New Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard spans cruises, flights, hotels

For the launch, Virgin Red is offering a boarding bonus of 40,000 Virgin Points to new cardholders who spend $3,000 in their first 90 days.

Launching this fall

The card is available only to US residents aged 18 or older. Residents of the 50 US states or Washington, DC can sign up for a wait-list ahead of the card launching this fall.

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard issued by Synchrony will allow holders to earn three Virgin Points for every $1 spent on purchases with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages. Plus, cardholders will earn two Virgin Points for every $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, on select streaming services and for EV charging, and one Virgin Point for every $1 spent on anything else anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Virgin Points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards across Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Perks start at $15,000 in spending

For an annual fee of $99, cardholders can choose from six Virgin perks twice a year. One can be selected when they spend $15,000 and another when they spend $30,000. The perks currently include up to a $300 bar tab and a Blue Extras Perk Package that includes laundry service, an exclusive cocktail party and daily coffee credits.

Non-cruise perks include a Flying Club reward voucher for a companion seat or a cabin upgrade on Virgin Atlantic, one free hotel night stay or a one suite upgrade at a participating Virgin Hotel.

Customers can select the same option twice.

Redeem points for flights, cruises, hotel stays and more

Virgin Points can be redeemed for rewards from Virgin including flights, cruises and hotel stays, as well as on rewards with other partners such as movie tickets.

For example, cardholders who spend $700 on everyday purchases and $300 at grocery stores each month for a year would earn 15,600 Virgin Points. This, combined with the boarding bonus of 40,000 Virgin Points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, is enough for two roundtrip flights between the UK and New York with points to spare.

Cardholders who spend $4,700 on everyday purchases and $300 at grocery stores each month would earn 63,000 Virgin Points in a year, enough for a four-night cruise in the Caribbean with Virgin Voyages when combined with the boarding bonus. In addition, they would get to select from two Virgin perks and, if they are a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club member, earn 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 spent.

Points are subject to change and availability.