How do Virgin Atlantic boarding groups work? A beginner’s guide
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Virgin Atlantic is pretty late to the boarding group game, having introduced it back in early 2023. Prior to that it was boarding passengers by priority, but without numbered boarding groups.
As with other airlines, it now allocates you a group number based on your status and cabin class. Anyone with higher status or travelling in premium classes boards first; if you have lower status or are travelling in economy you’ll board later.
This makes it a bit easier to call at the gate and avoids confusion as your group number should be clearly printed on your boarding pass.
How does Virgin Atlantic boarding work?
Here is how Virgin Atlantic ranks its boarding groups:
Pre-boarding
Passengers requiring special assistance or with young children are boarded first, ahead of all other passengers.
Group 1
Group 1 is reserved for Virgin Atlantic’s own top-tier customers:
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold
Group 2
- Virgin Atlantic Premium
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver
Group 3
From Group 3, Virgin Atlantic also gives priority boarding to status holders from its partner airlines:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue Platinum
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue Gold
- Delta Diamond Medallions
- Delta Platinum Medallions
- Delta Gold Medallions
Group 4
- Economy Delight
- SkyTeam Elite
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue Silver
- Delta Silver Medallions
- Singapore Solitaire PPS Club
- Singapore Krisflyer Elite Gold
- Virgin Australia Velocity Club
- Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold
Group 5
Group 5 recently introduced priority boarding in economy for Flying Club Red members. Red is the ‘base’ tier so you can board in Group 5 simply by signing up to Flying Club.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Red
Group 6 to 10
The last few groups are allocated for all remaining economy passengers based on your seat row whether you booked Economy Classic or Economy Light (hand baggage only).
- Economy Classic
- Economy Light
Boarding with friends and family
Virgin Atlantic lets you board with your partner, friends or family at the same time, so long as you are all on the same booking.
So if one of you is in Group 1 (Virgin Atlantic Gold) but the rest of you are not, you can still board together.
This doesn’t apply if you booked separate and all have different booking references.
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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.
