Virgin news: get double points on some USA routes, Limited Edition joins Preferred Hotels

Two bits of Virgin Atlantic news:

Get double Virgin Points on selected USA flights

Last week we covered a new British Airways promotion offering double Avios on flights to the USA.

To summarise how that worked:

• you must be a UK-based member of British Airways Executive Club
• you must register before booking your flights via this page of ba.com
• you can book in any class of travel
• you must book after registering and by 16th August 2024
• you must fly by 25th June 2025
• your flight must be BA-operated and carry a BA flight number (no codeshares or partner flights)
• you can receive the bonus on up to 10 flights
• bonus Avios will be awarded alongside base Avios and will not arrive in arrears

Under the new revenue-based Avios earning system you receive, based on your British Airways Executive Club status level:

• Blue – 6 Avios per £1 (doubled to 12)
• Bronze – 7 Avios per £1 (doubled to 14)
• Silver – 8 Avios per £1 (doubled to 16)
• Gold – 9 Avios per £1 (doubled to 18)

You only earn Avios on the base fare and not Air Passenger Duty or any airport or Government-imposed charges. These deductions will be a fairly large percentage of the fare in World Traveller and World. You also earn on any seating or baggage fees.

That said, a banker with a Gold card forced to fly BA by corporate policy will still pick up 209,934 Avios for a return fully flexible Club World ticket to New York. Anyone blaming credit card bonuses for Avios devaluations may be looking in the wrong place ….

Virgin Atlantic has now launched a similar offer

Virgin Atlantic has launched a deal in competition.

It is only valid on flights to Orlando, New York and Los Angeles. The cheapest tickets (Economy Light) are excluded.

Codeshare flights are excluded. You must book a flight which has a VS flight number and is operated by Virgin Atlantic.

The booking period is very short – just a week, to 25th July 2024 – and the travel deadline is also shorter than the BA offer, to 31st December 2024.

‘Points Plus Money’ bookings, where you reduce the cost of a cash ticket by using miles, will count.

No registration is required.

Full details are on this page of the Virgin Atlantic website.

Virgin Limited Edition joins Preferred Hotels

Whilst it has never made a big song and dance about it, the majority of properties in the Virgin Hotels chain – including the new London hotel – can be booked via Preferred Hotels.

This is a marketing group, similar to Leading Hotels of the World or WorldHotels, which allows independent hotels to benefit from a shared marketing platform and loyalty programme.

This means, when booking Virgin Hotels, you have the choice of booking direct and earning 7 Virign Points per $/£, or booking via Preferred Hotels and earning points in their I Prefer programme.

Virgin Limited Edition hotels have now joined Preferred Hotels, as part of its premium ‘Legend Collection’. The properties are:

• Mont Rochelle (Franschhoek, South Africa)
• Necker Island (Necker Island, British Virgin Islands, image above)
• The Lodge (Verbier, Switzerland)
• Ulusaba (Sabi Sand, South Africa)
• Mahali Mzuri (Maasai Mara, Kenya)
• Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas (Mallorca, Spain)
• The Branson Beach Estate (Moskito Island, British Virgin Islands)
• Kasbah Tamadot (Asni, Morocco)
• Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp (Tsavo National Park, Kenya – coming soon)

You now have the choice of earning Virgin Points, by booking direct, or I Prefer credit via Preferred Hotels. To some extent the best deal will depend on the rate on the night you stays, since Virgin Points are awarded at a flat rate per night (which varies by hotel) for direct bookings.

What this does mean is that you should always check the Preferred Hotels website when booking Virgin Hotels or a Virgin Limited Edition property in case it has special deals for its members.

PS. If you are not a regular Head for Points visitor, why not sign up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters? They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and will help you travel better. To join our 65,000 free subscribers, click the button below or visit this page of the site to find out more. Thank you.

---

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):

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.

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.

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

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