Virgin Red rewards club launches

Virgin Group has unveiled its revamped Virgin Red rewards club, following the launch of a group-wide Virgin Points currency earlier this year.

Readers may remember the launch of Virgin Red in 2015, a membership app which promised “exclusive offers, events, and experiences from across the Virgin Group”.

A second Virgin Red Vaults app has also been existence, but this will now be retired in December.

As previously reported by Business Traveller, Virgin has been working on the development of a company-wide loyalty programme using a unified currency since 2018.

An initial invitation-only period will see existing Virgin Red Vaults users invited to join the new club, with the scheme expanding in the new year “into an even bigger, better rewards club fit for the future, ready to launch where you don’t need an invitation to join”.

Virgin Red has confirmed to Business Traveller that while the Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club programmes remain separate, users will be able to link their accounts, so that they can access their Virgin Points balances in both programmes.

The Virgin Red club has five reward categories, described as:

• EVERYDAY TREATS such as getting a freshly ground Fairtrade coffee or (Vegan) Sausage Roll on the go (from Greggs), a case of wine delivered to their door (from Virgin Wines), theatre tickets or a drive-in cinema experience (with London Theatre Direct).
• EXPLORE MORE with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Limited Edition, Virgin Voyages and on reward flights to Europe and beyond with Air France KLM and seven other airline partners.
• EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE Virgin Experience Days that can both be enjoyed at home or away – for instance a stay at home chocolate truffle making masterclass to money-can’t-buy experiences that will be revealed next year.
• POINTS FOR GOOD Support the build of technology capable of removing carbon from the atmosphere (a world-first for a loyalty programme), donate points to local good causes and national charities via Virgin Money Giving (including the Edinburgh Food Project and the National Autistic Society), or purchase products from Virgin StartUp businesses.
• EVERYDAY LIVING Earn Virgin Points on utility bills (with Octopus Energy), and a range of high street and online retailers including Marks and Spencer, Boots, B&Q, John Lewis and Partners and Just Eat. Plus points, can of course, be earned with Virgin companies including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Media, Virgin Wines, Virgin Experience Days and Virgin Mobile.

Virgin said that during the invitation-only period “new updates, offers and functionality will be added to the programme” in preparation for Virgin Red’s open market launch in the new year.

The group also said that “Because of this and the Covid-19 crisis, Virgin Red will showcase a selection of rewards including those which are lockdown-friendly (rather than its whole catalogue) during this period and will release new offers regularly”.

A full list of where Virgin Red users can earn and spend points during the initial period can be in the charts below.

Commenting on the relaunch Kelly Best, Virgin Red’s chief marketing officer, said:

“Being a member of Virgin Red is not just about earning Virgin Points – it’s about helping members live a life more Virgin by discovering all of the amazing products and services the Virgin companies offer.

“Virgin Red has been built by understanding what our members need, want and love and creating a club that revolves around them. Our members can use their points on everyday treats, extraordinary Virgin experiences and good causes close to their hearts, including game-changing carbon removal technology – with points that never expire.

“Virgin Red exists to reward and recognise its members – so we will always listen to them to ensure we evolve based on what our members tell us they want as well as responding to the challenges everyone is facing at the moment – to ensure our rewards stay relevant no matter what the future may hold.”

virginred.com