Virgin Atlantic Revamps Flying Club: Use Points for Any Seat on Any Flight

Virgin Atlantic is giving its frequent flyers the opportunity to redeem their hard-earned loyalty points to book any seat on a flight—regardless of the date, destination, or cabin class.

Starting October 30, a wave of new changes is set to revolutionize how travelers earn and redeem Virgin Points.

Every Seat, Every Flight

The highlight of Virgin Atlantic’s latest announcement is the ability for Flying Club members to use their Virgin Points to pay for any seat on any flight. Whether it’s a quick trip to Europe or a long-haul journey, every seat is up for grabs using points, with prices fluctuating based on demand, just like cash fares.

This added layer of freedom means loyal customers no longer have to settle for limited reward seat availability or search endlessly for the right flight.

Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, “Our customers mean the world to us… we are making every single seat available for purchase with points,” he said.

“In our special Ruby anniversary year, we are making every single seat available for purchase with points, becoming even more rewarding for our millions of loyal Flying Club members,” Weiss added.

New Saver Reward Seats

Alongside the launch of this exciting feature, Virgin Atlantic is introducing Saver Reward Seats, a new option for Flying Club members looking to stretch their points further.

Starting at just 6,000 Virgin Points for a one-way flight to London, these seats will offer unbeatable value across thousands of flights. This addition allows even casual travelers to experience the benefits of Virgin Points, ensuring that everyone has access to affordable redemptions.

Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic

“Our promise to our customers is to deliver a brilliantly different experience,” said Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Experience Officer. “Today’s announcement is a significant step in offering them as much choice, value, and flexibility as possible.”

But the perks don’t stop there. Virgin Atlantic is also making it easier than ever for Flying Club members to upgrade their travel experience. Want to move from Economy to Premium or even Upper Class? Passengers can now use their Virgin Points to upgrade to any available seat, and yes, this applies to both standard and reward tickets.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus

Additionally, Virgin Atlantic’s new reward voucher system provides even more flexibility. Credit card holders and Flying Club members with Gold tier status will be able to redeem these vouchers for a Companion Seat or an upgrade—on any seat, in any cabin.

The voucher will cover up to 75,000 points for Red tier members or 150,000 points for Silver and Gold members, with the option to top up the remainder with Virgin Points. This means fewer restrictions and more opportunities to fly in style.

More Points, More Rewards

In a move to further reward its most loyal customers, Virgin Atlantic is increasing the number of Virgin Points earned on Premium and Upper Class tickets. Flying Club members will see a 75 percent boost in points for Premium seats and a 50 percent increase for Upper Class, ensuring that those who choose to fly in comfort will be rewarded generously for their loyalty.

Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic

Andrea Burchett, Chief Loyalty Officer and Managing Director at Virgin Red, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Virgin Atlantic to give Virgin Red and Flying Club members the opportunity to earn and spend Virgin Points on every Virgin Atlantic flight… empowering customers with the choice and flexibility they deserve.”

What This Means for Flying Club Members

Virgin Atlantic’s sweeping changes demonstrate a renewed focus on customer experience, choice, and value. By offering every seat for purchase with points, introducing Saver Reward Seats, and increasing the points earned in premium cabins, the airline is positioning itself as a leader in customer loyalty.

Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic

However, Virgin Atlantic’s recent update to its Flying Club program has a potential drawback: the airline seems to be transitioning to dynamic pricing for its award redemptions system-wide. This means that, similar to many other airlines in recent years, the British carrier will now determine its award fares based on demand.

The airline has announced that more than half of its flights offering economy reward seats will maintain their current prices or even be lower. Furthermore, a significant number of reward seats in Upper Class will be available at the existing price or lower. However, it remains uncertain whether this will lead to increased prices during peak periods, with reduced fares offered during off-peak travel times.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus

However, overall, with these upgrades, Flying Club members are no longer limited by availability, giving them the freedom to book or upgrade in ways that suit their needs.

As the Virgin Atlantic celebrates its 40th anniversary, these changes beg the question: Could Virgin Atlantic be setting a new standard for loyalty programs across the aviation industry? Only time will tell, but for now, Flying Club members have more reasons to look forward to their future travels.