British Airways Club vs Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

How do you earn Avios and Virgin Points?

Both programmes use one currency for rewards and a separate set of points for tier progress [1] [2].

Flying Club calculates Virgin Points per flight as a percentage or multiple of each Base Mile flown, depending on the booking class, cabin and product purchased and on tier status [4]. The published tier bonus is 30% for Silver members and 60% for Gold members [5], so Upper Class booking classes J, C and D are quoted at 500% of miles for Red members, 650% for Silver and 800% for Gold [5].

Earning starts with the first qualifying revenue flight in Economy Light, Economy Classic, Economy Delight, Premium or Upper Class [4], and Virgin Points claimed with a membership number at booking or travel should be credited within seven days of travel [4]. Codeshare flights earn only where the flight carries a VS prefix and is booked in an applicable class, at the operating carrier's earning levels [4]; the exception is the joint venture between Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM, and the wider SkyTeam alliance, where the marketing carrier's levels apply [4]. British Airways says Avios can be collected every day in dozens of ways [1]. For the two currencies side by side, see Avios vs Virgin Atlantic points.

What do tier points unlock in each programme?

In the Club, tier points unlock benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in and free seat selection [1], and British Airways also lists free Wi-Fi messaging on board, reserved tickets through British Airways Club Live and Avios pooling among the reasons to join [1].

Flying Club moves members from Red to Silver to Gold [2], and Virgin Atlantic also credits 12,000 Virgin Points to members who fly with it in five different years [2]. Beyond the tier itself, it publishes fixed rewards at particular Tier Point levels.

Gold membership carries other rules. The date change fee is waived when a Gold member travels on a reward flight, a Companion Reward booking, or a booking from which their Virgin Points were redeemed, for every passenger on the same booking reference [4], though not for Points Plus Money bookings, revenue bookings or bookings upgraded with Virgin Points [4]. A Gold member who wants a fully flexible Economy seat on a fully booked Virgin Atlantic flight can call the customer centre more than three days before departure [4], and may nominate one member for a Supplementary Silver Account, which lasts as long as the Gold member keeps Gold status and a valid Gold card [4].

How do Virgin Atlantic companion rewards and vouchers work?

Gold members receive one complimentary Companion Reward when they renew Gold membership [4]. It is issued at the end of the Gold membership year, is valid for 12 months from the date it is awarded, and is used like a Virgin Atlantic flight reward without redeeming Virgin Points [4]. Bookings using it must be made within 12 months of the renewal date, and the outbound flight must be flown on or before the voucher's expiry date, although the return can be taken later [4].

Some vouchers can be passed to another member: the Gold Companion, the Gold Upgrade, and the Virgin Atlantic Reward and Reward+ Credit Card vouchers [4]. Only Silver and Gold members may gift them, the recipient must be a Flying Club member in any tier, and where an account holds several vouchers, the one with the soonest expiry date is the one gifted [4]. A voucher is void if it is sold, auctioned or bartered [4]. In a Household Account, reward vouchers and Clubhouse invitations earned by linked members are not transferred to the household leader [4].

Upgrade and Companion Rewards cannot be applied to bookings made in the Economy Light product [4], and a 2,000-Tier-Point cabin upgrade cannot be added to a booking that already contains a Flying Club Upgrade Reward [4].

What taxes and change fees apply to Virgin Atlantic reward flights?

Virgin Atlantic reward flights do not include passenger taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, which are payable for each passenger and are subject to change [4]. Once a reward ticket is issued, the travel date, route or cabin can be changed before travel for £30 on international flights originating in the UK, US$50 on international flights originating in the US, or the local currency equivalent of US$50 elsewhere [4], and no name changes are allowed [4]. Cancelling outside 24 hours of the outbound flight returns 100% of the Virgin Points to the member's account, with a cancellation fee at the same rates [4].

