Tesco boosts Clubcard with Virgin Atlantic partnership

The deal adds to the pre-existing partnership Tesco has with British Airways and Iberia through the Avios loyalty programme, which was previously known as Airmiles before a rebrand in September.

The tie-up with Virgin means customers earn 2.5 miles per £1 spent in-store or online at Tesco Direct or Tesco.com.

They will also be able to collect Flying Club miles when buying fuel from Tesco Fuel.

Clubcard points are not available for all products bought in Tesco and exclude tobacco, lottery tickets, infant formulae milk, Esso fuel, in-store concessions and some Tesco bank products.

Points can be redeemed online at a microsite for Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club, which is handled by Gyro.

Tesco's partnership with Avios allows customers to redeem 600 Avios points against £2.50 worth of Clubcard vouchers.

The rebrand to Avios as a result of the British Airways merger with Iberia stirred controversy because it coincided with a change to the terms and conditions.

As a result of the rebrand, the number of points needed to fly to different destinations changed, with some routes needing more points than previously required.

A change in terms and conditions also means Avios points not earned or redeemed in 36 months will expire.

Follow Matthew Chapman at @mattchapmanUK

This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk