Why do Virgin Atlantic points upgrades on cash tickets not earn more tier points?

Back in 2021, Virgin Atlantic did something revolutionary. It became the first airline to offer tier points towards elite status on REDEMPTION flights.

This is surprisingly attractive. My family will do two Virgin Atlantic Upper Class redemptions this year, and it will give all of us the 400 tier points needed for Silver status.

The benefits of Silver are not great, of course, but it does mean that my unused Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard vouchers will be worth 150,000 Virgin Points each instead of 75,000. This is a benefit worth having.

As a reminder, these are the tier points you earn on reward flights booked with Virgin Points:

• Economy: 25 tier points each way
• Premium: 50 tier points each way
• Upper Class: 100 tier points each way

Flexible cash tickets earn more points, but these are also the amounts you earn on the cheapest cash tickets.

Silver requires 400 tier points in 12 months, Gold requires 1,000.

What about tier points on upgrades to cash tickets?

It is possible to upgrade a cash ticket with Virgin Points.

Another attractive feature of Virgin Flying Club is that you can upgrade by multiple cabins with Virgin Points. You can go straight from Economy Delight / Classic (but not Economy Light) to Upper Class if you wish.

There is a tier point quirk, however.

Two readers have got in touch in recent months to point out an issue with the Virgin Atlantic upgrade system.

Let’s look at an example:

• You book an Upper Class reward ticket on Virgin Points – you receive Upper Class tier points

• You upgrade an existing reward ticket to an Upper Class reward ticket – you receive Upper Class tier points

• You upgrade an existing cash ticket to Upper Class with Virgin Points – you receive tier points for the ticket class you originally booked

Two people can be travelling on the same flight – one on an Upper Class reward ticket and one on a cash economy ticket upgraded to Upper Class with Virgin Points – and see huge differences in the tier points they receive.

This issue predates giving tier points on reward flights

For most airlines, it is totally normal that someone who upgrades a cash flight with miles will only receive status points based on the ticket they paid for.

This was the policy of the old British Airways Executive Club, and no-one complained.

It was also the policy of Virgin Flying Club before it started giving tier points on reward flights, and no-one complained.

However, given that Virgin Atlantic will now give you 200 tier points for an Upper Class return reward flight, it seems a little unfair that someone upgrading an Economy Classic cash ticket to Upper Class on points would only receive 50 tier points.

You can see written confirmation of this policy in the upgrade terms and conditions 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):

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.