Virgin Money credit cards (linked to Velocity rewards)

[robd]

Hmmm.... I have the balance transfer offer. I might just take that up until September, before the next annual fee kicks in.

 

[JohnK]

Check your "offers" in Internet banking. You may have a 0% 12 month balance transfer.

I keep receiving the 0% balance transfer for 6 months. Greatfully accepted.

 

[robd]

Hmmm.... I have the balance transfer offer. I might just take that up until September, before the next annual fee kicks in.

I just took the balance transfer offer up. Couldn't do it online for some reason (error) so had to call and they did it over the phone. They gave me 1,000 VFF points for the inconvenience

 

[scwappy]

I just called up to cancel my Virgin Flyer card as I don't really use it and they billed me the annual fee.
5 minutes later I'm agreeing to keep it for another year with no annual fee (I was genuinely calling to cancel the card not have the fee reversed)
Putting a note in my calendar for Jan next year to make the same call

I am the same, hardly ever use it and every year ring to cancel and the annual fee is waived. Not a bad result. Shame one can no longer book flexis and use free VA platinum upgraded though.

 

[smit0847]

I am the same, hardly ever use it and every year ring to cancel and the annual fee is waived. Not a bad result. Shame one can no longer book flexis and use free VA platinum upgraded though.

Agreed. The 2-4-1 offer now usually saves a small amount over buying 2 sale fares but not enough for the card to be amazing.
I can understand not allowing 2-4-1 J but gosh I wish they'd allow 2-4-1 on flexis!

 

[tinkybelle]

I would presume most wouldn't take up the 2 for 1 especially with the ridiculous advance purchase rule
why they don't allow any fare is beyond me
most of us would buy at least flexis and upgrade
i didn't use any of last years 2 for 1 or UGs and only one this year of the Ugs .

 

[medhead]

Just cancelled my card. Was offered fee free for life to retain.

 

[Colin 2905]

Just cancelled my card. Was offered fee free for life to retain.

I'm still spending my way through the 25,000 bonus points offer (10,000 in, 15,000 to come). I'm intending to cancel it before the annual fee kicks in, but I might be persuaded to keep it if they waive it. It can then sit in a drawer, on the off-chance that I can actually make use of the TWO41 offer some day, or they offer me an extra point per dollar spent (like this month).

 

[medhead]

I'm still spending my way through the 25,000 bonus points offer (10,000 in, 15,000 to come). I'm intending to cancel it before the annual fee kicks in, but I might be persuaded to keep it if they waive it. It can then sit in a drawer, on the off-chance that I can actually make use of the TWO41 offer some day, or they offer me an extra point per dollar spent (like this month).

I'd had the card since 2011, no bonus points for me. Cleaning out the credit file. They did ask if there was anything they could to do make me keep the card. SWMBO suggested that I should have asked for a $1000 credit for her to spend on handbags.

 

[DeKa]

Just cancelled my card. Was offered fee free for life to retain.

Must be the month for cancelling.
They wouldn't let me cancel immediately. Someone else will call me back tomorrow ...

 

[robd]

Must be the month for cancelling.
They wouldn't let me cancel immediately. Someone else will call me back tomorrow ...

What is the value to Virgin Money for someone holding a card fee free that they don't use?

 

[DeKa]

What is the value to Virgin Money for someone holding a card fee free that they don't use?

Who knows. If they don't call me tomorrow I guess I'll cancel in writing.

 

[smit0847]

Its easy to get the fee waived- interested to know if anyone is offered anythimg more

 

[JohnK]

I keep receiving the 0% balance transfer for 6 months. Greatfully accepted.

And these have now stopped. Called the other day to request a balance transfer and they called back today with bad news. I said Ok and consultant asked what I am going to do now as if expecting me to cancel?

Fee not due until December so will sit and wait. I was offered double points on all spend this month.

 

[TSV]

Hi all,

This seems to be the unofficial Virgin Money flyer card thread so I thought I'd ask my question here.
Will be attempting to use the 2 4 1 offer to book flights to and from a wedding that's at the end of October.

I plan on buying an entertainment book voucher to secure the 5% discount and avoid credit card fees (already bought the book for local restaurant use anyway).

I have heard that the prices you get given when you ring the call centre are hard to predict (and oddly high compared to what's online). Given that I need to pre-order my gift voucher, should I be ringing and getting a price, then calling back 3 business days later when I have my voucher?

Or is it actually entirely predictable provided you understand that the fare is:

(0.5 x 2 base fares* [i.e. 1 base fare]) + (2 x taxes and surcharges)

*Where the base fare is not a reduced or discounted fare

(I'm flying Townsville - Sydney which has pretty standardised fares)

The three business day lag is just a bit of an issue as I would prefer to get these flights booked before August 16 so I can take advantage of the current double points offer.

As I can only use one voucher per booking, I just don't want to get caught with my voucher being short, as then I'd get hit with a credit card fee anyway!

Thanks!

