Virgin Money credit cards (linked to Velocity rewards)

[vik]

Virgin Money has launched some new credit cards

One is a no annual fee card - didn't really interest me

the other is a "Virgin Flyer Credit Card"
$99 annual fee
1 Velocity point per dollar upto $1500 a month, then 1 point per 2 dollars
Buy one seat get one free on a Virgin Blue flight
current promo: a free VBA flight

Not bad but not exactly ground breaking either ... for e.g. i don't see any travel/purchase insurance but that's probably asking too much from a $99 card

thoughts?

 

[markis10]

Pity citibank are doing the hard stiff in the background.

 

[notzac]

No bonus miles for $$ spent on DJ/VA, no travel insurance, no extended warranties and issued by Citi.. I'm seeing lots of things to not like.

 

[oz_mark]

The buy one seat, get one free (4 time a year) could be worthwhile for some.

 

[vik]

at the very least i expected to see a credit card fee waiver for buying VBA flights

 

[notzac]

The buy one seat, get one free (4 time a year) could be worthwhile for some.

That's great if you've got someone to travel with, but not so great if you generally travel alone - so unfortunately for me I would get no value out of it at all.

 

[kamchatsky]

Not really that attractive. Points capping doesn't help either.

 

[stuartfaz]

Intriguing. Seems an alright offer, won't say no to a one-off free flight, and I'd suspect I'd get a bit of use out of that 2-for-1 deal.

Don't like annual fees in general though

I currently use an affinity Amex which has no annual fee and 1:1 Velocity earn so I might give Virgin/Citi/whoever a call and see if anything can be done about that dastardly $99.

I suspect what will likely happen is they'll kindly tell me to get stuffed and I'll sign up for it anyway. I am a man of conviction.

 

[jsd]

Mum signed up for the no annual fee card this afternoon, she is sick of ANZ and the stupid fees that they charge her, so that and the 1000 points was enough bait to lure her in.

Her partner also applied for the Flyer card at the same time, he was lured in by the 2-for-1 deal seeing as both he and mum like to travel on the cheap (complete opposite to me, sometimes I think we are not related*) being self employed though I'm interested to see how long it takes.

All Virgin wanted was a photocopy of their drivers licenses and tax assessments from the last 2 years, seems easier to get a CC than a regular saving account these days (Don't get me started on savings accounts, I'm very cheesed that the Virgin one is only available to over 18s as I was keen to use one, i.e. money thats not easy to get out like it is currently:mrgreen


Josh

*How many of you clicked after reading that sentence, come on you get what I mean, I hope

 

[stuartfaz]

All Virgin wanted was a photocopy of their drivers licenses and tax assessments from the last 2 years, seems easier to get a CC than a regular saving account these days (Don't get me started on savings accounts, I'm very cheesed that the Virgin one is only available to over 18s as I was keen to use one, i.e. money thats not easy to get out like it is currently:mrgreen


Josh

*How many of you clicked after reading that sentence, come on you get what I mean, I hope

I'm not surprised, Virgin or no Virgin, under 18's present somewhat of a legal quagmire. The older the easier, I find.

:mrgreen:

But yeah, I applied for one of these. The clincher was the 2-for-1 deal, given that it's valid for all classes above the GO! fare, namely premium economy and, in the future, business, could make for some nice deals.

Oh, and don't try calling to get a better rate or something. The (I assume) Citi call centre seem a bit overwhelmed with the fact that they're selling two similar cards.

By asking for a waiver of the annual fee on the Flyer card, when they're selling a no annual fee card, I think I may have made the poor Bangalore lady's head explode.

 

[zig]

Intriguing. Seems an alright offer, won't say no to a one-off free flight, and I'd suspect I'd get a bit of use out of that 2-for-1 deal.

Don't like annual fees in general though

Agreed, I don't like the annual fee, the fee means that your flight isn't free, you have already paid for it. Their offer and card doesn't appeal to me at this point in time.

 

[vik]

if you pre-registered you get a 10,000 velocity point bonus on the Virgin Flyer Card

i don't know if others remember but i recall a thread with proposed virgin credit cards which seemed much more attractive with features like annual velocity rewards points and maybe status credits?

i think at the very least they should include a credit card fee waiver for VBA products and improve the earn rate - 1 point per dollar only up to $1500 seems a little ... tight

 

[stuartfaz]

if you pre-registered you get a 10,000 velocity point bonus on the Virgin Flyer Card

Where'd you hear this? I pre-registered but have heard nothing.

 

[oz_mark]

That's great if you've got someone to travel with, but not so great if you generally travel alone - so unfortunately for me I would get no value out of it at all.

After reading up on the T&C's, I make out that by flights they mean sectors.

So the initial free flight is a one way flight, and the four 2 for 1's is four one way flights.

Not quite as generous as I first thought, but still not bad, and quite capable of covering off the $99 fee.

 

[kamchatsky]

Now all of us AFFers are of course waiting for special deals from Virgin, such as "First year fee free", or "bonus XX,xx_ points (put your favourite number in!)" offer ......

 

[oz_mark]

Now all of us AFFers are of course waiting for special deals from Virgin, such as "First year fee free", or "bonus XX,xx_ points (put your favourite number in!)" offer ......

or a special surprise upgrade to gold status :mrgreen:

 

[kamchatsky]

or a special surprise upgrade to gold status :mrgreen:

That was already tried for all Velocity members ..... They will retreat it after 1 day! :mrgreen:

 

[vik]

Where'd you hear this? I pre-registered but have heard nothing.

i received an email offering me 10,000 points as i had pre-registered ...

i still haven't quite made up my mind about this card ...

 

[Sunchaser]

The virgin card with the $99 annual fee will save you money if you are someone who plans to travel with a companion on virgin twice a year but I would suggest only using it as a 2nd card to purchase Virgin flights (assuming you have another card that offers better rewards for other purchases).

It offers a maximum of 4 sectors a year which equates to 2 free return companion flights per year. So in effect you are getting 2 return flights for $50 each. Flights don't include baggage allowance and can't be used for their discount "GO" fares.

I plan to continue using my Amex for all other purchases but to use this card when purchasing virgin flights.

There is an additional offer of a free discount fare 1 way flight (in "Go" class) if you apply for the card before book before Oct 15 (with a few conditions).

Hope this helps.

By the way, I'm assuming Syd-Per is considered 1 sector. If so people who fly to perth would get the biggest benefit. Can anyone confirm that this is 1 sector?

 

[StevePER]

By the way, I'm assuming Syd-Per is considered 1 sector. If so people who fly to perth would get the biggest benefit. Can anyone confirm that this is 1 sector?

Terms and conditions don't say otherwise - we will be trying this as soon as we get the card.