Virgin Australia Travel Card

[Minniemum]

Thanks Alicia

 

[Aussiefamof5]

i got mine tonight, read through the FAQ (it states that the exchange rates are visible through the 'manage my wallet' function) and went online.

it took all of about 20seconds to activate it. no drivers license or passport etc were necessary, only ticking a box that said they could verify my identity and adding my name, address, date of birth, setting up a password and answering 2 security questions. easy peasy.

all funds loaded onto the card are in aud. which means it's easy to figure out how much you're loading at any given time.

you then go into the 'manage my wallet' section and it will show your current aud (default) balance, and you can choose how many other currencies you want to have access to via the wallet. i dragged the usd currency into my 'active wallet' and up pops a message box asking if i wish to transfer funds from aud into my usd fund now.. if so, it displays an exchange rate valid for a 20-30 second window. it counts down in a timer and then refreshes the rate.

the rate it displayed tonight 10.28pm EST on 01/08/2013 was AUD 1 = USD 0.8608, $0 to buy, $1 bpay/poli load, $1 reload, $2.95 o/seas atm fee

in comparison, the following cards have current exchange rates (as at today, at this time) of:

commbank travel card: AUD 1 = USD 0.8554, $15 to buy, $0 load, 1% (max $15) reload, $2.50 o/seas atm fee
nab travel card: AUD 1 = USD 0.8531, 1% load fee, 1% reload fee, no o/seas atm fee ($3.75 if in aus)
anz travel card: AUD 1 = USD 0.8620, $0 load fee, 1.1% reload, $2.50 o/seas atm fee
auspost multi currency travel card: AUD 1 = USD 0.8581, $15 or 1.1% to buy & initial load, 1% or $10 reload (min $100 reload), no o/seas atm fee ($2.95 if in aus)
amex travel card: AUD 1 = USD 0.8627, $15 to buy & initial load, 1% or $10 to reload (min $100 reload), $2.00 o/seas atm fee

hope this helps those who are not quite sure how the fees/charges/exchange rates etc all stack up

This is great Alicia thanks very much, much for much the same as poor Aussie dollar goes but every saving counts

 

[Aussiefamof5]

Because the exchange rate changes all the time, they won't be able to publish it in the PDS but i am hoping someone has got one operating and can do an online load/reload - which will show the rate.
I wonder if they are close to Aust Post or Travelex?

Hey guys received our cards today, so have a quick update you can transfer funds, but you don't know what it is until you click on it see below:
1.00 = 0.8755 USD , it then says this rate is valid for another 9 seconds, so giving you enough time to hit accept.

I did a quick check, with commbank, there's is .86USD and NAB was .87USD so it appears the card is comparable with most others at moment.
BUT I think the A POST is the winner, but I already have one of those for our food budget, and you can only have one

 

[aussietravellers]

The virgin card is very slow to transfer the money.

I transferred some money (bpay) at the same time. One to my NAB Traveller Card and one to my new Virgin Global Wallet.

I have just checked the NAB card and the money has arrived. The Global Wallet is still "pending".

So for loading and being able to access your money. NAB Traveller Card is much faster.

 

[izzybjenn]

Thank you so much for doing this. It was on my todo list. I have been looking for info on Qantas travel card but can't seem to find anything other than Sept release. Do you think it is worth having two (as a back up) or is it over kill?

 

[aussietravellers]

Thank you so much for doing this. It was on my todo list. I have been looking for info on Qantas travel card but can't seem to find anything other than Sept release. Do you think it is worth having two (as a back up) or is it over kill?

I now have two. I have the NAB traveller card, which I have been using in the US and had no problems and have been really happy with it. We did have our cards skimmed so I had to cancel the primary card, which was super easy to do and I'm now using the second card that comes in the envelope.

I had the Virgin card sent over to me, so am now using both (well I will when the money finally arrives in the virgin card). I do like having the Virgin now as if something went wrong with the NAB card, if I lost it or something else, I'd be cardless after suspending the other NAB card. I love that the NAB card doesn't charge anything to withdraw from ATM's in the US which none of the other cards offer, they all charge a fee and on top of the ATM fee here (which is anything from $2.95 to $4 depending on the ATM) if you add on the card charge, it can prove an expensive exercise withdrawing cash, so that's why I like the NAB, no charge to withdraw (other than the ATM charge).

So yes, I don't think there is anything wrong with having a second/back up card.

Do remember that the some cards have an inactivity fee after 12 months.

 

[MsMinne]

The virgin card is very slow to transfer the money.

