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If you're a fan of Virgin America's stylish and comfortable flights, you might want to consider getting their credit card. The Virgin America credit card offers a range of benefits, including earning points towards free flights and hotel stays.
One of the most attractive features of the Virgin America credit card is its sign-up bonus, which can be worth up to 20,000 points. This can be redeemed for a free flight or hotel stay, depending on your travel preferences.
Virgin America's credit card also offers a points-earning system that rewards you for every dollar you spend. You can earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on purchases, and 3 points per dollar spent on Virgin America flights.
With the Virgin America credit card, you'll also get access to exclusive benefits like priority check-in, security screening, and boarding. This can be a huge time-saver, especially if you're a frequent traveler.
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Perks and Benefits
The Virgin America credit card offers a range of perks and benefits that can enhance your travel experience. You'll enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases when traveling overseas.
One of the unique benefits is the opportunity to earn 2,500 Virgin Points when you add a loved one as an authorized user, up to four users. This can be a great way to share the benefits with family or friends.
You'll also receive an anniversary bonus of 5,000 Virgin Points each year upon renewal of your card. This is a nice surprise to look forward to every year.
Here are some of the spending-based perks you can unlock:
- Flying Club reward voucher for a companion seat or a cabin upgrade on Virgin Atlantic.
- One free hotel night stay at a participating Virgin Hotel.
- One suite upgrade at a participating Virgin Hotel.
- Up to $300 bar tab with Virgin Voyages.
- Blue Extras Perk Package with Virgin Voyages – includes laundry service, exclusive cocktail party, daily coffee credits.
You can choose one of these perks at two different spending thresholds: $15,000 and $30,000.
Current Welcome Offer
The current welcome offer for new cardholders is a great way to earn rewards and save money on your first purchases. New cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus points when they spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account.
This offer is easier to obtain than the previous one, requiring only $334 per month in spending versus $668. The previous welcome offer was 60,000 miles after spending $2,000 within 90 days.
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The value of this bonus is significant, with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points worth 1.5 cents per dollar. This translates to a total bonus value of $450, far exceeding the $90 annual fee.
Overall, the current welcome offer is a great opportunity to earn rewards and save money on your first purchases with the Virgin America Visa Signature Card.
For another approach, see: Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Bank of America
Perks and Benefits
If you're looking for a credit card with a wide range of perks and benefits, you're in luck. The Virgin Red Rewards World Elite Mastercard offers a slew of benefits, including no foreign transaction fees on purchases when traveling overseas.
You'll also get 2,500 Virgin Points when you add a loved one as an authorized user, up to four users. And, as an anniversary bonus, you'll receive 5,000 Virgin Points each year upon renewal of your card.
The card also features a third night free after booking two nights at a participating Virgin Hotel once a year. Plus, you'll have access to the Mastercard World Elite concierge.
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Here are the spending-based perks you can unlock at $15,000 and $30,000 worth of spending:
You can choose the same perk twice – once at each threshold.
Travel Protections
Travel Protections are a must-have for any traveler. With this card, you can expect emergency roadside assistance whenever you need it.
You'll also have access to travel assistance, which can be a lifesaver in unfamiliar territories. This card's extended warranty means you're covered for longer than usual.
Purchase assurance is another benefit, offering up to $1,000 in protection for stolen or damaged items purchased within 90 days.
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Rewards Program
The Virgin America credit card has a rewards program that lets you earn Elevate points for each purchase, and these points can be redeemed for reward travel through Virgin America's own site. You can earn 1 Elevate point per dollar spent, but purchases made from Virgin America earn three points per dollar.
The card carries a $49 annual fee, which is a lower fee than other airlines' loyalty credit cards. You'll also get access to a 24-hour, 7-day concierge who can help with any request you might have, such as booking travel or getting tickets to an event.
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You can earn bonus miles with the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard by reaching certain spending thresholds, such as every $2,500 spent on net purchases, which earns 25 Tier Points. You can earn up to 50 Tier Points each month and 600 Tier Points each year.
