in London for what might be the first time – or first time in a long time.”

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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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.