I transferred some money (bpay) at the same time. One to my NAB Traveller Card and one to my new Virgin Global Wallet.

I have just checked the NAB card and the money has arrived. The Global Wallet is still "pending".

So for loading and being able to access your money. NAB Traveller Card is much faster.

I picked up my nab travel card last week.
For bpay transfers it takes 24hours and if done in a branch, it takes 4 hours.

I also like the fact that I don't get charge to ATM withdrawals.

 

[gogo65]

Thanks for all the calculations alicia
We have received our cards but haven't yet activated them.
The one bonus here is the 1 point/$2 spent on the card.
My DS is thinking of getting one, so he can transfer in $500 lots(for $1 load fee) and use it as a debit card. Not bad value as he doesnt want a credit card but still gives him points.

We have the aust post load and go which is different to the aus post multicurrency card, as it is free to get, free to reload and $2 ATM fee it is currently at 87.52 compared to the multi currency card at $87.36.

Agree with others it might be worth having two different cards.

 

[gogo65]

I just hit 500 posts, only took me 6 years

 

[Aussiefamof5]

Thank you so much for doing this. It was on my todo list. I have been looking for info on Qantas travel card but can't seem to find anything other than Sept release. Do you think it is worth having two (as a back up) or is it over kill?

Totally think its worth having two cards, you just never know. Qantas card is due for release soon I think.

 

[Aussiefamof5]

The virgin card is very slow to transfer the money.

I transferred some money (bpay) at the same time. One to my NAB Traveller Card and one to my new Virgin Global Wallet.

I have just checked the NAB card and the money has arrived. The Global Wallet is still "pending".

So for loading and being able to access your money. NAB Traveller Card is much faster.

Grrrr how frustrating is that!!!

 

[SnowWhite09]

My DS is thinking of getting one, so he can transfer in $500 lots(for $1 load fee) and use it as a debit card. Not bad value as he sent want a credit card but still gives him points.

I thought you could do this, but it is good to see that someone else thinks this is possible too!

 

[SnowWhite09]

Hi Everyone

Does this card come with a pin? I received mine in the mail and was wondering if you get your pin once you activate the card?

TIA!

 

[aussietravellers]

Hi Everyone

Does this card come with a pin? I received mine in the mail and was wondering if you get your pin once you activate the card?

TIA!

When you activate it, you choose your pin

I've had a bit of trouble getting cash out. At Target for example where I get cash out at the transaction, the Virgin card wouldn't allow that. I haven't tried at a teller yet. I've still been using my NAB traveller card for drawing out cash, as they don't charge any fee. So using the NAB card for my cash and the Velocity card for credit card purchases.

 

[alicia1506]

i found that with bpay, my funds were on my velocity card less than 48 hours later... perhaps it's a bank thing?

is it possible that it's a target thing that you experienced the difficulties getting cash out?

i only ask as at target here in aus, they are never able to accept 'paypass' on my cards, but every other location can...and their machines are set up to accept it, so i figured it might just be an error or dodgy function of their machine...

 

[SnowWhite09]

When you activate it, you choose your pin

I've had a bit of trouble getting cash out. At Target for example where I get cash out at the transaction, the Virgin card wouldn't allow that. I haven't tried at a teller yet. I've still been using my NAB traveller card for drawing out cash, as they don't charge any fee. So using the NAB card for my cash and the Velocity card for credit card purchases.

Thanks very much Aussietravellers! I hope you are enjoying your trip!

 

[aussietravellers]

i found that with bpay, my funds were on my velocity card less than 48 hours later... perhaps it's a bank thing?

is it possible that it's a target thing that you experienced the difficulties getting cash out?

i only ask as at target here in aus, they are never able to accept 'paypass' on my cards, but every other location can...and their machines are set up to accept it, so i figured it might just be an error or dodgy function of their machine...

No not a bank thing, it's a velocity thing. The transaction hits my account within hours and the $1 fee is deducted also. Then that money sits in "pending" status for three days.

They do state that it will take 3 days, so it's not unusual. It's just annoying when other cards take only 2.

 

[heidispidi]

I've activated my card this morning and am OK with the exchage rate. For the AU$700 I'm planning on converting (thank you Mr Taxman!), I would get US$632, compared with US$634 from Aus Post cash conversion.

But before I do this, has anybody else got any feedback on using this card? Last time I was in the States, I preferred to have a certain amount of cash in my wallet rather than always pulling out my credit or debit card - so if there is an issue with withdrawing cash from an ATM, it would be better if I knew BEFORE the money was on the card!