Got a Virgin credit card? Earn cashback rewards via the app

If you have either of the Virgin Atlantic credit cards, you now have access to cashback rewards.

This is similar to what is offered by American Express, and indeed what has just been launched by MBNA – see our article on MBNA ‘Smart Rewards’ here. The MBNA offers are now available via their app, having originally launched on the desktop site.

How does the Virgin Atlantic credit card cashback work?

Cashback is available to all Virgin Money cardholders, so you can also take part if you have a non-Virgin Atlantic credit card.

Importantly – and in contrast to American Express and MBNA – Virgin Money does not require you to activate any particular offer. You only need to opt-in to cashback rewards and you are automatically registered for all deals, now and in the future.

This means that you may get a pleasant surprise if you use your Virgin Atlantic credit card in a retailer which is offering cashback but which you hadn’t spotted.

How is cashback paid?

Unlike the American Express scheme, which triggers cashback instantly, the Virgin Money scheme requires you to wait 35 days before you receive your cash.

Interestingly, you have a choice of what to do with it. You can transfer it to your bank account or ask for it to be used against your credit card balance.

There is no ability to take your rebate in Virgin Points. It was presumably seen as easier, IT wise, to make a standard cashback offer available across all Virgin Money cards.

Can I register online if I don’t have a smartphone?

No. Much to the chagrin of some cardholders, all desktop card management functionality for Virgin Money cards has been removed.

In practice, it is now very difficult to operate the Virgin Atlantic credit cards if you do not have an Apple or Android device.

What sort of offers are available?

Here is a typical list supplied by a HfP reader from his own account:

Origins – 15%
Aveda – 10%
Charriol – 30%
Laithwaites – 15%
Crew Clothing – 15%
Sunday Times Wine Club – 15%
Urban 15%
Sweaty Betty – 15%
Mac – 12%
M&M Direct – 10%
Donald Russell – 7%
Byron – 10%
Feel Unique – 10%
Gousto – 10%
Lands End – 3%
Gett – 10%
H&M – 10 %
Coach – 10%
Far Fetch – 4%
Kitbag – 7%
Clinique – 7%
Europcar – 1%
David Clulow – 3%
Caffe Nero 5%
P&O Ferries – 5%
Matalan – 3%
John Lewis Opticians – 5%
Sun Glass Hut – 1%
Church’s – 5%
ATG – 4%
Hughes – 2.5%
Q Park – 2%

Conclusion

This is a good addition to the benefits package on the Virgin Atlantic credit cards.

What is especially valuable is that you don’t need to register. Simply use the cards for your daily spending and you should find that you trigger cashback without having to give it a second thought.

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.)