VS Credit Card change when paying with VS Amex

Evening V-Flyers,
Now this may just be myself but does anyone else think it's a bit strong that when paying for flights using your VS Amex they still charge you the fee?? v(
Before you all shout, yes I know you get the extra miles, but they even have a selection specifically for to identify VS Amex from the "Normal" Amex cards when paying. I would think it would be a real extra benefit to drop the charge if paying with their sponsored card.

I agree. But I guess it's because the card isn't a VS product, it just has the VS name on it. Your account is with MBNA and when you book a flight, VS treat it as any normal card.

Not exactly an incentive to use it though.

With Virgin Money making such big inroads into high street banking, I wonder why they don't operate the cards themselves.

Completely agree. They should waive the fee for VS branded cards.

Just like the Fuel Surcharge not being a temporary charge and tactically moving out of base fares.. they do it because they can...
What will you and everyone else do, grumble and pay it..

Bloody annoying.

It's actually something not permitted by the authorities.. To do with competition law and showing favouritism to one credit card over another.

It's actually something not permitted by the authorities.. To do with competition law and showing favouritism to one credit card over another.

I wonder how Waitrose get away with giving you their glossy magazine for free at the checkout but only if you pay with a John Lewis MasterCard, surely that's just the same as waiving a credit card charge in the above scenario?

Another reason I shuffled over to BA with their flat fee for credit card use.

The VS fee is a rip off, especially as it's a percentage of the total.

[Neil]

Just like the Fuel Surcharge not being a temporary charge and tactically moving out of base fares.. they do it because they can...
What will you and everyone else do, grumble and pay it..

Bloody annoying.

Difference is you can pay by debit card to avoid the fee, there is no way to escape paying the fuel surcharge.

It might transfer to Virgin Money soon - MBNA is winding down it's UK operations. Or will be sold to another company.

It's actually something not permitted by the authorities.. To do with competition law and showing favouritism to one credit card over another.

I wonder how Waitrose get away with giving you their glossy magazine for free at the checkout but only if you pay with a John Lewis MasterCard, surely that's just the same as waiving a credit card charge in the above scenario?

It's not the same at all.. You get "free" Flying Club miles when you use the VS card - waiving charges for using one credit card over another is completely different.

It's actually something not permitted by the authorities.. To do with competition law and showing favouritism to one credit card over another.

I wonder how Waitrose get away with giving you their glossy magazine for free at the checkout but only if you pay with a John Lewis MasterCard, surely that's just the same as waiving a credit card charge in the above scenario?

It's not the same at all.. You get "free" Flying Club miles when you use the VS card - waiving charges for using one credit card over another is completely different.

Well in that case, they could easily offer a cash incentive for VS flights that directly offsets the booking charge. But to the earlier point, if they can get away with it, where's the incentive.

Well in that case, they could easily offer a cash incentive for VS flights that directly offsets the booking charge. But to the earlier point, if they can get away with it, where's the incentive.

The incentive is the Flying Club miles. Offering a cash alternative is the same as waiving the fee in the first place, which is not allowed by law.

... Offering a cash alternative is the same as waiving the fee in the first place, which is not allowed by law.

Not allowed by law??? What isn't? An airline swallowing the cost of credit card usage charges like so many other companies do.... yeh illegal!!!!

Well in that case, they could easily offer a cash incentive for VS flights that directly offsets the booking charge. But to the earlier point, if they can get away with it, where's the incentive.

The incentive is the Flying Club miles. Offering a cash alternative is the same as waiving the fee in the first place, which is not allowed by law.

I get the FC miles incentive, it's just that personally I'd prefer the cash, which is why I'll stick with my amex cashback one.

Out of curiosity though, how did Ryanair get around this one by specifically waiving fees only on their own branded prepay card? Or are they just ignoring the rules (which would not surprise me much...)?

[mitchja]

Out of curiosity though, how did Ryanair get around this one by specifically waiving fees only on their own branded prepay card? Or are they just ignoring the rules (which would not surprise me much...)?

It's probably because anyone has the option of using a prepay card unlike a credit card so there's no unfair advantage in using a prepay card.

Out of curiosity though, how did Ryanair get around this one by specifically waiving fees only on their own branded prepay card? Or are they just ignoring the rules (which would not surprise me much...)?

I think what StillRedHot is talking about is not discriminating against people paying with different cards... not illegal but bad form. For example allowing people to pay with VS Amex with no card usage fees, but charging someone when they opt to pay with a BA Amex would be seen as unfair.

From what I know about Ryanair, I would not be surprised if they were to discriminate against different card holders... however a prepay card is just like a debit card, they don't appear to attract usage fees anymore 8D