Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

Hi All

I am new to the forum and have enjoyed reading much of the information on it. I have found it really helpful.

I signed up for a Virgin Atlantic Reward Card last year (Black) and have some questions about the Companion Reward Flight and the Premium Reward Flight.

Do these get added to your account when you become eligible for them? For example when I spend £5000 I get a Premium Economy Upgrade at that point. Or do they get added after 12 months? I am sure I have spent enough but haven't heard anything yet.

Thanks


Joe

They are supposed to be added but they are so low key about it I have no idea if and when mine have been added. Actually it does not matter as they are not easy to use as - unless I am wrong - they are only for use on 100% miles tickets so you need to be on an award booking and will not earn any miles or TP neither will your companion.
If that doesn't bother you then maybe they are worth having - finding availability may not be that easy though.

Having said that the black card is VERY generous in giving VS miles especially if you buy VS tickets with it. Far better than the 'real' amex cards.

[Neil]

Actually it does not matter as they are not easy to use as - unless I am wrong - they are only for use on 100% miles tickets so you need to be on an award booking and will not earn any miles or TP neither will your companion.

You are correct, that the PE upgrade voucher can only be used when using miles to purchase a Y ticket, and then subject to there being PE reward availability, the voucher upgrade you to PE for free. These have been well used by members on here, especially when you can pick up a Y reward for for under 30k to some destinations when they have reward seat sales on.

The companion fares are a lot harder to get value for money for, as these can only be used when combined with a pax buying a full fare ticket originally, which quite often works out more than buying 2 discounted fares.

To the OP question regarding when they show on your account, IIRC the PE upgrade appears once you have hit the required spend, the companion voucher at the end of the card year. Do check your online FC account carefully as they aren't very clear.

Neil

Hi All

Do these get added to your account when you become eligible for them? For example when I spend £5000 I get a Premium Economy Upgrade at that point. Or do they get added after 12 months? I am sure I have spent enough but haven't heard anything yet.

Thanks
Joe

Firstly welcome, You won't hear anything from VS card. You need to check your FC account where they appear- you get no physical voucher etc..

Just be fully aware, as the Neil mentions the Companion Voucher is very hard to get value out of and a real marketing gimmick IMHO, cheaper to buy two lower fared seats; search on here to see threads discussing...

The Reward upgrade is a for a full miles bought Y seat, which can be worthwhile and again can only be used if a reward seat exists in PE...Do dummy bookings to check..

The mileage acrual is good,which makes the card a worthy route, the add-ons are just that, wouldn't get too excited..

NH

ditto what the others have said

The vouchers are good publicity for VS but can be hard to redeem (especially the companion voucher)

the 'voucher' will appear as a line in your FC account shortly after you have made the required spend.

My last 'voucher' appeared in my FC as

04 Nov 2009 VAA Credit Card Econ>Premium Reward Upgrade

fully agree -companion ticket worthless, upgrade voucher great HOWEVER my upgrades (i get 2 every year ) are 'credited ' on the anniversary date of my enrolement not as i hit 5000.

just checked and my last 2 were July 2010, i hit the next £10k by September but still not seen any more -they are due mid July this year

also it is a max of 2 per year

Thanks for your help. I am just looking at a reward flight online, there is availability when I want to go. I can't see if it is a Y fare. Is there anyway of telling?

I just managed to find it on the next page of the booking process. The fare code was T so it wouldn't be eligible for a PE upgrade. At least I know now so thanks.

What does VS stand for?

Just checked my account and seen the following:

15 Mar 2011 VAA Credit Card Companion Flight Qualification

If I did want to use the Companion Flight would I do this through the website or do I have to call Virgin. Not seen a PE upgrade on there so it looks like they will be added at the end of the year.

What does VS stand for?

VS = International Code for Virgin Atlantic.

[Neil]

I just managed to find it on the next page of the booking process. The fare code was T so it wouldn't be eligible for a PE upgrade. At least I know now so thanks.

What does VS stand for?

Sorry, we are talking in code and I think it might have confused you a little.

When I was talking about Y, I was using it as a way to describe economy not a specific fare code.

All economy mileage bookings are in the T fare code, so that is eligible to upgrade to PE the AmEx voucher.

In fact, there doesn't actually have to be economy mileage seats available, just PE seats, so as long as the flights you want to book have PE reward seats (which are U class) then you will be able to use the voucher.

Do remember that just because there are PE seats available to buy with money and economy fare reward seats, doesn't mean you will be able to upgrade with the voucher.

Hope it is a bit clearer now.
Thanks,
Neil

Just to bump this up.

Ive got a plain old white amex, but have just got the "VAA Credit Card Companion Flight Qualification" appear in my account

Should I have got the Y-> PE Upgrade before this, or does that come after even more spend ?

So you've spent enough to get the companion flight (£15k) so that means you,ve also spent enough to get an upgrade award...(£10k) oo)
Upgrade awards are only added to your FC account on the anniversary of the account opening. You can earn 2 upgrade awards each year by spending £20k on the card...each upgrade is awarded at £10k spend on the Whitecard....sit tight you'll get them.. y)
Hope that helps
Paul

Aha. thanks good news.. now just have to think then the anniversary is..