The card has a list of transfer airline partners, including Delta Air Lines, Air France, and Hawaiian Airlines, among others. You can also earn and spend miles with Virgin Atlantic's list of 13 hotel partners.
If you're a frequent traveler, you might be interested in the card's bonus mile-earning opportunities, such as earning 15,000+ Flying Club bonus miles each anniversary after qualifying purchases. Miles don't expire as long as your account is active once every three years.
Here's a breakdown of the card's rewards program:
Comparison and Application
If you're interested in the Virgin Rewards Mastercard, you can join the waitlist to be notified about launch details, expected in the fall of 2024.
The card's benefits are significant, with 40,000 Virgin Points available after spending $3,000 on your card in the first 90 days, which could be enough for two roundtrip flights between New York and London.
Atlantic World Elite vs Bank of America Premium Rewards
The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard and the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card are two popular options for travelers. Both cards have similar annual fees of $95 per year.
If you're looking for a general rewards card, the Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a good choice. It offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points, worth more than the Virgin Atlantic card bonus, but at a higher upfront cost.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards card gives cardholders access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel collection. This comes with room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and a $25 food and beverage credit.
You can also receive up to $100 flight credit with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card. This can help cut down costs on flights.
The annual fees of both cards are the same, $95 per year.
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Applying for Rewards Card
If you're interested in applying for a rewards card, you can join the waitlist for the Virgin Rewards Mastercard, which is expected to launch in the fall of 2024.
The Virgin America Visa Signature Card is currently available, offering up to 15,000 bonus Elevate points and a discount for companion travel up to $150 for new customers.
To sign up, you can use your existing Elevate account or create one when applying for the card. After your first purchase, the card will add 10,000 points to your Elevate account.
You can also earn 300 bonus points every time you spend a total of $5,000, up to a total of 1,200 bonus points throughout the year.
To avoid the $49 annual fee, you can choose to apply for a slightly different arrangement of this card with different rewards, but keep in mind it won't offer the three points per dollar when spending money with Virgin America.
The regular purchase and balance transfer APR for this card is a variable 15.99% or 24.99%, based on the quality of the cardholder's credit, and cash advances feature a 25.24% APR.
If you're approved for the card, you can earn 40,000 Virgin Points after spending $3,000 on your card in the first 90 days, which could be enough for two roundtrip flights between New York and London.
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Rates and Fees
The Virgin Atlantic World Elite card has a $90 annual fee, but this can be easily offset by taking a Virgin Airlines flight of $170 or more.
You won't have to worry about foreign transaction fees, making it a great card to use when traveling abroad.
There are no intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers, so the ongoing APR will be 18.24 percent to 26.24 percent if you leave a balance on your card.
For balance transfers and cash advances, you'll face a 3 percent or $10 fee, whichever is greater.
Be aware that a late fee of up to $40 will be applied if you miss a payment, with an APR of 29.99 percent.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which bank owns Virgin credit card?
As of our knowledge cutoff, Virgin credit cards are issued by Virgin Money, a separate entity from MBNA. Virgin Money is currently being acquired by Nationwide, a UK-based bank, subject to regulatory approval.
Is Virgin Atlantic credit card the same as Virgin Money?
No, Virgin Atlantic Credit Card is not the same as Virgin Money, as it is issued by Clydesdale Bank plc, a separate entity. However, Clydesdale Bank plc operates under the Virgin Money brand, which may cause confusion.
Sources
- https://awardwallet.com/blog/synchrony-launching-virgin-red-credit-card/
- https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/reviews/virgin-atlantic-world-elite-mastercard/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/virgin-red-to-launch-new-us-credit-card-with-mastercard/
- https://consumerismcommentary.com/virgin-america-visa-signature-card-review/
- https://viewfromthewing.com/re-introducing-virgin-america-credit-card/
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