Virgin Atlantic’s New “High Five”: 12,000 Points For Flying In Five Different Years (Backdated To 2021)
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Starting January 2026, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club is giving out a sweet bonus called High Five. Basically, if you’ve flown with them in five different years since January 1, 2021, you’ll get 12,000 Virgin points! Here is their press release.
What’s the deal with High Five?
It’s a loyalty reward for folks who stick with Virgin Atlantic over time. It’s not just about chasing status every year; it’s about recognizing your long-term support. To grab those 12,000 points, all you need to do is fly at least once with Virgin Atlantic in five (5) separate years. Virgin says those points can get you a round-trip Saver Reward from London to New York in economy (just keep in mind you’ll need to pay taxes and fees).
Plus, if you’re a Flying Club Red member, you’ll get a 10% points bonus on any Virgin flights you pay for after getting your first High Five. You can keep track of your progress in the Virgin Atlantic app starting in early 2026. They’ve been counting since 2021, so get ready!
Okay, here’s the lowdown on how it all works:
- When does it start? January 2026, looking back at flights from January 1, 2021.
- What’s a year anyway? Your first flight each calendar year is what counts. Only one flight each year goes toward High Five. Here’s a trick: if you fly out on December 31 and return on January 1, that counts as flights in two different years!
- Which flights are good? Flights have to be on planes run by Virgin Atlantic, and you need to put your Flying Club number on the booking. Flights with partners don’t count.
- Can I do this more than once? Yep! Every five different years you fly, you get another High Five.
- What about flights I get with points? The official page doesn’t say for sure, but it looks like these flights do count as long as Virgin Atlantic runs the flight and it goes to your Flying Club account. We’ll let you know if anything changes!
High Five only counts flights taken as a Flying Club member with your number on the booking.
High Five — “Counts / Doesn’t Count” At A Glance
| Scenario | Counts toward High Five? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic flight (paid), Flying Club number on booking | Yes | VS-operated only. |
| Virgin Atlantic flight (award), Flying Club number on booking | Likely yes | Reported by OMAAT/Frequent Miler; awaiting explicit wording in T&Cs. |
| Delta-operated codeshare (ticketed by VS) | No | “Only VS-operated flights count.” |
| Flight before you joined Flying Club | No | Must be a Flying Club member when you fly. |
| Two flights in the same calendar year | Counts once | Only the first completed flight in a year is eligible. |
| Dec 31 outbound + Jan 1 return | Counts twice | Spans two calendar years. |
If you’re at 4/5 years, a Dec/Jan trip can complete two years with one itinerary (Dec 31 out / Jan 1 back).
What Can You Do With 12,000 Virgin Points?
Virgin highlights that 12k points can cover a return Saver Reward LON–NYC in Economy (subject to availability, taxes/fees, and surcharges). You can also spend points across Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and the wider Virgin Red network. (Remember: points never expire.)
Who Benefits Most?
- “Not-very-frequent” flyers who choose Virgin periodically for holidays or family trips. You don’t need five flights in one year—just one in five different years.
- Households: If you use a household account, Virgin says you can pool multiple 12,000-point rewards earned in the same year—handy for families who’ve all hit the milestone.
- New or returning members: Because tracking goes back to 2021, you may already be at (or near) the finish line.
Conclusion
This is a traveler-friendly perk that rewards consistency over time—not just big annual spend. From what’s public today, it looks especially valuable for leisure flyers and families.
Make This Work For You
- Join (or log in to) Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and add your number to all future bookings.
- Check your past years (2021–2025): you might be instantly eligible when credits post in January.
- Plan your fifth year smartly: use the Dec/Jan two-year trick if you’re one year short.
