Virgin Atlantic giving free coronavirus insurance to all passengers – what’s covered?

Virgin Atlantic has just announced that is is providing free Covid-19 insurance coverage for all new and existing bookings, for travel until 31st March 2021.

It is the first UK airline to do so, although Emirates implemented a similar policy back in July. Allianz Assistance is underwriting the policy.

You can see full details on this page of the Virgin Atlantic website.

What’s covered by Virgin Atlantic’s Covid-19 insurance?

Virgin Atlantic is calling its coronavirus insurance the ‘most comprehensive Covid-19 cover provided by any major airline to date.’ Here is what it includes:

• Up to £500,000 necessary and emergency medical expenses incurred due to Coronavirus affecting you or your travel companions.
• Repatriation due to Coronavirus, should it be medically necessary.
• Up to £3,000 if you are required to quarantine during a trip or denied boarding at origin or destination. This includes ‘reasonable costs’ for accommodation, transportation, refreshments (but not alcohol!), booking amendment fees and other travel expenses.
• Cover for your whole trip, with no upper limit on the length of your time away.
• One way tickets, with cover ending 12 hours after your flight arrives.
• Cover for all passengers with no restrictions on age, travel class or length of journey.

Crucially, there is no premium OR excess payable – Virgin Atlantic is bundling it into every ticket they sell.

Note that this insurance cover does NOT replace a comprehensive travel insurance plan. It is limited to claims related to Covid-19. Any epidemic or pandemic other than coronavirus is also not covered!

Any travel undertaken against FCO or other governmental advice is not covered. You cannot claim from this policy if your trip is cancelled due to changes in FCO advice, which is why you should have additional travel insurance.

You ARE covered if someone else on your booking – not you – contracts Covid-19 during your trip.

Covid tests are NOT included in the cover, unless “it is medically necessary and on the request of a treating doctor in order to diagnose and treat the patient.” That means you can’t claim if your destination country requires a negative test for entry.

You can read the policy document here.

Is £3,000 enough for quarantine and denied boarding?

The only thing that sticks out from this policy is what seems to be fairly low cover if you are required to quarantine.

In a worst case scenario where you must quarantine for 14 days £3,000 doesn’t seem like a lot – just £215 per day.

This is fine if you’re staying in cheaper hotels but won’t be enough at the higher end of the market. To be fair, this is still significantly more than the €100 Emirates is offering its passengers per day.

If you make a points or miles booking Virgin Atlantic will only reimburse the lowest cash equivalent. You are not covered for:

“More than the lowest market value of equivalent accommodation, transport charges and other travel expenses, if payment was made using frequent flyer points, loyalty card points, redeemable vouchers or another similar scheme.”

Conclusion

Whilst people seem content to book short haul flights last minute, long haul flying still looks a little precarious. This is a smart move by Virgin Atlantic to try and boost its forward bookings and offer passengers some peace of mind.

It’s also hard to disagree that this is the ‘most comprehensive’ coverage of any airline. Virgin Atlantic’s Covid-19 cover certainly outdoes the Emirates policy which offers substantially lower payouts.

You can read more on the Virgin Atlantic website here.

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points and the free card has a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 50,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points.