New UK credit cards issue by Virgin Money

Whilst the points earning isn't as good as the soon to be defunct Black Amex isn't the new companion a better reward (especially if you are AU and are using it for upper)? Now its a a 2-4-1 mileage redemption rather than a fairly useless companion ticket against a fully flexible fare.

But now the Amex companion voucher is valid against everything but ‘Z’ fares, you can get a full UC redemption for 0 miles + taxs with the purchase of an ‘I’ ticket (which is often only £200 more than a Z)!

For non status wanting to fly UC, this new offering is considerably worse (especially if you take into account you can only earn 1 instead of 2 PE upgrades!)

Whilst the points earning isn't as good as the soon to be defunct Black Amex isn't the new companion a better reward (especially if you are AU and are using it for upper)? Now its a a 2-4-1 mileage redemption rather than a fairly useless companion ticket against a fully flexible fare.

But now the Amex companion voucher is valid against everything but ‘Z’ fares, you can get a full UC redemption for 0 miles + taxs with the purchase of an ‘I’ ticket (which is often only £200 more than a Z)!

For non status wanting to fly UC, this new offering is considerably worse (especially if you take into account you can only earn 1 instead of 2 PE upgrades!)

Exactly what I was about to say. I'm glad I managed to use my companion voucher with the purchase of an 'I' class ticket in January this year. Two UC tickets (as FC Red) for roughly the same cost as ex-EU tickets with none of the hassle of an ex-EU journey. And with the use of a CDC (booked before the removal deadline from 'I' class tickets) which I've booked for three transfers.

Glad I binned the MBNA card a few months ago. The companion voucher looks useless too so I'll be sticking with my BA AMEX now I think...

I’ve just spoken with MBNA to lower my credit limit as it was so high it prevented my application for the new card, (which has now gone through ) MBNA said that whilst they are not taking anymore new applications, anyone currently with a card will be kept on, and they have no plans to ditch the cards or benefits. So don’t be too hasty and ditch the MBNA cards yet.

Still A good idea to get the Virgin Momey card though even if just for the first purchase bonus.

I’ll keep using the MBNA cards as long as they are still valid, and keep the Virgin Momey one in the pocket just in case.

MBNA also said that if the cards do go, then you can close your MBNA account and you will get a pro rate refund on your annual card fee.

I'm thinking I will keep my MBNA Amex card to try and get the PE upgrade voucher, and get the new Virgin Money Mastercard to replace my Visa card. Think I'll go for the basic one, then consider upgrading when the MBNA card dies or reaches my anniversary in November

As Raffles has said in his HFP articles, these new cards offer generous miles earning, but the 241 voucher terms are a letdown. This would have been an excellent opportunity to get alongside the BA 241 and offer a comparable perk. As it stands with UC 241 only available to AUs and Premium only available to AGs they’re not making it an attractive offer for anyone else, and yet the cards are promoted as another way to build miles (especially for less frequent fliers). As Raffles also said, let’s hope that VS rethink this in time.

Right now the card is valuable to me and my partner for topping up our miles but we won’t chase the 241s as we are only F.C. Red, and the highest we got was AG. I’ve applied for my partner tonight and he’s been accepted. I’ll apply for mine in time, perhaps when I understand more what is happening with the MBNA Amex cards.

If however, the 241 was comparable to the BA version, I’d be putting enough spend through to get it without a doubt. As it is I’ll limit what I spend just to top up my F.C. account in order to have miles for upgrades.

[preiffer]

I fear the rose-tinted glasses views of the BA 241 deal may be glossing over the relative impossibility to use them on the dates/route you want, in any decent premium cabin.

(And by "decent premium cabin, I'm referring to BA's business class - or as they market it, "First"...)

The negativity around the BA 241 surprises me as I use mine every year with no issues - as long as you can flexible with dates and don’t have to travel at set times of the year (I know that’s not possible for everyone) but it works just fine for me in the last 3 years I’ve done Tokyo (F), Miami (J) , and just recently booked Chicago (F) with wide open availability.

[mitchja]

I, for one, am glad VS are giving people an alternative to 241 vouchers. As someone who travels alone, 241 vouchers are completely worthless to me.

I had cancelled in black Amex last week as the fee was due. The new card is of no use to myself as I fly very rarely with VS that I’m only a red. As for the BA Amex comments I’m at a loss as to why any one would choose the VS card over it. I’ve been trying to use my 400000 VS miles out of MAN but UC availability is terrible and not much better on the west coast from LHR.

On the other hand my wife and I have no problems using our two 241 BA voucher each year in F to places such as LAX, SFO HKG SIN BGI GND and all at dates to suit ourselves.

I wonder, do you have to be travelling on a VS flight to use these particular Clubhouse passes?

I wonder, do you have to be travelling on a VS flight to use these particular Clubhouse passes?

You do, yes.

[mitchja]

The LHR/LGW Clubhouses passes will also be physical vouchers that need to be requested before use as well, from the T&C's:

To receive your Clubhouse voucher(s) you must call Flying Club on 0344 412 2414 at least 14 days before you wish to use the Clubhouse vouchers to allow for delivery. Lost and/or stolen vouchers cannot be replaced and/or extended.

Applied today and got accepted with a £12k limit for the plus card. Currently have a £10k limit with MBNA which thry enjoy boosting all the time, in spite of me putting it down.

I'm pretty excited about the KLM partnership and feel Upper Class is a little more special than Club so will stay loyal.

Couple of questions I'd like to know the answers to regarding the new card(s) - will probably end up calling tomorrow anyway.

Our current Virgin cards (black) are in my husband's name and I am an additional card holder. We will be keeping the current cards for as long as possible - our expiry date is currently 05/20

However, as I am the one with Au status and he is my supplementary Ag, it would obviously be best if, when applying for the new card, the account was in my name.

