I just applied for one. Must say I am looking forward to earning flyer miles on all my purchases! However, I ditched MBNA in the past for charging me interest for no reason [:(] Also am not sure I like the red card, its not quite as flash as whipping out a gold or platinum card!

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by jonathanmayhew
Also am not sure I like the red card, its not quite as flash as whipping out a gold or platinum card!

Trust me, its not flash at all. Out of thousands of CHP (CardHolderPresent) transactions, I have had about 5 comments on my Centurion card - oh and asked if I was single by a young female shop assistant.....

Points wise, I seem to find that my points rack up very quickly via AmEx spend, which then come in handy for reward flights.

On the overall topic of affording to fly in Premium classes; everyone has their things that they are happy to spend money on; for me I'm happy paying for my premium travel as its one thing that I love doing. I don't smoke and am not a regular drinker (though I normally get stitched up with large rounds). Just like I am happy to spend obscene amounts of money on a watch. Oh and I never pay full fare, I'm a tight Northerner!

Thanks,
Richard

Yeah I think I will bite the bullet and just use the Virgin card as the miles are more important than the status hehe. I may keep my Gold card and use it only when I am with my girlfriend..... err on second thoughts I spend more money when I am with my girlfriend.

I did the flashy credit card thing in my youth a wallet full of Platinums but nobody gives a toss anyway so I just use the cheap looking VS card now and rack up good miles.I have had problems with MBNA in the past but have had good service with this card.MY own fault I paid the ballance in full about 10k for the month but I paid short by about £12.50 so got clobbered for the interest on the whole ballance quite unfair but it is in the T&Cs.This added up to quite alot one phone call and it was credited back and the same the month after with the roll over interest.I also agree about the flight being the start of the holiday and not just a means to get there and once you are bitten by that premium travel bug its hard to let go.I think if I had travelled cattle class for the last 20 years not gone to the pub no fine dinning and had not had an addiction to expensive cars I would be retired by now but I would have been so very bored.

[HighFlyer]

My partner and i both have the CC and we hope to be getting some good reward flights in soon!

We just pay for everything in the month (food, clothes, flights, etc) on the cards and then pay them off in full. We are not spending huge amounts, just what we normally buy, and the points are climbing!

One word of caution - my partner transferred a balance to him Virgin card as he still had interest free time, but there is a catch. This only works if you dont use the credit card for anything else. He has been so now he has to pay the 'transferred' balance off in full. If he only pays a certain amount that amount gets deducted from the card total, the transfer is included in what you owe each month.

Again, this is in the T&C but most of us dont read it in that much detail. So just beware all, we have a hefty bill to pay this month!

quote:I did the flashy credit card thing in my youth a wallet full of Platinums but nobody gives a toss anyway so I just use the cheap looking VS card now and rack up good miles.

Hehe I like it! Maybe I should start to grow up huh! I always pay off my card in full so the interest thing doesnt bother me. The miles are by far more important than looking good when I get my card out so my decision is made.

[Nottingham Nick]

I agree with Chris - Plat cards are so common now that no one bats an eyelid at them.

The real benefit of premium charge cards like Amex, of whatever colour, is the additional perks such as insurance / lounge entry / partner status etc.

If you want a pure maileage earning card, my vote goes to Virgin - despite the fact this means MBNA.

Nick

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
The real benefit of premium charge cards like Amex, of whatever colour, is the additional perks such as insurance / lounge entry / partner status etc.

We find (as a small company) that the insurance etc pays for the annual fee and that the perks are thus effectively "freebies". The fact that the points all accumulate to the master card also helps - so I'd vote for Amex IF your particular set of circumstances makes it desirable. Ermmm wonder if I can hedge any more here?...

[Nottingham Nick]

Decker

We are all different - I get travel insurance through a group insurance scheme at work, so the Amex insurance benefits are no motivation for me.

The bottom line is that the best card is the one that suits your personal circumstances.

