Published 25 June 2026 | Updated 4 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
When does Virgin Atlantic have sales? Its most recent sale closed on 30 September 2026, so if you missed it, the next chance should come around Black Friday in late November 2026. Based on previous years, the Boxing Day sale follows, usually opening in late December and running to late January 2027. That’s the big one. It normally covers every long-haul route from Heathrow, and the cheapest seats to New York and the Caribbean tend to go in the first 48 hours. A late-summer sale completes the year.
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“Black Friday comes first, but the Boxing Day sale is the one to plan for, because it usually covers the whole long-haul network and runs for weeks. The catch is that the cheapest seats to New York and the Caribbean go in the first 48 hours. Pick your route and dates now, so you’re ready to book the morning it opens.”Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
| Sale type | When it runs | Routes | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday | Late November | Long-haul network | 4 to 5 days |
| Boxing Day sale | Late December to late January | All long-haul routes | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Bank holiday | Occasional, in past years | Selected routes | Short |
| Late summer sale | August to September | Selected routes | Variable |
| Flying Club events | Throughout the year | Miles events only | Varies |
If you’re planning a trip with Virgin Atlantic, read our full guide to flying with Virgin Atlantic, which covers check-in, seating and what to expect on board.
When to expect the next Virgin Atlantic sale
Virgin Atlantic doesn’t publish a sale calendar. Sales arrive with little warning, usually by email to subscribers and push notification in the app. Its most recent sale closed on 30 September 2026, so nothing is running now. Based on previous years, here’s what to expect next, in date order.
| Sale | Expect it next | What it usually covers | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday | Late November 2026 | Long-haul network | Turn on app notifications |
| Boxing Day sale | Late December 2026 to late January 2027 | All long-haul routes | Book in the first 48 hours |
| Late summer sale | August to September 2027 | Winter and New Year departures | Sign up for VA email alerts |
The Black Friday sale
Virgin Atlantic has run a Black Friday promotion in recent years. It usually opens a day or two before Black Friday and runs to Cyber Monday or early December, so expect the next one in the final week of November 2026. It’s often the sale with the steepest headline discounts, but the deeper cuts apply to fewer seats. It’s also short, usually four or five days. If you miss the cheapest tier, the next price band up often still beats a standard fare.
The Boxing Day and New Year sale
The Boxing Day sale is Virgin Atlantic’s biggest promotion of the year. Based on previous years, expect it to open in late December 2026 and run to late January 2027, giving you four to six weeks to book. The 2024/25 sale, for example, ran from 19 December 2024 to 3 February 2025. Sale fares usually cover travel well into the following year. Virgin Atlantic’s 331-day booking window means flights to around the end of August 2027 are already bookable. Every long-haul route is normally included:
- US: New York JFK and Newark, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and Boston
- Caribbean: Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and Grenada
- Africa and India: Johannesburg, Mumbai and Delhi
The cheapest seats on routes such as London to New York or London to Barbados can go within 48 hours of the sale opening. Upper Class fares appear in some years, though not on every route. Economy and Premium Economy are discounted more reliably. If you’re after Upper Class, check the sale in its first few days, before those seats go.
Bank holiday sales (no longer regular)
Virgin Atlantic has run occasional Easter and bank holiday sales in the past, but its regular fixtures are now a late-summer sale, Black Friday and a year-end sale. Don’t plan a trip around a bank holiday offer. Sign up for email alerts and turn on app notifications rather than checking by hand.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and bonus mile events
The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club runs bonus events through the year that are separate from fare sales. These usually offer double or triple Tier Points on certain routes or travel dates, or bonus miles on partner deals. They don’t cut the fare, but they raise the return on a standard booking if you collect miles. If you fly VA often, join and keep notifications on before each sale window.
- Tier Points build towards Flying Club status.
- Higher tiers unlock lounge access and seat upgrades, which add value beyond the ticket price.
- Bonus events have no fixed schedule, so they’re announced the same way as sales, by email and in the app.
