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If you've got spring or summer accommodation to book – and let's be honest, most of us are either planning an Easter break or quietly panicking about summer hotel prices right now – then Virgin Red has a short-lived offer worth knowing about. Until 28 February 2026, members can earn up to 10 Virgin Points per £1 spent on Booking.com stays in the UK and Europe when booking through the Virgin Red platform. That's up from the usual eight points per £1 – a 25% bonus on your earn rate, and it applies to stays on any date as long as the booking itself is made before the deadline.
What's the Offer?
To access the bonus rate, you simply need to book your Booking.com accommodation via the Virgin Red app or website rather than going directly to Booking.com. The Virgin Red platform acts as a portal, and as long as you're logged in and your booking is completed before 28 February, you'll earn 10 Virgin Points per £1 on qualifying stays.
Virgin Red gives the example of a £600 stay earning 6,000 Virgin Points – and notes this would be enough for a one-way economy flight from London to New York. I'd take that specific claim with a pinch of salt, as standard Virgin Atlantic redemptions to the East Coast US start considerably higher than 6,000 points in practice. That figure likely refers to a specific sale or off-peak scenario. That said, 6,000 points is still a respectable top-up to your balance, and if you're booking that trip anyway, it's free points with no extra effort.
If you want to check what your Virgin Points balance could actually get you for flights, Award Travel Finder is a great place to search available award seats across Virgin Atlantic routes.
Good News for Booking.com Genius Members
If you're a Booking.com Genius member (their free loyalty scheme that unlocks discounts after a couple of bookings), you won't need to choose between your Genius perks and Virgin Points. Both stack, so you get your usual Genius discounts and benefits alongside earning Virgin Points through Virgin Red. That's a genuinely useful combination and means there's little reason not to use the portal if you're booking somewhere it covers.
Don't Forget the Rail Option Too
If you're heading to your UK staycation by train, Virgin Red also lets you earn Virgin Points on rail journeys booked through Virgin Trains Ticketing via the platform. Worth considering if you're making a weekend of it and want to rack up a few extra points along the way.
My Take
This isn't a life-changing promotion – earning 10 points per £1 rather than eight isn't going to transform anyone's Virgin Points balance overnight. But if you were already planning to book accommodation for Easter or summer and you're a Virgin Red member, it's a no-brainer to route it through the portal before 28 February rather than booking directly.
Virgin Points genuinely shine for transatlantic redemptions, particularly in Upper Class, where you can get exceptional value on business class flights to the US compared to paying cash. So even modest top-ups to your balance can be meaningful if you're working towards a big redemption. For inspiration on getting the most out of your Virgin Points, have a look at our guide to Virgin Atlantic credit cards – earning a healthy balance through a credit card is usually the fastest route to a worthwhile redemption.
How to Take Advantage
Head to the Virgin Red app or visit the Virgin Red website, search for your accommodation through Booking.com on the platform, and complete your booking before 28 February 2026. The stay itself can be for any date – it's only the booking date that matters.
Quick, simple, and genuinely useful if you're already in planning mode. Don't miss it.
— Jack
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