Good news for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members and those of you still considering defecting from British Airways Executive Club! From 13th March 2025, booking a holiday with Virgin Atlantic Holidays will help you reach elite status even faster, thanks to double Tier Points and extra bonus perks.
You can read our recent article covering all the fine details of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club here.
In this post:
Earn More Tier Points While You Travel
Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to award Tier Points on package holidays, and now they’re following in the footsteps of British Airways lucrative, but somewhat controversial Holiday Tier points deal. Here’s what you get when booking a Virgin Atlantic Holiday:
- Double Tier Points on all Virgin Atlantic flights when booked as part of a holiday.
- 200 bonus Tier Points for the lead booker when spending £4,000 or more between 13th March and 30th September 2025.
- An easy route to Silver status: Book a holiday with Upper Class flights, and everyone on the booking gets Silver status. Book a Premium or Economy Delight holiday worth £4,000+, and the lead booker gets Silver status.
Fast-Track Your Way to Silver and Gold
If you’re chasing elite perks, this offer is a really worth considering. Here’s why:
- Silver status (400 Tier Points needed): Perks include Premium check-in, priority boarding, and free seat selection.
- Gold status (1,000 Tier Points needed): This gets you into Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, Upper Class check-in, and complimentary seat selection at booking.
- Even Red Tier members get priority boarding in Economy and free seat selection when booking through Virgin Atlantic Holidays.
What You’d Normally Need to Fly to Earn Status
Without this promotion, here’s how many flights you’d usually need to reach status:
Earning Silver (400 Tier Points)
You would typically need:
- 2 return trips in Upper Class (200 Tier Points per round trip)
- 4 return trips in Premium (100 Tier Points per round trip)
- 8 return trips in Economy Delight (50 Tier Points per round trip)
Earning Gold (1,000 Tier Points)
To hit Gold, you’d usually need:
- 5 return trips in Upper Class (200 Tier Points per round trip)
- 10 return trips in Premium (100 Tier Points per round trip)
- 20 return trips in Economy Delight (50 Tier Points per round trip)
With double Tier Points from Virgin Atlantic Holidays, you could cut those flight requirements in half if you book as part of a holiday package. Plus, if your trip qualifies for Silver status instantly, you won’t need to fly as many times to get there.
How This Ties Into the Recent Virgin Atlantic Status Match from British Airways
If you took advantage of Virgin Atlantic’s recent status match from British Airways, your Silver or Gold status would typically be valid for 12 months from the date your match was approved.
- Example: If you received your status match with their most recent offer, which was January 2025, your Virgin Atlantic status would be valid until January 2026.
- To keep your status beyond that, you would need to earn the required 400 Tier Points (Silver) or 1,000 Tier Points (Gold) before your expiry date.
This new double Tier Points promotion, could be perfect for anyone whose matched status is about to expire, as it provides an easier way to requalify quickly by booking a Virgin Atlantic Holiday.
There is no end date published on the Double Tier Points promotion, so we can only hope it is still around next year for anybody who took advantage of the most recent Status Match from British Airways to be able to retain status from early 2026.
A Clever Response to British Airways’ New Changes?
Virgin Atlantic’s latest promotion coincides with significant changes to British Airways’ Executive Club. BA is transitioning to a revenue-based system for earning Tier Points, which many believe is a response to previous promotions, like the double Tier Points on holidays, that led to an influx of Gold status members, resulting in overcrowded lounges.
In contrast, Virgin Atlantic is simplifying the path to elite status. With double Tier Points and instant Silver upgrades, this promotion offers an attractive alternative for travelers who may find BA’s new structure less accommodating. If maintaining elite perks is a priority, Virgin Atlantic’s offer is worth considering. It makes us wonder though, if Virgin are just setting themselves up for the same issues BA have found themselves in.
Anthony Woodman, Vice President of Flying Club & CRM at Virgin Atlantic, said:
“Finding ways to make Flying Club even more rewarding never stops, which is why it’s now time to double up on our benefits for customers choosing Virgin Atlantic Holidays.
“Every member should feel valued, and I’m delighted that anyone enjoying a holiday will double their Tier Points, reaching status even faster, with further bonus Tier Points available on top of this. This latest evolution means that Virgin Atlantic Holidays are more appealing than ever, showing our unwavering commitment to all our members, whatever their reasons for travelling.”
What You Need to Know
- The holiday must include Virgin Atlantic flights + accommodation or car hire, for at least three nights.
- The 200 bonus Tier Points only go to the lead booker for holidays worth £4,000+.
- Change and cancellation fees don’t count toward the £4,000 spend.
- Tier Points will be credited after travel.
Should You Book?
If you’re keen to fast-track to Silver or Gold, this is a great way to do it. Even if you were already planning a Virgin Atlantic Holiday, the added perks make it even better.
For those trying to hit Gold status, this promo speeds up the process, especially if you book Upper Class or multiple qualifying trips.
And with BA’s new earning structure on the way, Virgin Atlantic’s offer might just be the push some travellers need to switch loyalties. If status matters to you, this deal is one to seriously consider.
