New VS Credit Card Details

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by DaveVal
Looks very good to me.

Any chance that an upgrade reward could be applied to the companion ticket? (Unlikey I know, but I'd hate to see the upgrade rewards go to waste for those of us who only fly VS once a year!)

Actually just having checked, it can only be used with a companion or reward seat (booked in T class), it can't be used in conjunction with a normal qualifying revenue fare (L, B or Y).

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Actually just having checked, it can only be used with a companion or reward seat (booked in T class), it can't be used in conjunction with a normal qualifying revenue fare (L, B or Y).

Huh. That seems back to front to me[?]

[RichardMannion]

I know, very strange but then I think it gives the incentive for people to spend more, as they will then strive for the higher threshold to get a companion reward, as they know that they can then use the 'upgrade' reward they have already earned so that two parties can sit in PE.

In regards to the membership year, it is from the date you got the new card.

As for me, still deciding what to do as I currently have the fee free version as a backup card. May go for the black version for a year just to get the bonus miles and accelerated points, but then revert back to my existing Centurion rates that are applied to my account.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion


In regards to the membership year, it is from the date you got the new card.

Bummer - given recent conversations with MBNA, that counts me out of changing for 10 months nearly.

Will this be available to US-Resident FC Members???

I'm guessing no since the current one is not but maybe since it's Amex..[:?]

SFO-Marc

Actually just having checked, it can only be used with a companion or reward seat (booked in T class), it can't be used in conjunction with a normal qualifying revenue fare (L, B or Y).

But does that not mean that you will be able to use the upgrade reward on the companion ticket (as that is T) but you will not be able to use an upgrade reward against the revenue flight you bought to get the companion ticket as that has to be in L, B or Y? Or am I getting confused??[?]

Thanks for the info Richard[oo]

Originally posted by GreboDB

Actually just having checked, it can only be used with a companion or reward seat (booked in T class), it can't be used in conjunction with a normal qualifying revenue fare (L, B or Y).

But does that not mean that you will be able to use the upgrade reward on the companion ticket (as that is T) but you will not be able to use an upgrade reward against the revenue flight you bought to get the companion ticket as that has to be in L, B or Y? Or am I getting confused??[?]

I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling to figure it out[:?]

Yep, it is a little odd isn't it. Presumably you have to upgrade your companion, then remain sat at the back yourself.[:?] Like I said, it seems back to front to me.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by SFO-Marc
Will this be available to US-Resident FC Members???

I'm guessing no since the current one is not but maybe since it's Amex..[:?]

SFO-Marc

Of course not [:(!] don't you know that nobody in the US flys British carriers,I mean it's not like ab airline like BA offers a US credit card,oh well,back to racking up point's with Amex again..oh yeah and my Chase BA card.



Oh well,guess I have some serious thinking to do right now about my future flight's.

Originally posted by sailor99
Yep, it is a little odd isn't it. Presumably you have to upgrade your companion, then remain sat at the back yourself.[:?] Like I said, it seems back to front to me.

I would imagine that the idea is to use the miles you earnt to buy yourself a reward ticket. Effectively it means that with 50k miles and 10k spend (on the fee card) you can get two PE seats.

Looks good to me and I think, like Richard, I would consider the fee paying card for a year then revert back after the end of the bonus. Just have to work out if doubling the miles is worth £115 and I guess it is going to depend on what percentage of my current spend would be acceptable on AE. Will certainly have to research a good backup though - maybe Tesco Visa?

Phil

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by GreboDB

Actually just having checked, it can only be used with a companion or reward seat (booked in T class), it can't be used in conjunction with a normal qualifying revenue fare (L, B or Y).

But does that not mean that you will be able to use the upgrade reward on the companion ticket (as that is T) but you will not be able to use an upgrade reward against the revenue flight you bought to get the companion ticket as that has to be in L, B or Y? Or am I getting confused??[?]

In a round about fashion, yes. You can use the VS CC upgrade reward against your comapnion seat (booked in T) which is something you can't do today, and then use miles as normal to move yourself up from your revenue fare (L,B or Y) to take you to a U.

