Get 2,000 free Virgin Points with Tesco Clubcard auto-convert

Tesco and Avios are going their separate ways on 18th January 2021 which has been a blow to many flyers.

The good news is that Virgin Atlantic is remaining a Tesco Clubcard partner even though Tesco is not part of the new Virgin Red loyalty app.

In an attempt to persude ex-Avios collectors to send their Clubcard points to Virgin instead, it is offering its biggest ever incentive.

You will receive 2,000 bonus Virgin Points if you switch your Tesco Clubcard account to auto-convert points to Virgin Flying Club.

There is a competition too

For each of the next three statement periods, FIVE people will win 40,000 Virgin Points.  This means that there are 15 winners in all.

Everyone who activates auto-convert during this new promotion will be eligible to win.

How do you turn on auto-convert?

You need to visit the Clubcard website here.

Sign in to your account and click on ‘Clubcard Account’.  Select ‘Account Management’ and then ‘Voucher Schemes’.  From this page you can select the “Virgin Points” box to enable auto-exchange.

Is there any small print?

Yes.  Note these three things:

you must activate auto-convert by 28th January

you must have at least £1.50 of Clubcard vouchers available for conversion on that date

you must not have receive a bonus for turning on auto-convert to Virgin Flying Club in the past

Is this worth doing?

I am usually a little sceptical about auto-converting your Clubcard points.

You would miss out if a conversion bonus came along, or indeed a better Tesco Clubcard offer launched with another partner.

In general, it is better to keep your Clubcard vouchers in a drawer until you need them, or until a conversion bonus appears.

However …. the days of lucrative offers on Tesco Clubcard seem to be over.  2,000 Virgin Points is also a VERY good incentive – you’d usually need to spend £800 in Tesco to earn £8 of Clubcard vouchers to receive 2,000 points.

On this basis, assuming you’d only generate a few pounds of vouchers per quarter, you are likely to be better off by activating auto-convert for a while and seeing how it goes.

A quick reminder on timing

As a reminder, the Avios partnership with Tesco ends on 18th January.  As the next lot of Clubcard vouchers are sent out AFTER 18th January, you will not receive any future Avios points via auto-convert.

The Clubcard points you accumulate during November and December should, if you want them to go to Avios, be MANUALLY turned into vouchers before 18th January.  You can do this via the Clubcard app.  You need at least 150 Clubcard points.

Find out more

You can see details of this new Tesco / Virgin Points bonus on the Virgin Flying Club / Tesco Clubcard page here.

How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, one has a bonus of 15,000 points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

The UK’s most generous free Visa or Mastercard at 0.75 points / £1 Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

15,000 points bonus and the most generous non-Amex for day to day spending Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 30,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 30,000 Virgin Points:

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points. 

(Want to earn more Virgin Points?  Click here to see our recent articles on Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club and click here for our home page with the latest news on earning and spending other airline and hotel points.)