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Virgin Atlantic to increase services to South Africa

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News in brief:

Virgin Atlantic to increase services to South Africa

With South Africa now off the UK ‘Red List’, in time for the peak Winter tourist season, Virgin Atlantic is stepping up its flight schedule.

There is now a date for the resumption of Cape Town flights – 17th December. There will be three flights per week.

Johannesburg will see an increase in frequency, with the current 3x weekly service increasing to daily from 8th November.

All services will be on a Boeing 787-9. You are getting a new aircraft but, in Upper Class, you are getting the old-style herringbone layout rather than the new Upper Class Suite.

Our review of Upper Class on a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 is here.

You can find out more, and book, on the Virgin Atlantic website here.

Hilton Honors buy points 100% bonus worth it

Get a 100% bonus when you buy Hilton Honors points

Hilton has brought back its offer of a 100% bonus when you purchase 15,000+ points.

The Hilton ‘buy points’ page is here. 

What makes this offer different to the last one is that the annual purchase limit has been increased. You can now buy 160,000 points, which would double up to 320,000 points with the bonus.

320,000 points is what you need to book a 5-night stay at an 80,000 points per night luxury hotel, given the ‘5 for 4’ deal given to all elite Hilton Honors members.

This is the deal I used to book 5 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah Dubai over Christmas 2020, saving over 60% on the cash price. I wrote about how I did that in this article.

The page to buy points is here if you are interested. The offer runs to 7th December.

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards

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. 

Category

Hilton Honors, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (44)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Sandgrounder says:
    15 Oct15 October 08:25

    The BA sale fares may be available via Finnair.com due to the JV, giving you the opportunity to use the spend 180 get 40 off amex offer.

    • Andrew says:
      15 Oct15 October 09:30

      Although if it’s on a AY flightcode even if on BA metal, you won’t get your tier bonus Avios which will likely wipe out the £40 Amex saving.

      • Gavin says:
        15 Oct15 October 10:03

        Unless you’re blue!

        • Sandgrounder says:
          15 Oct15 October 21:34

          Yep, blues at the back are the ones who may find this interesting.

        • Aston100 says:
          15 Oct15 October 22:11

          Please clarify?
          Thanks.

          • Sandgrounder says:
            15 Oct15 October 22:52

            Well, 40 off a business class flight is insignificant, or losing the tier bonus if you have status might cost you more. However if you are eyeing up a sub 300 fare, 40 quid off is a sizable chunk.

  • john browell says:
    15 Oct15 October 08:48

    Amateur question here from someone who has never bought Hilton points before. The cost is in dollars; how do you experts pay ? I realise it’s a lazy question, as I should be checking out my BA Amex Platinum terms regarding non GBP spend – I will get that done later today – but your combined experiences would be useful to know. I also have Curve black card which might be an option, and the very new Virgin Atlantic mastercard.

    • Andrew says:
      15 Oct15 October 09:11

      I’d simply pay using the Virgin Money Mastercard, that I’ve had for a few years, it’s worldwide FX at Mastercard rate with no additional fees.

      Wish my MBNA Horizon card was of the variety with free FX, but it’s just got the 0.5% rebate on all transactions.

      • Pablo says:
        15 Oct15 October 11:05

        Are there two types of horizon, with and without fx fee??

        • Andrew says:
          15 Oct15 October 12:25

          There are three types of Horizon Card.

          If you were migrated from the BMI Dual Visa/Amex pack, and had no other MBNA product, you were migrated to Horizon with 0.5% rebate. If you had another MBNA Amex card you got a no benefit Horizon card.

          If you were migrated from the Etihad, American, Lufthansa, United or Emirates Dual Visa/Amex pack, you were migrated to Horizon with 0.5% rebate and 0% FX rate.

          (That’s the general process, there always be exceptions).

    • Sandgrounder says:
      15 Oct15 October 09:23

      Use your curve, or you can apply for a revolut and get instant access to a virtual card. Other long term solutions; Chase, Starling, Barclaycard Rewards

    • MD says:
      15 Oct15 October 09:40

      Viva la revolución! Revolut works best, gets you an extra 1% back on your points too (in dodgy crypto/pyramid scheme scam of your choice, of course, and don’t buy at the weekend). But failing that your VA card or Curve will work well. Minimally better exchange rate using Curve.

    • RussellH says:
      15 Oct15 October 12:46

      Since I have USD in my (Transfer)Wise multi-currency a/c, I use the debit card on that a/c. Otherwise any CC feree of FX fees.

  • Paul says:
    15 Oct15 October 13:03

    Is the double tier option really till the 22nd March? I thought it was the same as the other offer of the 31st March. I booked a holiday on that premise and it would be 385 tier points doubling to 770.

  • Richard B says:
    15 Oct15 October 14:47

    White House Asst pres secretary Kevin Munoz has tweeted confirming the date as Monday 8th but not any details on what’s required.

  • Dace says:
    15 Oct15 October 14:59

    Just to double check, to get the double tier points, do all flights have to have a BA flight code?

    • AJA says:
      15 Oct15 October 15:28

      Yes. Per the T&Cs it applies to British Airways flights including codeshares and British Airways marketed and/or operated flights only.

  • James says:
    15 Oct15 October 17:36

    I can only buy 80k points but my Dad can get 160k + the bonus. If he was to buy these and transfer them to me, would there be anything that could hinder this? He hasn’t bought any points, transferred any points nor have I received any points this year. My guess would be this is fine but just seeking clarification.

  • Peter Taysum says:
    15 Oct15 October 18:08

    It seems they’re “trialing it”. Some people offer is to buy points 50% off, others is to buy points bonus of 100% points.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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