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Virgin Atlantic to allow Gold members to use the Upper Class Wing

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Earlier this month we published a review of the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing, the private drive-through check-in area at Heathrow Terminal 3.

The official line from Virgin Atlantic was that it was only accessible to people flying in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or Delta One.

Some readers noted that the Wing had been making exceptions for Gold members of Virgin Flying Club.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing

This has now been confirmed via an update to the Virgin Atlantic website here.

The new access rules for the Upper Class Wing are:

Passengers travelling in the following cabins:

  • Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic + a guest travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
  • Delta One on Delta

Passengers with the following loyalty status:

  • Flying Club Gold card members + a guest travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
  • Delta Sky Miles Diamond and Platinum Medallions + a guest travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
  • Flying Club Blue Platinum Members + a guest travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
  • All other Sky Team Elite Plus members + a guest travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
  • Virgin Australia Velocity Club Gold, Platinum and The Club card holders travelling on Virgin Atlantic

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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

Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (18)

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

  • Mohamed says:
    30 Apr30 April 08:49

    There isn’t such flying club blue platinum it’s Flying blue Platinum.

  • Peter K says:
    30 Apr30 April 09:23

    Sounds like you had a great time Petros. Congratulations 👏

    • Petros Kipouropoulos says:
      30 Apr30 April 20:52

      Thanks! It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience 🙂

      • Rob says:
        30 Apr30 April 21:47

        Glad you enjoyed it. The ‘rooms’ were actually a lot more impressive than I expected – the way Hilton described it, it sounded like a row of beds side by side like a hospital ward!

  • Harry T says:
    30 Apr30 April 12:19

    OT as Bits – my gf and I applied for Global Entry on Friday and were conditionally approved today. Whole process took about four days, including getting the code from the UK Gov.

    • Gordon says:
      30 Apr30 April 12:53

      It felt like me and the OH had global entry last week flying back from the US, From touch down at LGW South to driving out of the car park after a shuttle bus transfer took exactly an hour, First to disembark the plane, Immigration was clear, Our four pieces of priority Luggage actually came out in pole position as soon as the conveyer started up. Transfer arrived 5 mins after we made it to the pick up point, I doubt we will ever experience that miracle again in my lifetime….

    • Nick says:
      30 Apr30 April 14:58

      Lucky you! Mine took about 5 months, but thankfully did get approved in the end. The interview on arrival was very easy, but involved quite a wait as I entered at a small airport with no dedicated desk (the regular agents did it after they’d cleared the whole of my flight). So if you get chance, I’d recommend choosing a large airport with dedicated interview facility.

      • Harry T says:
        30 Apr30 April 18:51

        Thanks, we are going to try at JFK next month.

        • GeoffreyB says:
          30 Apr30 April 19:00

          The comments police must be off for the bank holiday weekend! No “post it on the forum” replies 👮‍♂️

          • Gordon says:
            30 Apr30 April 19:32

            I’m not the only one that was thinking that? Let’s save our OT comments for the coronation weekend, 👮‍♀️ would not dare raise their heads on that bank holiday weekend….

  • S879 says:
    30 Apr30 April 15:21

    OT: I booked a flight with BA from London to USA and since Premium Economy was only available on outbound, I used my Barclays Avios Upgrade Voucher for just that leg.

    What can I use the second part of my voucher on? It would need to be another flight. Can I use it on an inbound flight from say, Dubai to London? I somehow can’t see my remaining voucher when I use the Book and Upgrade option online.
    Please advise.

    • Erico1875 says:
      30 Apr30 April 15:36

      No. It would need to be the RTN journey from USA

      • S879 says:
        30 Apr30 April 16:54

        Oh, on the same leg or can it be in future? Also, can it be going to to New York but return from DC?

    • S says:
      30 Apr30 April 16:27

      I don’t think you have any ‘remaining voucher’

  • James says:
    30 Apr30 April 16:03

    If you cancel within the first twelve months, will they attempt to claw back the MR points ??

  • Slee says:
    3 May3 May 17:15

    OT: I recently became a Virgin Gold member (through Amex Centurion). I called the Virgin Gold Flying Club line to pool 2 accounts for a household account. However, they told me that this has currently been suspended. Has there been any communication on why this is the case?

    • Rob says:
      3 May3 May 17:23

      No, but it has been like this for at least 6 months.

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

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