Availability is published as a floor rather than a promise: a minimum of 12 reward seats is made available across all three cabins on every Virgin Atlantic-operated flight — 8 in Economy Classic, 2 in Premium and 2 in Upper Class — at the point the flight is released for sale, 331 days before departure [4]. Reward seats not booked 30 days before departure may be released back into general sale, and once all 12 are booked, further seats are not guaranteed [4]. Saver seats are advertised from 6,000 points one way [2].

Points Plus Money is a separate option: members can redeem Virgin Points for a discount on any published fare on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights booked on the airline's site, with no blackout dates or inventory restrictions [4]. It applies to adult and child fares but not infant fares, can cover the base fare and all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, and the booking still earns Virgin Points and Tier Points [4].

Exceptions and limits

• The Flying Club clauses in this comparison come from the terms effective from 30 November 2021 until 29 October 2024; Virgin Atlantic publishes separate terms for bookings made from 30 October 2024 [4]. The fee amounts and voucher rules listed here belong to that version of the terms [4].
• Virgin Points are personal and cannot be transferred between accounts, with two exceptions: on the death of a member, points may move to a named beneficiary's account at Virgin Atlantic's discretion, subject to a death certificate, a signed letter of indemnity from the estate's executor and no dispute over the transfer [4]; otherwise a member may pay the published transfer fee [4]. Unredeemed points are forfeited if an account is cancelled or terminated, although they remain available through Virgin Red where the accounts are linked [4].
• A Household Account is capped at nine linked members living at the same address, the leader must be at least 18, members must stay linked for at least 12 months, and only the leader can spend from the account unless an Authorised Account User is nominated [4]; Authorised Account Users must also be at least 18 [4]. Virgin Atlantic may ask for proof of residence for linked members [4].
• Clubhouse invitations earned at 1,500 Tier Points are not accepted at shared lounges, and forwarded or screenshotted invitations are refused at Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses and Revivals at London Heathrow [4]. The 2,000-Tier-Point upgrade is limited to one cabin, applies only to Virgin Atlantic-operated services, excludes codeshare flights, and earns points on the original revenue fare rather than the upgraded cabin [4].
• Joining the Club does not open a member's whole flying history: Avios and tier points can be claimed only for British Airways flights flown in the three months before joining [1].
• Flying Club rewards are subject to availability, blackout dates may apply, and rewards booked with partner companies may require at least 14 days' notice [4].

Frequently asked questions

Do Virgin Points expire?

Virgin Atlantic says Virgin Points never expire [2], and its terms set no prescribed time frame for redeeming them while the member stays in Flying Club and complies with the rules [4]. Unredeemed points are forfeited if an account is cancelled or terminated [4].

How far back can I claim missing Avios or Virgin Points?

In the Club, Avios and tier points can be claimed on British Airways flights flown in the three months before joining [1]. In Flying Club, Virgin Points can be claimed on Virgin Atlantic flights for up to six months after the date of travel [4].

Are taxes included on Virgin Atlantic reward flights?

No. Reward flights exclude passenger taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, which are charged for each passenger and are subject to change [4].

Can I give a Flying Club voucher to someone else?

Silver and Gold members may gift the Gold Companion, Gold Upgrade, and Virgin Atlantic Reward and Reward+ Credit Card vouchers to a Flying Club member in any tier [4]. Once gifted, only the recipient can use the voucher, and the usual rules and expiry dates apply to them [4].

How many reward seats does Virgin Atlantic make available?

A minimum of 12 reward seats across all three cabins on every Virgin Atlantic-operated flight, made available when the flight goes on sale 331 days before departure [4]. Seats left unbooked 30 days before departure may be released back into general sale [4].

Related pages

Programmes: The British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Status guides: British Airways Club status and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club status. Also see Avios vs Virgin Atlantic points and the frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It compares the British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club only; other programmes, including Flying Blue, Miles & More and Emirates Skywards, are not covered here.

1. The British Airways Club: programme overview, checked 18 October 2026
2. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: programme overview, checked 18 October 2026
3. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club terms and conditions, effective 30 November 2021 to 29 October 2024, checked 18 October 2026
4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: what you can earn, checked 18 October 2026