Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card review 2021
Last updated:
Earn Flying Club miles aplenty with the most premium Virgin Atlantic card.
You say: ★★★★★We say: ★★★★★
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £160 per annum, your representative rate is 63.9% APR (variable).
Up to 15,000 points
Intro bonus
63.9%
Representative APR
6 months
0% interest on money transfers
£160
Yearly account fee
Details
| Issuer | Clydesdale Bank |
|---|---|
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £160 per annum |
| Balance transfers | 0% for 6 months reverting to 22.9% |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% for 2 months reverting to 5% |
| Purchases | 22.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 50 days |
| Money transfers | 0% for 6 months reverting to 22.9% |
| Cash advances | 27.9% |
| Min credit limit | £0 |
| Max credit limit | Not specified |
| Additional cards available | 3 |
| Incentive | Earn 15,000 bonus miles with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 1.5 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 3 miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Spend £10K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. |
Review by
Chris Lilly
chris.lilly@finder.comChris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in credit-based products including business and personal loans, mortgages and credit cards, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their borrowing. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.
Expert review
One of two similar Virgin Money cards designed to earn you Flying Club miles, this card offers a superior earn rate in return for an annual fee.
Following your first purchase you’ll also be gifted introductory bonus miles, and if you spend enough within your first year (see table below) you’ll unlock additional exclusive benefits. Miles get added to your Flying Club account on a monthly basis.
You can spend your miles in a number of different ways, from reward flights to cabin upgrades to shopping. The value of the points depends on what you use them for and how – for example, in the case of a reward flight it will depend on where you want to go, when and in which class. You can read more about how the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club works on this guide.
As standard, your card also entitles you to free entry to Virgin Money lounges (don’t forget to register for a Virgin Money Lounge card before you travel).
Whether or not the rewards can justify the hefty annual fee will come down to how you anticipate using the card – with big-spenders who clear their balance in full each month being the most likely to come out on top.
The Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network so it's accepted at nearly 53 million merchants across more than 210 countries and territories.
How does this card compare with other frequent flyer cards?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Pros and cons
Pros
- Earn points on day-to-day spending
- Up to 15,000 points introductory bonus
Cons
- £160 annual account fee
- Minimum annual income requirement of £7,000
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Virgin Money's app, by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 389 2875). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£9) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply for the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card
If you've compared cards and settled on the Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Can I withdraw cash using the Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino, buying currency, etc.) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is 5%.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 27.9% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 50 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
Frequently asked questions
Finder credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts score credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like its suitability for its intended purpose, any perks/extras it brings to the table, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.