For a limited time, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard® is offering new applicants a 60,000-point welcome bonus, up from the usual 40,000. That’s 50% more points to redeem on flights, hotels, cruises, and other experiences. To qualify, you have to apply by March 31, 2025, and spend $3,000 within the first 90 days.
The Virgin Red Card is issued by Synchrony Bank. So if you’re in the market for a new credit card but are ineligible for a card from one of the Big Banks with numerous application rules, this is a solid option. The welcome bonus is above average, the spending requirement is reasonable, and the points can go a long way.
Note, I don’t get any kind of incentive for promoting this card. I’m sharing this simply because it’s a good offer and could be useful for planning out your credit card strategy.
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Related: Fly to Europe next summer for 8,600 points OW
How to redeem 60,000 Virgin points
Virgin Points are versatile and can be redeemed for various travel bookings, including flights, hotels, cruises, and more. While Virgin Atlantic isn’t part of any airline alliance, it partners with numerous airlines spanning major alliances. Examples include ANA Mileage Club (Star Alliance) and Flying Blue (SkyTeam).
Virgin Red also has reasonable award redemption rates, with flights between the U.S. and UK starting at 6,000 points each way. Plus, the program partners with every major transferable reward program. So if 60,000 points isn’t quite enough for your travel goals, you can easily top off your balance.
Here are some of the ways you can use 60,000 Virgin points:
Flights
- VA flights to London: Economy flights from New York to London start at 6,000 Virgin points one way.
- ANA flights to Japan: Economy class tickets from the West Coast to Japan cost 60,000 miles round trip, while East Coast-departing flights cost 65,000 miles.
- Air France or KLM business class to Europe: Business class between the East Coast and Western Europe from 48,500 miles each way.
Hotel stays
- Virgin Hotels stays: Award nights start at 25,000 points per night at locations like Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Orleans, London, and New York.
- Luxury getaways: A two-night stay at Mont Rochelle in South Africa starts at 60,000 points for two guests. Cash rates at this property range from $400 to $800 per night most of the year.
Aspirational travel
- Virgin Voyages: For those who prefer to save their points for larger redemptions, Virgin Voyages cruises currently start at 186,250 points for a five-night Dominican or Riviera Maya sailing.
- Necker island: The most aspirational Virgin Red award is probably the seven-night all-inclusive stay package at Richard Branson’s Necker island, which goes for two million points and covers two guests.
Related: Why Hyatt Privé is a must for anyone without elite status
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard Details
Beyond the welcome bonus, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard provides additional benefits for frequent travelers and those looking to maximize everyday spending. The card’s perks are pretty generous, considering the $99 annual fee.
- Rewards: Earn 3X points with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Voyages; 2X points on grocery, dining, popular streaming service,s and EV charging; 1X on all other eligible spending.
- Personal Perks: Spend $15,000 annually to pick one perk or $30,000 for two. Options include:
- Companion seats on Virgin Atlantic
- Reward nights at Virgin Hotels
- Up to $300 in bar credits on Virgin Voyages
- Earn Virgin Atlantic Tier Points: Earn 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 spent, up to 50 Tier Points per month.
- Free hotel night: Book two nights at Virgin Hotels and get the third night free annually.
- Annual bonus points: Earn 5,000 Virgin Points every year you renew your card.
- Additional cardholder bonus: Earn 2,500 bonus points for every authorized user (up to 10,000 points).
- No foreign transaction fees: No fees on purchases originating abroad.
Is the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard Worth It?
The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard offers a solid return if you’re looking to stock up on points for cheap award flights. The 60,000-point welcome bonus is competitive in the travel card space, especially considering the low redemption rates for international flights. The ongoing perks can make the card’s $99 annual fee worthwhile. And if you can inch closer to your elite status goals via credit card spending, it’s a great choice.
However, if you’re not going to meet the annual $15,000 spending threshold for Personal Perks or your spending falls outside of the card’s 2-3X bonus categories, it’s probably not the best option. With Virgin Red/Flying Club being a 1:1 transfer partner of every major transferable rewards program, there are plenty of other credit cards that might be a better fit.
For examples, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2X miles on all spending and has a $95 annual fee. Capital One miles transfer 1:1 to 18 airline and hotel program,s including Virgin Red.
The card’s welcome bonus is much higher than the Virgin Red’s, at 75,000 miles + a $250 travel credit when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. Granted, there are more Capital One application rules to contend with, but the flexible rewards are more valuable.
Related: NEW Capital One lounge opens at DCA
How to Apply
To apply for the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard, head over to the landing page or Synchrony website. The 60,000-point bonus is available through March 31, so keep that in mind if you decide to put it off for a while.
Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
