Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card review, 15,000 bonus points, lounge access and the £160 verdict
An honest UK review of the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card, covering 15,000 bonus points, Virgin points earning, lounge access and whether the £160 annual fee is justified
Key perks and welcome offer
The Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is built for regular UK travellers who want to turn everyday spend into Virgin points and flights. New customers can pick up 15,000 bonus points after their first purchase within 90 days, which is a neat boost towards a short haul reward or seat upgrades.
Cardholders earn 1.5 Virgin points per £1 spent and double points on Virgin Atlantic flights and Virgin Holidays, so using the card for travel and big monthly bills accelerates your points balance. The card also ties into Virgin’s wider ecosystem, making it easy to combine points with flights and holidays.
Costs, APR and who this suits
There is a £160 annual fee for the Reward Plus band, so you need to be confident you will extract more value in Virgin points and benefits than that cost. The representative APR quoted for purchases is high, so this card is only sensible if you plan to pay balances in full each month and avoid interest charges.
This card suits frequent flyers and those who can concentrate spending on categories that earn extra points; casual users may find the annual fee hard to justify. If you can realistically hit the £10,000 annual spend target, the companion ticket or upgrade reward starts to make financial sense.
Lounge access, Wi-Fi and travel extras
Reward Plus cardholders get complimentary access to Virgin Money Lounges at selected UK airports, a genuine perk for those who value pre-flight comfort. Access together with a Virgin Atlantic Lounge card can make a difference on travel days, especially during busy terminals.
The package also includes Boingo Wi-Fi access, handy for keeping devices connected on the move, plus the ability to manage everything through the Virgin Money Credit Card App. These travel extras help the card feel like more than a points machine and increase its practical value for frequent travellers.
Value for money: is £160 worth it?
To assess value, tally likely points earned versus the £160 annual fee. If you regularly book Virgin Atlantic flights, use the card for household bills and can reach the £10,000 annual spend for a companion benefit, the Reward Plus card can deliver a clear net gain in Virgin points and perks.
Points expire after 24 months unless redeemed, so plan redemptions and watch balances in the app. If you want to check eligibility before applying, use the Virgin Money Card Checker to avoid a hard search on your credit file. Overall, the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is a strong choice for UK-based travellers who spend enough to unlock its rewards and who pay balances monthly to avoid APR charges.