Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership vs. Virgin Crimson: What’s the distinction?

Metro Loud
10 Min Read


The Virgin Group runs two loyalty packages that look completely different on the floor however work collectively behind the scenes — and when you hyperlink them, you can transfer your Virgin factors seamlessly between each accounts.

One focuses extra on flights and elite standing, the opposite extra on on a regular basis earnings and nonflight rewards.

Learn on to learn the way Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Membership program and Virgin Crimson match collectively, how they considerably overlap, and the way simple it’s to earn Virgin factors.

Associated: How one can e-book Virgin Inns with Virgin factors

What’s Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership?

Flying Membership is Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty program. Members earn redeemable Virgin factors (and tier factors towards elite standing) on paid Virgin Atlantic flights and on accomplice flights, together with with SkyTeam companions, by including their Flying Membership membership quantity to their reserving upfront of their flight.

You may also earn Virgin factors through Flying Membership by way of:

  • Inns: You’ll be able to earn Virgin factors by reserving stays with Virgin Inns, Virgin Restricted Version, Marriott, Finest Western, Hilton, Kaligo, IHG, Rocketmiles and Hyatt.
  • Automotive rental companions: Virgin Atlantic companions with Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, Nationwide and Sixt.
  • Virgin Trains Ticketing: Earn factors for practice journeys throughout Nice Britain.
  • Heathrow Rewards: You’ll be able to earn factors for buying or parking at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and switch them to Flying Membership.
  • Outlets Away: Earn Virgin factors whenever you select to buy at over 1,000 retailers by way of Virgin Atlantic’s buying portal.

Elite standing can also be supplied within the Flying Membership program at three tiers: Crimson (entry), Silver and Gold, with SkyTeam alliance recognition on the higher ranges.

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You’ll be able to search and e-book Virgin Atlantic award seats on-line by way of Flying Membership, in addition to redeem Virgin factors for seat upgrades on Virgin Atlantic money fares. You may also redeem Virgin factors for accomplice flights, together with on Delta Air Traces, by reserving by way of Flying Membership.

Moreover, you should utilize your Virgin factors for choose nonflying actions, corresponding to Virgin Voyages cruises, Virgin Inns stays and Eurostar practice vouchers, amongst others.

Associated: Full service for fewer factors: 6 perks you may obtain on a 6,000-point Virgin Atlantic flight to London

Virgin Atlantic premium economy
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

What’s Virgin Crimson?

Virgin Crimson is Virgin’s groupwide rewards membership, providing quite a few incomes and redemption alternatives that reach effectively past journey, and it additionally makes use of Virgin factors as its loyalty forex.

There aren’t any standing ranges in Virgin Crimson.

Whereas among the similar incomes and redeeming companions obtainable by way of Flying Membership are additionally obtainable by way of Virgin Crimson, the Virgin Crimson platform focuses much less on flying and extra on its substantial community of on-line buying companions, Virgin Voyages cruises, present vouchers and experiences.

Chances are you’ll be shocked at simply what number of locations you may earn and redeem Virgin factors by way of Virgin Crimson.

In case you do not fancy flying, or maybe cannot discover any obtainable seats on the redemption charges you wish to pay, yow will discover a lot of fascinating methods to redeem Virgin factors by way of Virgin Crimson.

Virgin Red screenshot
VIRGIN RED

Be aware that for many nontravel redemptions, you’ll obtain a redemption worth of roughly 0.67 cents per Virgin level, which is decrease than our December 2025 valuation of 1.3 cents per Virgin level.

You will usually get higher worth out of your Virgin factors by redeeming them for flights than for nontravel experiences, nevertheless it’s good to have choices.

Create each a Flying Membership and Crimson account on-line (or by way of every program’s app) for those who don’t have already got them, utilizing the identical e mail deal with, title and date of delivery for each. Then, open the Virgin Crimson app or web site, navigate to your account particulars and choose the choice to hyperlink your accounts.

Check in along with your Flying Membership particulars (you may have a Flying Membership account quantity, whereas Crimson simply exhibits your e mail deal with) and guarantee your private data matches throughout each profiles.

Virgin Red screenshot
VIRGIN RED

As soon as linked, your Virgin factors will probably be displayed as a mixed stability in every program, no matter which platform you earned them by way of.

There’s nothing else to handle; you’ll earn and redeem in a single Virgin factors stability with out shuffling factors backwards and forwards.

Virgin factors are value the identical by way of Flying Membership and Crimson, so there is no want to decide on one over the opposite; Flying Membership will provide extra flight redemption choices, whereas Crimson provides extra “on the bottom” nontravel experiences.

How one can earn Virgin factors

It is very simple to earn Virgin factors as Flying Membership and/or Crimson accomplice with each transferable rewards forex. You’ll be able to switch factors from the next rewards packages to Flying Membership:

You’ll be able to switch rewards from the next packages to Virgin Crimson:

  • Bilt Rewards (factors switch at a 1:1 ratio)
  • Capital One (miles switch at a 1:1 ratio)
  • Citi ThankYou Rewards (factors switch at a 1:1 ratio)
  • Wells Fargo Rewards (factors switch at a 1:1 ratio)

Be looking out for switch bonuses, that are usually supplied by each Flying Membership and Crimson.

Listed here are a number of of our favourite journey rewards playing cards with notable welcome bonuses you can convert to Virgin factors:

  • Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges): Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges): Earn 125,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and charges): Earn 200,000 bonus factors after spending $30,000 within the first six months from account opening.
  • American Specific® Gold Card: Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible for as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome provides fluctuate, and also you is probably not eligible for a proposal.
  • Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
  • Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card: Earn a limited-time provide of 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $10,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.
A view of the starboard bow of a cruise ship at sea
VIRGIN VOYAGES

Backside line

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Virgin Crimson aren’t competing packages — they’re two components of the identical Virgin factors ecosystem with important overlap and rewards which are simple to earn and redeem.

Flying Membership is the place you earn standing and e-book flights with money or factors (together with with SkyTeam companions), whereas Virgin Crimson focuses extra on on a regular basis incomes and nonflight rewards like buying, accommodations and nontravel experiences.

When you hyperlink accounts, you’ll see a single Virgin factors stability in each, permitting you to earn wherever you like to e-book and redeem wherever your factors go furthest.

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