Or the alternative use is to book an Economy reward using miles as per normal, and then use your VS CC upgrade voucher to move you into Premium Economy.

Seems like a good benefit. Still waiting to see the full T&C's - I do hope they lock down who can use them, as I can see them being bartered on Ebay.

Remember it is only for Economy to PE - so for some people it will be of no use at all. I can see me trying to use mine for family. Way I see it is that the companion and upgrade awards via VS CC are nice to haves, the main crux is actually earning miles in the first place. I know we have many a time deabted the value and usefulness of the companion reward.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by RichardMannion

In a round about fashion, yes. You can use the VS CC upgrade reward against your comapnion seat (booked in T) which is something you can't do today, and then use miles as normal to move yourself up from your revenue fare (L,B or Y) to take you to a U.

Wow[:0]

That means you can get 2 PE flights for the cost of one L fare and 20K miles[y] ( I think [?])

Buy an L fare, upgrade to PE using upgrade using 20K miles. Use companion voucher for second seat and upgrade to PE using upgrade voucher 1.

What a deal....... Mind you PE reward availability may become very very difficult to get with the number of people using this reward.

DD

I don't think you could use a voucher to upgrade your revenue seat - it is only valid against reward seats if I understand Richard correctly. You could still throw some miles at it though.

Originally posted by sailor99
I don't think you could use a voucher to upgrade your revenue seat - it is only valid against reward seats if I understand Richard correctly. You could still throw some miles at it though.

Yes, I think you are right. I tried editing my post straight away...sorry for the confusion

DD

I think how they deal with the transfer from one fee paying card to the other will be "interesting". I got my fee paying mastercard about two weeks before they stopped issuing them. If my card stops earning miles in December that means that I will have paid an annual fee for only a portion of the years benefits which I don't find particularly encouraging. Particularly given the fact that MBNA must have known at the time that they took my annual fee (June statement) that they were not going to offer a full years worth of service.

Perhaps they will waive the first years fee for transfers in? Or offer a partial refund of annual fee.

A few other thoughts :

I wonder if you will still be able to use the Members Shop to sort out problems with miles/vouchers etc. - Dealing directly with MNBA is not easy[B)].

Hopefully supplementary cards will be available (and free).

DD

Richard - thanks for the details - have been real worried they were not gonna replace the xisting one with anything - and its seems better.

I'm sure they will have supplementary cards - AMEX easily issue these free on their own branded cards, and we know MBNA already do so - so see no reason why not.

However - I wonder re the members shop - is the new card going to be a Virgin Money initiative I wonder - or is it Virgin Atlantic? If its the latter - then I doubt Members Shop will be involved anymore.

[honey lamb]

I presume I'm not eligible for the card. [?]

MBNA let me keep the VS card after moving to the US, using a US mailing address. I am just hoping that they will let me transfer to the new card, even though I am not a UK resident any more. Can always hope....

AF

I dont like MBNA much. I just cancelled my bmi card with them after a late payment fee and interest (I paid electronically on a Saturday - the payment day was Monday and it still took 4 days to 'clear')

Im afraid I found that unacceptable and in this day and age an electronic payment should be automatic and fast not printed out, faxed to someone else and re-keyed (or how does it take 4 days?)

Do Virgin themselves actually accept Amex? Would be amusing if they didn't, or maybe not......

Originally posted by xenole
Do Virgin themselves actually accept Amex? Would be amusing if they didn't, or maybe not......

I would have thought so since the new card is offering higher reward levels for spend with them.

Phil

Seems they do from the test booking I just made........maybe I should check more thoroughly before posting

[mitchja]

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by xenole
Do Virgin themselves actually accept Amex? Would be amusing if they didn't, or maybe not......

I would have thought so since the new card is offering higher reward levels for spend with them.

Phil

V Hols dont actually take Amex online at the moment (VS do though). I think you can pay with Amex off-line though with V Hols. I guess this might change now though [:?]

Regards

Maybe one of the reasons for the switch is that AE will provide VS with a preferred rate on all AE transactions.

That would certainly give VH all the incentive it needs to start taking AE.

Phil