Getting to Know the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®
With the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®, travelers can earn up to 50,000 Flying Club bonus miles when they make qualifying purchases with their card. Just spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening an account will earn cardholders 30,000 miles – a pretty impressive haul. The card also features no foreign transaction fees, a competitive purchase and balance transfer APR for those with exceptional credit, and 3 miles for every dollar spent with Virgin Atlantic.
How It Works
Cardholders can expect the following from the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®:
How to Earn Rewards:
- Fly with Virgin Atlantic: Travelers earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on ticket purchases with Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members can also earn additional miles when booking through Virgin.
- Everyday purchases: Cardholders earn 1.5 miles for dollar they spend on all other purchases made with their Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®.
- Shopping with Virgin Atlantic Partners: Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can earn Flying Club miles when they make purchases with qualifying Virgin Atlantic retail partners and use their card – partners include Apple, Delta Airlines, Macy’s, RocketMiles, and more!
- Anniversary Miles: Earn up to 15,000 bonus miles each anniversary after making qualifying purchases.
- Add Additional Authorized Users: Adding additional authorized users to your Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® earns an extra 5,000 Flying Club bonus miles.
- Earn Companion Airfare: Spend $25,000 in purchases annually and receive a companion reward fare in the same class of travel.
How to Redeem Miles:
- Travel: Flying Club bonus miles are redeemable for Virgin Atlantic tickets. Ticket purchases using miles are subject to additional fees, as well as restrictions. Virgin Atlantic operates two “seasons” of travel, which have differing mileage costs for Flying Club members.
Virgin Atlantic travel seasons are as follows:
Standard season 2019/2020
September 9, 2019 – December 12, 2019
January 6, 2020 – April 2, 2020
April 22, 2020 – June 19, 2020
September 7, 2020 – December 21, 2020
Peak season 20/19/2020
June 22, 2019 – September 8, 2019
December 13, 2019 – January 5, 2020
April 3, 2020 – April 21, 2020
June 20, 2020 – September 6, 2020
December 12, 2020 – December 31, 2020
- Seat Upgrades: Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® members can use their reward miles for seat upgrades on Virgin Atlantic flights.
- Gift Miles: Miles may also be gifted to friends and family members.
- Spending with Virgin Atlantic Partners: Members can apply miles towards qualifying Virgin Atlantic retail partners including Apple, Delta Airlines, Macy’s, RocketMiles and more!
- Spas: Use Flying Club miles for treatments at Virgin spas at either London Gatwick or London Heathrow airports.
- Chauffeur Services: Cardholders can use miles to book luxurious chauffeur services.
Today’s Bonus Offer
Earn 30,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account.
The Plane Facts
Can you expect a smooth flight from the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®, or will there be turbulence?
- Annual Fee: The card features an annual fee of $90. The annual fee with this card is high when compared to similar rewards cards. Given the immense mile-earning potential, however, it isn’t a deal-breaker by any means.
Airline and Airport Perks:
- Not Many: The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® offers significant mile-earning potential but definitely lacks when it comes to airport perks. There is, for example, no allowance for checked bags, or lounge access included with this card. Perks are gained through either earning Flying Club miles and purchasing perks, or through gaining tier points for towards Flying Club status increases.
Cardholder Protections:
- Digital Wallet Technology: Add the card to Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay.
- Chip Card Technology: Chip technology is the latest innovation in card security. Chip technology offers enhanced security and is accepted in over 130 countries around the globe.
- Overdraft Protection: Cardmembers have the option of overdraft protection, meaning they won’t have to worry about the possibility of a declined transaction or returned check – just pair your card to an existing checking account and you’re all set!
- Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Mastercard®. Also, Bank of America provides 24/7 fraud protection.
- Account Alerts: Cardholders can stay informed about anything to do with their account through the option of email or text alerts – letting them know when payments are due, or if there has been suspicious activity detected on their account.
Additional Benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- FICO® Score Access: Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® cardholders have the choice to opt-in to receive an updated FICO® score every month.
The Perks That Make the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® Worthwhile
What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?
- An Enticing Introductory Bonus Offer: Earn 35,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 or more in eligible purchases in the first 90 days.
- Rewards Flexibility: Virgin’s Flying Club makes its rewards miles very versatile, allowing members to sue miles towards flights, upgrades, purchases, spa treatments, or even gifts to loved ones.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Cardholders can expect no foreign transaction fees, making this card a powerful tool for world travelers.
Potential Turbulence with the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®:
What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?
- Lack of Additional Airport Benefits: Unlike other airline rewards cards from major carriers, the card doesn’t offer the type of instant perks cardholders usually expect. The card has no automatic benefits in terms of checked baggage, lounge access, or other similar perks, focusing instead on rewards miles and status points, which provide these benefits indirectly.
- Additional Charges: Flight bookings may incur extra fees. These include peak season charges, which miles don’t cover.
Thoughts Before Takeoff
Is the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® worth your time if you are looking for a rewards credit card? The answer depends on what you value from an airline rewards card. The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® offers very impressively earning potential – especially for those who plan to use their Mastercard® frequently for purchases. Those who often book their travel through Virgin Atlantic can quickly rack up both miles and status tier points, which can lead to a whole host of great rewards and flight perks through Virgin.
While the $90 annual fee might sound steep – especially as there are plenty of no annual fee airline cards out there, don’t let that put you off – especially if you travel often. Overall, the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Card is a solid choice , but make sure you shop around, as unless you frequently fly with Virgin there may be something better available.