Unfortunately, I have little income, just an amount from a rental property of £600 pcm. However, his income is north of average and we currently have a high CC limit. We also have a joint bank account.

I was just going to apply anyway as it does ask for household income too but I can't see any information regarding additional cards i.e. one for him.

Has anyone who has already applied been given a additional card or is there information on the that site I have missed?

Jilly

You ask for an additional card about half way through the application.

[mitchja]

Jilly

According to headforpoints Q&A post here about the new VS cards here, you can apply for a supplementary card which is an option during the online application process:

Can you add a supplementary card?”
Yes. You can include one supplementary card in the application and add up to another two separately.

Also, though I might be wrong here, but I don't think there's anything stopping you from adding your Flying Club number to an application your other half makes (if you don't add a supplementary card). The online application simply asks for a Flying Club number. No idea if the card holders name has to match the Flying Club account holder name though sorry?

Thanks both, at least I now know you can have two cards so will probably just go ahead and apply in my name.

Putting my FC number on his card and not having one for me really wouldn't help us to achieve the spending target. In theory it is still doable though but would just take a little longer to get the UC reward.

Think that says more about me than anything else though

Thanks again

Jilly

The entry requirements for the Virgin Money seem to be odd.
I've checked my credit rating - it is over 980 and I was declined, despite holding both MBNA Cards and Amex Platinum. Reports on other websites are of similar happening to other people.

Still, I am not that disappointed, after yet another mess up from Virgin on a straight forward Upper Class booking.
I don't get how their hard product (Clubhouses & Upper Class) can be so good, yet their pre and post sales service is appalling.

Sealink - it seems you aren't that disappointed and may not want to 'fight' their decision but Rob at HFP has asked people to email him if they are ballers and declined. I am wondering if there are some teething problems with the application system.

Credit decisions are very random. I had at one point last year exposure of over 100k unsecured because the companies had crept up my credit limits and I didn't have chance to reduce. I pay off via DD each month as, frankly, debt scares the creepies out of me but you have to love the points.

I am wondering if there are some teething problems with the application system.

Maybe, or Rob at HFP makes the point that this is Virgin Money’s first foray into airline credit cards, whose customers will have a different profile to the typical VM cardholder.

They’ll be more likely to spend more, pay off their balance in full each month and to churn their cards, which may increase the likelihood of being rejected by VM’s automated systems.

I am wondering if there are some teething problems with the application system.

Maybe, or Rob at HFP makes the point that this is Virgin Money’s first foray into airline credit cards, whose customers will have a different profile to the typical VM cardholder.

They’ll be more likely to spend more, pay off their balance in full each month and to churn their cards, which may increase the likelihood of being rejected by VM’s automated systems.

I remember reading somewhere that a history of paying off bills such as credit cards in instalments is more helpful to your credit score than paying off in one go. I know some people are uncomfortable with having debt whether it's manageable or not, but if you're relying on a high credit score for mortgages and other things...

I'll probably get the new VM Mastercard's eventually, but I'm undecided whether to do it now or cling on until the bitter end before getting them. For what it's worth, I have the white cards and both run until December 2020. Any suggestions folks?

Apologies if I've missed it, but do these new cards have 0% foreign currency transaction fees or not? That is the primary reason why I also have a Nationwide Select Credit Card.

[mitchja]

Maybe, or Rob at HFP makes the point that this is Virgin Money’s first foray into airline credit cards, whose customers will have a different profile to the typical VM cardholder.

That made me chuckle a little when I read that on headforpoints. Nice theory but I think that's all it is as it's also not true as Virgin Money actually ran the very first VS issued credit card a good few years before it switched to MBNA.

Foreign transaction fees are standard and still charged on these new VS cards.

Virgin Money do also offer a 'Travel' version of their standard credit card with does come with a 0% foreign transaction fee which I already have.

Already having a VM issued standard credit card also doesn't have an impact on being accepted either for the VS cards as my application was accepted straight away.

Couple of questions I'd like to know the answers to regarding the new card(s) - will probably end up calling tomorrow anyway.

Our current Virgin cards (black) are in my husband's name and I am an additional card holder. We will be keeping the current cards for as long as possible - our expiry date is currently 05/20

However, as I am the one with Au status and he is my supplementary Ag, it would obviously be best if, when applying for the new card, the account was in my name.

Unfortunately, I have little income, just an amount from a rental property of £600 pcm. However, his income is north of average and we currently have a high CC limit. We also have a joint bank account.

I was just going to apply anyway as it does ask for household income too but I can't see any information regarding additional cards i.e. one for him.

Has anyone who has already applied been given a additional card or is there information on the that site I have missed?

Jilly

I have spoken to Virgin Atlantic about this. Oli Byers said - and this is now policy, although they hadn't thought of it until I flagged it - that if one of the passengers is Gold, even if they are not the cardholder, you will be able to use the 241 in UC.

This also means - if a couple EACH trigger a 241 and only one of the couple is Gold - you can still book UC for a family of four.

Sealink - it seems you aren't that disappointed and may not want to 'fight' their decision but Rob at HFP has asked people to email him if they are ballers and declined. I am wondering if there are some teething problems with the application system.

Yes, I'm running an unofficial appeals system. Even if you didn't use the HFP links, email your name and the email on your app to rob at headforpoints.co.uk and I'll add to the list, which now exceeds 50 people. This includes a few multi-millionaires to give you an idea of the weirdness of the VM credit scoring system .....

The list goes to the cards team at VA and they pass it to VM who will manually review.

Do NOT email if you only failed the 'pre-check'. You need to have failed a full application.