Tier points and Flying Club status
Tier Points are earned per flight, set by the cabin rather than the distance, with Upper Class earning the most and Economy Light the least. Everyone starts at Red.
Tier points and Flying Club status
Earn and spend points. No lounge access, no bonus earn.
30% bonus points, extra baggage, Premium check-in, priority boarding, free Economy seat selection from 7 days out, SkyTeam Elite.
60% bonus points, Clubhouse access, Upper Class check-in, free seat selection any time, a reward voucher on renewal, SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Every benefit compared
| Benefit | Red | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus Virgin Points when you fly | — | 30% | 60% |
| Virgin Atlantic Holidays earn | Standard | 3 points per £1 | 4 points per £1 |
| Bonus points each year | — | 2,000 on renewal | 2,000 on your birthday |
| Extra baggage | — | 1 extra checked bag, 23kg | 1 extra checked bag, 23kg, plus 1 extra hand bag, 10kg |
| Priority baggage handling | — | Yes | Yes |
| Check-in | Standard | Premium check-in for everyone on the booking, any cabin | Upper Class Wing at Heathrow with a guest; Upper Class check-in elsewhere |
| Priority boarding | — | Yes | Yes |
| Economy seat selection | Paid | Free from 7 days before travel, everyone on the booking | Free any time, everyone on the booking, plus free Exit Row and Preferred seats |
| Guaranteed Economy seat when the cabin is sold out | — | — | Yes |
| Lounge access | — | — | Clubhouses and shared lounges with a guest, plus the Revivals Lounge at Heathrow |
| SkyTeam recognition | — | Elite | Elite Plus |
| Reward vouchers | Credit card only, up to 75,000 points | Credit card only, up to 150,000 points | One on renewal, two more at 2,000 tier points, up to 150,000 points each |
| Clubhouse vouchers | — | — | Two at 1,500 tier points |
| Free reward seat changes | — | — | Yes |
| Dedicated Flying Club phone line | — | Yes | Yes |
| Partner discounts | — | 5% Holiday Extras, 10% Hertz | 10% Holiday Extras, 10% Hertz |
| Gift a year of Silver to someone else | — | — | Yes |
Keeping it
Status runs on a 12-month upgrade cycle that starts when you earn the tier, not on the calendar year. To keep Silver you need another 400 tier points within the cycle; to keep Gold, another 1,000. Gold members who reach 2,000 tier points in a membership year earn two further reward vouchers.
Gold also has a lifetime tier: ten consecutive years at Gold and 7,500 tier points earned on Virgin Atlantic flights makes it permanent. Both Silver and Gold can be extended by 12 months for parental or adoption leave. Virgin runs occasional promotions that hand out tier points for holiday bookings — a shortcut worth watching if you are close to a threshold.
Common questions
How many tier points do you need for Virgin Atlantic Silver?
400 tier points within a 12-month upgrade cycle.
How many tier points do you need for Virgin Atlantic Gold?
1,000 tier points within a 12-month upgrade cycle. Reaching 2,000 in a membership year earns two additional reward vouchers.
What is Virgin Atlantic Gold worth?
60% bonus Virgin Points, Clubhouse lounge access with a guest, Upper Class check-in, free seat selection at any time, a guaranteed Economy seat when the cabin is sold out, a reward voucher on renewal and SkyTeam Elite Plus.
More guides
Put it to use
Every Virgin Atlantic reward route we track, with the cheapest points price found. No account needed to look.
Figures on this page were checked against Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Money in August 2026. Loyalty schemes change their rates, thresholds and benefits regularly — treat this as a map, not a quote, and confirm anything you are about to act on. PointsRadar is an independent service, not affiliated with or endorsed by Virgin Atlantic, and earns nothing from any link on this page.