Maximize Virgin Atlantic Vouchers: Companion Tickets & Upgrades

The Virgin Atlantic credit card reward voucher, earned annually through UK credit card spend, offers significant value for flight redemptions. Holders of the fee-paying Reward+ Mastercard receive a voucher after spending £10,000, while the free Reward Mastercard requires £20,000. These vouchers, valid for 24 months, are worth 75,000 Virgin Points for those without Flying Club status, or an impressive 150,000 points for Silver or Gold members. All redemptions require a phone call to Virgin Flying Club, as online functionality is unavailable.

The voucher can be used in four ways, primarily for companion tickets or upgrades on Virgin Atlantic flights. For a companion ticket, it provides a substantial points discount for a second passenger on either a cash or points booking. This flexibility allows booking for any friend or family member, though Gold or Silver members can transfer it. Users must, however, pay the often-steep taxes and fees on the companion's ticket, which can reach £1,000 for an Upper Class return flight. For example, a companion Upper Class New York ticket might cost 100,000 points (175,000 less 75,000 voucher) plus £1,000 in taxes.

Alternatively, the voucher can upgrade your own cash or points booking. This applies to various routes, from Economy Delight/Classic to Premium or Upper Class, or Premium to Upper. The voucher reduces the points required for the upgrade, but additional taxes, such as increased UK Air Passenger Duty, will apply. For instance, upgrading an Economy Delight cash ticket to Upper Class could cost 60,000 points (175,000 for Upper – 40,000 base Economy – 75,000 voucher) plus the tax difference. It's crucial to note the voucher cannot book a solo redemption outright; a workaround involves booking an Economy redemption and then upgrading it.

While the vouchers cannot be used on partner airlines like Delta or ANA, their potential value is high, estimated at £750-£1,500 if points are valued at 1p each. They offer the best value for Upper Class travel, especially on routes like the US East Coast where “Saver” reward seats are more consistently available. However, be mindful of the substantial taxes and charges, and the necessity of phone bookings.

(Source: https://www.headforpoints.com/2025/10/19/how-to-use-virgin-atlantic-credit-card-voucher-2/)