 

[italianlover]

Having used this card to book flights earlier this year, my understanding is that in order to receive the 2 4 1 offer the full amount must be paid using the Virgin Money Card. I would be calling and getting a price anyway and confirming payment. It was a good value deal for us when I used it for return flights to Brisbane. Good luck

 

[Colin 2905]

Don't forget to use a promo code when comparing with / without TWO41. eg; "DLR26" is a code that should give you a few dollars off the regular economy fare at the moment.

 

[pangwen]

Hi all,

This seems to be the unofficial Virgin Money flyer card thread so I thought I'd ask my question here.
Will be attempting to use the 2 4 1 offer to book flights to and from a wedding that's at the end of October.

I plan on buying an entertainment book voucher to secure the 5% discount and avoid credit card fees (already bought the book for local restaurant use anyway).

I have heard that the prices you get given when you ring the call centre are hard to predict (and oddly high compared to what's online). Given that I need to pre-order my gift voucher, should I be ringing and getting a price, then calling back 3 business days later when I have my voucher?

Or is it actually entirely predictable provided you understand that the fare is:

(0.5 x 2 base fares* [i.e. 1 base fare]) + (2 x taxes and surcharges)

*Where the base fare is not a reduced or discounted fare

(I'm flying Townsville - Sydney which has pretty standardised fares)

The three business day lag is just a bit of an issue as I would prefer to get these flights booked before August 16 so I can take advantage of the current double points offer.

As I can only use one voucher per booking, I just don't want to get caught with my voucher being short, as then I'd get hit with a credit card fee anyway!

Thanks!

Hi TSV, from my experience with BNE-SYD, BNE-BDB and BNE-MEL flights, the 2-4-1 fare is actually quite predictable - your equation is pretty much there.

For example, for TSV-SYD return (flying 1/9 and returning 8/9), the Virgin site is giving me a minimum $392 total return fare for one passenger, which is made up of:
- $278.56 base fare
- $35.65 GST (UO)
- $9.31 SSC (WG)
- $68.48 PSC (QR)

The 2-4-1 deal cost should be = (278.56 + 2*(9.31+68.48))*1.1 = $477.55. I'd probably go for a $500 gift voucher.

The trick is that the GST needs to be applied at the end, and isn't actually doubled.

EDIT:
Looks like I was beaten to the punch while typing out this post .

RE paying with the CC vs gift voucher, while the T&Cs do state that payment with CC and/or gift voucher is accepted, it does vary with agent and YMMV. You should be able to convince them to at least put the majority of the spend on the voucher (and a nominal $1 on the CC - make sure you get them to waive the CC surcharge if this is the case). I had to do this a year or two ago. However, most of the bookings I've done since then have gone relatively smoothly and they were happy to proceed based on the T&Cs. I like to keep Virgin money happy by buying the gift vouchers with the Virgin money card..

RE comparing with the discount codes, that is a good point. The final savings when you compare (2-4-1 + gift voucher) vs (discount code + gift voucher) may not end up being as much as you expect. However, given that TSV-SYD return is almost $400, the 2-4-1 should still work out better than two fares bought with another discount code.

 

[TSV]

Having used this card to book flights earlier this year, my understanding is that in order to receive the 2 4 1 offer the full amount must be paid using the Virgin Money Card. I would be calling and getting a price anyway and confirming payment. It was a good value deal for us when I used it for return flights to Brisbane. Good luck

From the T&Cs: "The following forms of payment will only be accepted when using the offer: Virgin Australia Velocity Credit Cards and/or Virgin Australia Group AUD Gift Vouchers. " I have heard of varying experiences as the others have described.

Thanks for your reply, I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[TSV]

Hi TSV, from my experience with BNE-SYD, BNE-BDB and BNE-MEL flights, the 2-4-1 fare is actually quite predictable - your equation is pretty much there.

For example, for TSV-SYD return (flying 1/9 and returning 8/9), the Virgin site is giving me a minimum $392 total return fare for one passenger, which is made up of:
- $278.56 base fare
- $35.65 GST (UO)
- $9.31 SSC (WG)
- $68.48 PSC (QR)

The 2-4-1 deal cost should be = (278.56 + 2*(9.31+68.48))*1.1 = $477.55. I'd probably go for a $500 gift voucher.

The trick is that the GST needs to be applied at the end, and isn't actually doubled.

EDIT:
Looks like I was beaten to the punch while typing out this post .

RE paying with the CC vs gift voucher, while the T&Cs do state that payment with CC and/or gift voucher is accepted, it does vary with agent and YMMV. You should be able to convince them to at least put the majority of the spend on the voucher (and a nominal $1 on the CC - make sure you get them to waive the CC surcharge if this is the case). I had to do this a year or two ago. However, most of the bookings I've done since then have gone relatively smoothly and they were happy to proceed based on the T&Cs. I like to keep Virgin money happy by buying the gift vouchers with the Virgin money card..

RE comparing with the discount codes, that is a good point. The final savings when you compare (2-4-1 + gift voucher) vs (discount code + gift voucher) may not end up being as much as you expect. However, given that TSV-SYD return is almost $400, the 2-4-1 should still work out better than two fares bought with another discount code.

Thanks for the excellent breakdown, that's REALLY helpful. And good tip re buying the voucher with the card, will definitely do that!