Nick

[Decker]

Have to agree

[RichardMannion]

Sure does - the 'crazy fool' comments you get when you say you pay £650 a year (nearly £2/day). But then when you start going through some of the core benefits such as Travel Insurance for 6 Adults, 2 Priority Passes at £508 and thats before my MR earning potential, hotel benefits and the rest of the shooting match - people then go 'Ahh - how do I get one?'

Thats when I stand back and smile!

The points that I will earn in a typical year, are eagerly accepted as gifts at Xmas/Birthday's in the form of flights - which saves me raw cash on buying them a present

Thanks,
Richard

[Decker]

don't forget the US Car Hire insurance cover - although it always hacks me that US gold holders get this - and they're more likely to use it than UK . Only one where it is a tad off is for my US supplementary holder - not covered for health in country of citizenship NOR in UK so effectively not covered!

I still have the Amex plat card this covers 4 of us(I think its up to 6 people) for travel insurance and the 1 priority pass card(I get in free and pay for guests) for about £275 a year thats an excellent deal.But because its only 1 mile per £ I use the VS card for all my spend.

[Decker]

'fraid so... Forex and all that is over my head...

I use the Delta AmEx card and pay my estimated USA taxes with the card (double miles offer in recent years). This works out to about 1.23 cents per mile, or $984 for UC with the old 80k awards. Now, with the increase to 100k miles, that works out to a still very reasonable $1,230.

I am able to book trips many months in advance. I'm not sure what the availability is for a Delta UC partner awards as you get closer to your travel dates.

Recently, I paid $2,236 for a RT business class ticket, SFO-CDG, on Air France. That's close to my max. for a RT bus. ticket. Start going north of that and I'd spend too much time thinking of the other things I could have done with the extra money.

[Nottingham Nick]

What a great thought - using a credit card to pay my income tax:D:D

Second thoughts, having seen all the hassle paying tax causes over in the US, mayby PAYE isn't so bad after all.

Nick

I've just paid my council tax on the vs mastercard well its a few extra miles.

[Nottingham Nick]

Chris

Is that something exclusive to Ashfield? We are next door in Gedling and, as far as I am aware have to pay by direct debit[:(][:(]

I will be on the phone this afternoon though - every little helps:):)

Nick

I've an Amex Business gold card and thats a good one for adding miles, 1 mile for every pound spent.

I've recently started flying PE and doing another two this year and am so going to find it hard to buy anothewr Economy ticket again.

For me, the best way to earn miles is simply to fly as many times as i can, in a class above Economy. Not sure how i afford it, I just put it on the Business....

Dean

Just discovered this site, its great. Already changed my PE seats for my Hong Kong flight in October on the advice of the seat reviews.

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome Dean

Pleased you find the site useful - we are a pretty helpful lot here and there is usually someone who knows the answer to any question that is posed.

Nick

Ok well I applied online a week ago and not got anything yet, not even an email to confirm the next stage. Phoned them up today and the lady said it would be with me within a week, she was lovely and friendly and helpful, now thats the Virgin I am used to! (Maybe it was MBNA though hehe)

Jonathan,

Mrs VSlf applied for her card a couple of months ago, whole process from online application to receiving card took about five or six weeks, so I wouldn't hold your breath. Seemed to be running at standard MBNA pace.

VSlf

It can cost as little as Pnds560 (+ Pnds80 annual fee)to 'spend' Pnds39000 on Virgin FC credit card and as a result collect 78000 FC miles.

quote:Originally posted by Vslf
Jonathan,

Mrs VSlf applied for her card a couple of months ago, whole process from online application to receiving card took about five or six weeks, so I wouldn't hold your breath. Seemed to be running at standard MBNA pace.

VSlf

It has taken me two weeks (the card arrived today! already 200 points on it ))))

Well I got my credit agreement today to sign and they say the card will be with me in 10 working days.

We will see, MBNA are not the best company I have ever dealt with.