How to find out when a Virgin Atlantic sale is on
The most reliable way to hear first is to sign up for email alerts on the Virgin Atlantic website and turn on push notifications in the Virgin Atlantic app. The app alert usually arrives before the email, sometimes by several hours. A Google Flights alert on your route also catches price drops outside sale periods. When the Boxing Day sale is due, check Virgin Atlantic’s own sale page each morning from mid-December. In 2024 it opened on 19 December.
| Method | What you get | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| VA app push | Sale live notification | Fastest |
| VA email alerts | Sale announcement email | Same day, usually within hours |
| Google Flights alert | Route-specific price drops | Within 24 hours |
Tips for booking at the lowest price
- Book early in the sale window. The cheapest seats on popular routes, particularly New York, Barbados and Antigua, can sell out within 48 hours. Logging in on the morning the sale opens gives you the best chance of the headline fare.
- Travel midweek. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures are usually cheaper than weekend flights, even in a sale. Shifting your dates by a day or two can make a difference.
- Look at shoulder season travel. VA sales usually cover travel dates well into the following year. February, March and November departures are usually cheaper than July or August, even within the sale.
- Watch for Upper Class. If a premium cabin is on your list, check the Boxing Day sale in its first 72 hours. Upper Class seats at sale prices are limited and go quickly.
- Check your baggage before you pay. Virgin Atlantic’s standard long-haul Economy fare includes checked baggage, but some promotional fares carry restrictions. Read our guide to the Virgin Atlantic baggage allowance first.
For a wider strategy covering all UK carriers, see our guide to how to get cheap flights from the UK.
What if you miss the sale?
If you miss the Black Friday or Boxing Day sale on the route you want, all isn’t lost. Virgin Atlantic adjusts prices as departure approaches, and checking two to four weeks before you travel sometimes turns up reductions on unsold seats.
- Set a Google Flights price alert for your route. It catches fare drops outside sales, when Virgin Atlantic cuts prices on quieter dates.
- Check partner routes. Virgin Atlantic flies mainly from Heathrow, but partner airlines serve some routes under codeshare deals. Searching those through the VA booking engine can sometimes turn up a cheaper option.
- Look at other airlines. British Airways sale dates and Ryanair sale dates follow separate calendars, so another airline may have a sale on when VA doesn’t.
Everything you need to know about Virgin Atlantic
Frequently asked questions
When does Virgin Atlantic have its biggest sale?
The Boxing Day sale. Based on previous years, expect it from late December 2026 to late January 2027, covering every long-haul route from Heathrow. The 2024/25 sale ran from 19 December 2024 to 3 February 2025, and the cheapest seats on popular routes go in the first 48 hours.
Does Virgin Atlantic have a Black Friday sale?
Yes, in recent years. It usually opens in the final week of November and runs to Cyber Monday or early December, so expect the next one in late November 2026. It covers the long-haul network and often carries some of the steepest discounts of the year.
How much can you save in a Virgin Atlantic sale?
Virgin Atlantic tends to advertise its sales as headline ‘from’ fares and pounds off rather than percentages. In its September 2025 sale, returns started at £385 and holidays came with up to £300 extra off. The headline fares only apply to the cheapest seats, and there aren’t many of them.
Do Virgin Atlantic sales include Upper Class?
Sometimes. Upper Class fares appear in the Boxing Day sale in some years, though not on all routes, while Economy and Premium Economy are discounted more consistently. If Upper Class is your aim, check the sale in its first 72 hours, before those seats disappear.
When is the next Virgin Atlantic sale?
Probably Black Friday, in late November 2026. Virgin Atlantic doesn’t announce dates in advance, but based on previous years the Boxing Day sale should follow from late December 2026 to late January 2027. Its most recent sale closed on 30 September 2026, so sign up for email alerts at virginatlantic.com and turn on app notifications now.
How far ahead can I book in a Virgin Atlantic sale?
Up to 331 days ahead. As of 4 October 2026, flights to around the end of August 2027 are bookable, so a Black Friday or Boxing Day fare can cover a trip next summer.
How do I get notified of Virgin Atlantic sales?
Through the Virgin Atlantic app. Turn on push notifications there, as they usually arrive before the email alerts you can sign up for at virginatlantic.com. A Google Flights alert on your route also catches price drops outside sales.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
