NEW Virgin Credit card

[Laurafoster]

I remember a post a while ago about someone looking for the Virgin Credit card that offers flyer miles too and Virgin had withdrawn it. I couldnt find the post so thought id post it here!

They have now released their "white card" and i have to change to this or loose out on getting flying club miles.

The main difference is that it is now American Express instead of Mastercard!

BUT...

You get 3000 miles if you join and use the card before 15th September


If you spend £15000 a year you get a free companion flights

Spend £20k per year to get 2 PE Upgrades!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx for the info Laura

 

[LeCras]

There is also a black card, supposedly available by invitation only (or at least that's what the letter implies):

AmEx

10,000 miles if you join and use the card before 15th September

Spending £7,500 a year gets you a free companion flight

Spending £5,000 a year gets you two free upgrades.

4 miles for every £1 spent until 31 July 2007, up to £20,000

After 31 July 2007 2 miles for every £1 spent

6 miles for every £1 spent at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays until 31 July 2007, up to £20,000

After 31 July 2007 4 miles for every £1 spent

Charlotte

 

[AndRu]

I've been offered the black card (the letter came today) and I think that's only because I already have the £80 annual fee & 2 points per pound card. Maybe the "white" version is for those that had/have the no annual fee and 1 point per mile? I'm upgrading my card to the black version just to get the extra 10k points for joining!

 

[LeCras]

I've been offered the black card (the letter came today) and I think that's only because I already have the £80 annual fee & 2 points per pound card. Maybe the "white" version is for those that had/have the no annual fee and 1 point per mile? I'm upgrading my card to the black version just to get the extra 10k points for joining!

Yes, we have the card with the annual fee too so that sounds likely. We'll be upgrading as well, although I must admit we're gutted that it's AmEx - so many places don't accept it!

Charlotte

 

[AndRu]

Agreed. AmEx makes itself out to be a "market leader" but there are so many places that don't accpet it. We''ll just have to be selective where we shop after we get the new cards! With a bit of careful planning / budgeting I might get to 40k points by the time we need to book our flights in September '06 for our August '07 trip. I feel the lure of a PE upgrade coming on!

 

[Pootle]

I remember a post a while ago about someone looking for the Virgin Credit card that offers flyer miles too and Virgin had withdrawn it. I couldnt find the post so thought id post it here!

That was me, and thanks for the info Laura. I'm going to check it out now. Only problem is, we already have a BA Amex card and as another poster has mentioned, it isn't accepted everywhere.

Sounds interesting though

 

[carolfoy]

Is it replacing the old style red point for every £1 spent card? as I have that card but haven't had any notification of it changing??

 

[Laurafoster]

Yes we got a letter yesterday about it. We were told that we can keep the old one but as of the 31st December you would no longer earn miles for anything spent.

Also, anyone can get the black card, we dont have the fee one and just had a look to sign up for the black one but was put off by the £115 a year fee. - Thought it used to be £80, as its AmEx i wont use it as much as i would a mastercard!

 

[princess jackson]

I applied for the white one today, and was accepted.

Thanks for the link, i have tried several times to change my normal £ equals points with Virgin but they would not do it.

For some reason they accepted my application today

I just need to use my virgin members points i have 7000 to use, ummmm decisions

 

[mikki.young]

I see they have also put the fee up for the black card to over £100. If we can use the cards as much till July 2007 then we will be getting more points but it is harder with Amex. I have upgraded (as they call it) to the white card because I want to book a flight soon so might as well get the extra points offered for paying virgin direct.

 

[AndRu]

Oh.
My.
Goodness.

The APR on the Black card (i.e. the one you can earn loads of points on) is ....

37.1%

I'm glad I pay my balance off in full at the end of every month, 37.1% is extortionate!

What's the betting they now change the rules so that you need even more points before a discount applies as well?

 

[carolfoy]

Got my letter yesterday advising me of the change, I probably will change over to amex but probably won't use it that much! well, once the balance is paid off its their loss - I'll just change to one that offers something else.

 

[mikki.young]

Oh.
My.
Goodness.

The APR on the Black card (i.e. the one you can earn loads of points on) is ....

37.1%

I'm glad I pay my balance off in full at the end of every month, 37.1% is extortionate!

What's the betting they now change the rules so that you need even more points before a discount applies as well?

The 37.1% includes the annual fee but it is still extortionate.

Anybody know what virgin charge for paying by credit card with them and if Amex costs more than Mastercard?

 

[carolfoy]

Don't know about Virgin but a lot of places do charge extra for Amex payment -usually around double the percentage of a visa/mastercard payment!

 

[Laurafoster]

I know from a banks perspective we used to get charged around 4.5% for each AmEx transaction as oppossed to the standard 2.5% for visa/mastercard etc.

Some shops dont pass this on to their customers though!