Tesco Clubcard to Virgin Points: The Complete Guide
If you shop at Tesco, you're already earning Clubcard points. But here's what most people don't know: those points can become flights.
Not discounts on your shopping. Not vouchers for a few quid off. Actual flights. To New York. To Dubai. To anywhere Virgin Atlantic and their partners fly.
And the best part? It's completely free to set up, and you don't need a credit card to make it work.
Let me walk you through exactly how to turn your weekly Tesco shop into your next holiday.
How Tesco Clubcard Points Convert to Virgin Points
Here's the magic formula you need to remember:
£1.50 in Clubcard vouchers = 300 Virgin points
That means every time you earn Clubcard points at Tesco, you're not just earning pennies off your next shop... you're earning points that can get you flights.
Let's put this into perspective:
A one-way flight from London to Amsterdam with Virgin can cost as little as 4,000 Virgin points + taxes
A return flight to New York? Around 16,000 Virgin points + taxes in economy
Business class to the US? 29,000 Virgin points + taxes (can you believe that?? 😱)
So if you're earning Clubcard points anyway, why not turn them into something that actually changes your life?
Step 1: Make Sure You Have Both Accounts Set Up
Before you can start converting points, you need two things:
1. A Tesco Clubcard Account
If you don't have one yet, sign up at tesco.com/clubcard. It's free, and you'll get a physical card in the mail within a few days. You can also add your card to your phone so you never forget to scan it.
2. A Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Account
Go to virginatlantic.com and sign up for their free Flying Club loyalty programme. This is where your points will go once you convert them.
Important: Make sure the name on both accounts matches exactly. If your Clubcard says "Elizabeth" but your Virgin account says "Liz," you might have issues transferring points. Use your full name as it appears on your passport for both.
Step 2: Start Earning Clubcard Points
Every time you shop at Tesco, scan your Clubcard. You'll earn 1 point for every £1 you spend on most items (some exclusions apply, like fuel and cigarettes).
But here's where it gets better: Tesco constantly runs promotions where you can earn bonus points. Check your Clubcard app regularly for offers like:
10x points on certain products
Bonus points for spending a certain amount in one shop
Extra points when you buy specific categories (like fresh produce or household items)
Also, don't forget about Tesco petrol stations. You earn 1 point per £2 spent on fuel, which adds up fast if you're filling up your car regularly.
Pro Tip: Use the Tesco Clubcard App
Download the app and check it before every shop. Tesco gives you personalised offers based on what you normally buy, so you can earn extra points without changing your shopping habits at all.
Step 3: Convert Your Clubcard Vouchers to Virgin Points
This is where the magic happens.
By default, Tesco converts your Clubcard points into vouchers four times a year. These are issued in:
February
May
August
November
You’ll see the vouchers in your Clubcard account (or receive them by post if you still get paper statements).
Good to know:
Tesco also allows you to convert points into vouchers on demand using the Clubcard app or website (as long as you have at least £1.50 worth of points).
But for most people, the quarterly vouchers are how conversions normally happen — so that’s what we’ll focus on here.
Once you have vouchers available, you can turn them into Virgin Points.
Option A: Manual Conversion (Recommended)
This gives you full control over when you convert — which matters.
Log into your Tesco Clubcard account
Go to My Clubcard Account → Spend Vouchers
Select Partner Loyalty Programmes
Choose Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Enter the amount you want to convert (minimum £1.50)
Enter your Virgin Flying Club membership number
Confirm
Your Virgin Points usually show up within a few days.
Option B: Automatic Conversion (Easier, but Less Flexible)
You can also tell Tesco to automatically convert your vouchers to Virgin Points every time they’re issued.
Log into your Clubcard account
Go to Clubcard Management → Voucher Schemes
Select Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Enter your Virgin Flying Club number
Click Join Scheme
From then on, every time Tesco issues vouchers, they’ll be sent straight to Virgin Flying Club.
I personally don’t use automatic conversion.
Virgin regularly runs promotions where you get bonus points for converting during certain periods or linking accounts at the right time. If your vouchers convert automatically, you miss those opportunities.
Manual conversion lets you:
Wait for bonus offers
Decide when to move points
Get more value from the same vouchers
If you’re serious about using points for flights (especially long-haul or premium cabins), manual conversion is the smarter option.
Step 4: Book Your Flight with Virgin Points
Once your points are in your Virgin Flying Club account, it's time to book.
How to Search for Award Flights:
Go to virginatlantic.com
Click "Book a flight"
Toggle "Search for reward flights" (this is key... you have to turn this on or it won't show you the points option)
Enter your route and dates
Select the number of passengers
Click "Search"
Virgin will show you flights available with points. You'll see options for:
Virgin Atlantic flights (direct routes from the UK to the US, Caribbean, and more)
Partner flights (Virgin is part of the SkyTeam alliance, so you can also use points on Air France, KLM, Delta, and other airlines)
Common Questions (And Honest Answers)
"Is this actually worth it, or should I just use my vouchers for shopping?"
Great question. Here's the truth: if you use your Clubcard vouchers at Tesco, they're worth face value. £10 in vouchers = £10 off your shopping.
But if you convert them to Virgin points, that same £10 can become 2,000 Virgin points, which can be worth £20-£50+ depending on how you use them.
So yes, it's worth it... if you actually use the points for flights. If you never travel, then keep your vouchers for shopping. But if you do travel, this is hands-down the better deal.
"How long does it take to earn enough points for a flight?"
It depends on how much you spend at Tesco. Let's do some quick maths:
If you spend £100 a week at Tesco, that's £5,200 a year
That's 5,200 Clubcard points per year
Which converts to roughly 3,466 Virgin points
That's enough for a one-way short-haul flight to Europe. If you're a family of four spending £200 a week, you're looking at nearly 7,000 Virgin points a year... enough for a return flight to Amsterdam or Paris for one person.
It's not instant, but it's free. And if you stack this with other strategies (like shopping portals or credit cards), it builds up much faster.
"Can I combine this with other points?"
Yes! Virgin Flying Club points don't expire as long as your account is active (meaning you earn or spend points at least once every 30 months). So you can combine:
Points from Tesco Clubcard conversions
Points from Virgin Atlantic credit cards
Points from shopping portals
Points from actually flying Virgin or their partners
This is exactly how you stack up enough points for bigger trips, like flying business class or booking long-haul flights.
Pro Tips to Earn More Clubcard Points Faster
1. Use the Tesco App for Bonus Offers
Tesco gives you personalised offers every week. Check the app before you shop, and make sure you activate the offers. Some weeks, I've earned an extra 500-1,000 points just from buying things I was already planning to buy.
2. Shop During Bonus Events
Tesco occasionally runs promotions like "Earn 3x points on your shop this weekend." If you can shift your big shop to those days, you'll earn way more points.
3. Don't Forget About Tesco Petrol
If you drive, fill up at Tesco petrol stations. You earn 1 point per £2 spent on fuel, which might not sound like much, but it adds up over time.
4. Link Your Tesco Mobile or Tesco Bank Accounts
If you have a Tesco Mobile phone plan or a Tesco Bank credit card, you'll earn extra Clubcard points every month. I'm not saying switch banks just for points, but if you're already with Tesco, make sure your accounts are linked.
What's Next?
If you're thinking, "Okay, this is great, but I want to earn points even faster," I totally get it. The truth is, Clubcard conversions are just one piece of the puzzle.
If you want to build a full strategy, one where you're earning points from multiple sources and actually booking flights regularly, that's what we teach inside Fly Smart Accelerator.
But for now, start here:
Get your Clubcard and Virgin Flying Club accounts set up
Start scanning your Clubcard every time you shop
Wait for your vouchers to arrive or convert them manually
Convert them to Virgin points
Book your first flight
That's it. That's how you turn your weekly Tesco shop into a trip to New York, Amsterdam, or anywhere else you want to go.
Hope this helps. Xx
