Joe McConnell
Rejoice, Virgin Atlantic passengers: the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard waiting list is now open.
Synchrony’s new card, launching this fall, lets you earn 3 points per dollar at Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages and offers a host of exclusive, customizable benefits for an annual fee of $99.
Here’s what else you need to know.
Virgin Red Rewards credit card information has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard Card Details
The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard will offer an exclusive benefits system: twice a year, cardholders will be able to choose one of the following benefits to enjoy:
- A Flying Club award voucher for a companion seat or cabin upgrade on Virgin Atlantic
- One free night at a participating Virgin Hotels property
- A suite upgrade at a participating Virgin Hotels property
- A bar bill up to $300 with Virgin Voyages
- The Blue Extras package with Virgin Voyages, which includes laundry service, an exclusive cocktail party and daily coffee credits
Plus, you can always enjoy the following benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2,500 Virgin points when you add an authorised user (up to four users)
- An anniversary bonus of 5,000 Virgin points every year upon renewal
- 25 Flying Club tier points for every $2,500 in eligible purchases (up to 50 tier points per month)
- A third free night after booking two nights at a participating Virgin Hotels property once a year
With the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard you will get the following earning rates:
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- 3 points per dollar with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages
- 2 points per dollar spent on meals, groceries, select streaming services and electric vehicle charging
- 1 point per dollar everywhere else
Additionally, the card will offer an initial welcome offer of 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card in the first 90 days.
Is it worth it?
With an annual fee of just $99, the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard and its long list of benefits can represent real added value for loyal Virgin customers.
The twice-yearly customizable benefit alone should be enough to justify the card’s price. Then, after considering the card’s other benefits and earning rates, cardholders should be able to justify flying Virgin to their heart’s content.
For those wondering, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red points are essentially the same, in that you can transfer them between the two programs. TPG’s August 2024 valuations put these points at 1.4 cents each, making them one of the most valuable airline currencies on the market.
In conclusion
Some details are yet to be seen, but the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard looks like a solid value proposition if you travel frequently with Virgin and want a card to take advantage of that.
With healthy earnings rates and benefits, plus a unique perks choice system that can justify the annual card fee on its own, it promises to be a solid addition to the Virgin card lineup. If you’re interested in the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard, be sure to join the waitlist.
Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to Earn and Redeem Points for Maximum Value
