NEWS & OFFERS: Virgin 70% Bonus on Points, Two Major New Eurostar Routes & Turkish Airlines Adds More UK & Ireland Flights

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Up to 70% Bonus on Points Purchase

Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club have launched a relatively generous new points promotion that could significantly boost your Flying Club balance. From 9 June to 18 July 2025, members can earn up to 70% bonus Virgin Points when buying or gifting miles, with the biggest rewards going to early birds.

Offer Details

This offer is split into two tiers, based on the date of purchase:

9 June – 23 June 2025: Up to 70% Bonus

• 5,000–24,000 points: 20% bonus

• 25,000–69,000 points: 40% bonus

• 70,000–124,000 points: 60% bonus

• 125,000–200,000 points: 70% bonus

24 June – 18 July 2025: Up to 60% Bonus

• 5,000–24,000 points: 20% bonus

• 25,000–69,000 points: 30% bonus

• 70,000–124,000 points: 50% bonus

• 125,000–200,000 points: 60% bonus

To qualify for a bonus, members must buy or gift a minimum of 5,000 points. Purchases under this threshold won’t receive any bonus.

How Much Does It Cost?

Points are priced at £15 per 1,000 points, plus a £15 transaction fee per purchase. That means:

• 5,000 points = £90 total

• 10,000 points = £165 total

• 200,000 points (the maximum annual allowance) = £3,015 total

You can see below some calculations for the earlier offer and the cost per point:

Under the top 70% bonus tier, buying 200,000 points would yield 340,000 Virgin Points, enough for a premium experience like a stay at Sir Richard Branson’s luxury alpine retreat, The Lodge, in Verbier.

Virgin Points have become increasingly valuable since Flying Club joined the SkyTeam alliance, offering redemptions across carriers like Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and more. While Virgin Atlantic’s own award chart is now dynamic (and can get expensive during peak periods), partner redemptions remain on fixed charts, potentially offering excellent value.

For example, business class flights on SkyTeam partners to the US or Asia can represent strong redemption opportunities, especially during off-peak periods.

Things to Note

• The offer is valid only for Buy or Gift transactions, not transfers.

• You cannot buy or gift points if your Flying Club balance is currently zero.

• Members have a 14-day cooling-off period, as long as none of the purchased points have been redeemed.

• Check reward availability before purchasing points to avoid disappointment.

This promotion is especially attractive for those looking to top up balances for aspirational redemptions, particularly if you’re eyeing premium cabins or unique Virgin Limited Edition stays. While buying points speculatively isn’t always advisable, the 70% bonus makes this one of Flying Club’s most generous offers yet.

Find out more information here.

Eurostar to Launch Direct Trains to Frankfurt and Geneva – But Not Until the 2030s

Eurostar has announced ambitious plans to launch direct rail services between London and two new cities: Frankfurt and Geneva. The new routes will mark the high-speed operator’s first direct entry into both Germany and Switzerland, offering a potentially game-changing alternative to short-haul flights for premium leisure and business travellers alike.

However, we will need to be patient. The new services aren’t expected to begin until the early 2030s, once Eurostar’s expanded fleet of high-speed trains enters service.

While the details are still emerging, these new direct links to Germany and Switzerland will likely be popular with those seeking a more comfortable and sustainable alternative to flying. For those who already use Eurostar in Standard Premier or Business Premier cabins, the prospect of a seamless train to central Geneva or Frankfurt is a compelling one, especially with no airport queues or luggage restrictions.

This expansion is part of Eurostar’s broader push to become the dominant sustainable transport option for inter-European travel. The operator has committed €2 billion to purchase up to 50 new trains, increasing its current fleet by nearly 30%. 

While the headline routes are still several years away, Eurostar will add a fourth daily service between London, Rotterdam and Amsterdam from 9 September 2025, with a fifth planned from mid-December, helpful news for those planning autumn trips to the Netherlands.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on route developments, train interiors, and pricing models as the plans progress. For now, Eurostar’s growing ambition is a positive sign that rail could finally become a viable alternative to flying for high-end European travel – just not quite yet.

Without a First Class or proper Business Class, I do wonder how much appetite there will be from travellers on the longer routes. Unlike in Italy which has a variety or cabins from basic to very luxurious Executive Class.

Turkish Airlines Adds More UK & Ireland Flights for Summer

Turkish Airlines is increasing flights from the UK and Ireland for summer 2025 and offering competitive fares in both economy and business class.

We’ve noticed some particularly good fares from Turkish Airlines recently in our fare round ups, especially for those connecting onward via Istanbul to Asia and the Middle East. 

Here’s what’s changing with the schedule:

• London Heathrow: Now 47 weekly flights (up from 45) to Istanbul

• London Gatwick: 28 weekly (up from 26)

• Manchester: 28 weekly flights (up from 25), now offering four daily departures

• Dublin: Up to 21 weekly flights (up from 18)

• Edinburgh: 14 per week (up from 10)

• Birmingham: Increasing to 18 weekly flights from 10 June (up from 14)

With these added frequencies, travellers now have more choice for same-day connections and more award availability in both cabins.

Turkish Airlines has long offered one of the best-value business class experiences in Europe, especially when flying long-haul:

• Full flat beds on wide-body aircraft operating most long-haul and select European flights (including some London and Manchester services)

• Excellent Turkish catering, even ex-UK, think meze, grilled meats, and on-demand espresso

• Dedicated Business Class lounges at Heathrow T2 and Istanbul, where the flagship lounge offers full à la carte dining, nap pods, showers, and even a golf simulator

On recent fare checks, we’ve seen:

• London – Istanbul return in business class from £580 (for select dates in July & August)

• Manchester – Bangkok via Istanbul from £1,350 return in business class

• Edinburgh – Kuala Lumpur from £1,280 return in business class

With expanded summer frequencies, consistently strong business class service, and competitive fares from both the UK and Ireland, Turkish Airlines is a serious contender this summer, especially for those looking to fly further afield on a budget or with miles.