Credit Card Programs - [Revised] Virgin America VISA 20k + 5k + $150 off companion ticket

just got a mailer for this and see that it's available online for anyone:

http://www.virginamericavisa.com/mvt/

10,000 bonus points
with your first purchase3
Up to 5,000 bonus points with a balance transfer in
the first 30 days3
Please see the "Important Balance Transfer Information" below for more information about these bonus points.
10,000 Elevate status points when you spend $25,000 on everyday
purchases each year7
$150 off a companion ticket every year5
Up to 1,200 additional points per year6
3 points per $1 on
Virgin America purchases4
1 point per $1 spent everywhere else4
No blackout dates on any seat, at any time for reward flights1
Deals and upgrades at the world's finest hotels, resorts & spas
Low intro rate on balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening2

i tried doing a search and didn't see any discussion on it whatsoever (in the master offer list and Virgin section of the forum. i'm a leisure traveler and will usually fly Virgin America at least once/year.

Doesn't this card really pay for itself with the $150 off companion fare annually if used? Any reason I shouldn't be considering applying for this? Perhaps they have a better sign up from time to time i'm unaware of.

thanks,

Looks like a Barclay card. I have 2 reasons why you shouldn't apply for this:

1) Barclay Card has a 40k US Airways first spend signing bonus card.
2) Barclay Card has a $200 first spend signing bonus card (NFL).

Also, Elevate is a fixed-value reward program. Those 15000 points won't get you very far...

i did a couple of test bookings to comparing $ to elevate points, and it doesn't seem like it's 100% fixed. i found points to be valued at 2-2.5c each.

what i like about their program is that there's always availability. i've found in all the BA and AA points i've accumulated, a lot of times i'm looking to compromise my trip to get more value or even find availability from my points. either that or the use of my point value is so low, i end up paying rather than using a ton of points that are just sitting there.

the 15000 pts should be valued at around $300-$350.

centrifuge, im not completely familiar with US air, so maybe i should read up on that, but last time i flew US air, i don't remember it being as pleasant an experience as virgin was.

i like to think i'm getting at least $500 of value out of each credit card i sign up for and this one comes pretty close to it. any other reasons i shouldn't sign up?

US Air card also has a negative annual fee, and it gives you a 5k mile discount each time you book US metal. Maybe that'll push one over the edge to sign up for the card, even if they typically look for 50k+ offers that are free of first year annual fees.

I've never flown VX, so I can't comment/compare with US.

US Air card also has a negative annual fee, and it gives you a 5k mile discount each time you book US metal. Maybe that'll push one over the edge to sign up for the card, even if they typically look for 50k+ offers that are free of first year annual fees.

++ It's the best of all the airline cards if you don't fly a lot in my opinion. It's the only one I would keep.

i did a couple of test bookings to comparing $ to elevate points, and it doesn't seem like it's 100% fixed. i found points to be valued at 2-2.5c each.
It would be an excellent idea for anyone thinking about getting this card to read the VX forum FAQ:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virgin-america-elevate/838255-virgin-america-vx-faq-thread.html

In particular:
Points are redeemed for air travel based on the available fares on the flight on which you would like to travel. Every seat which is available for purchase is also available for redemption. The current rate of "exchange" between points and dollars depends upon day of travel. For all days other than Friday and Sunday, the rate is around $0.0215 of value per point. For example, if the one-way fare is $62 the number of points required to redeem is 2,884. This exchange rate (which is actually a small fraction under .0215) is consistent across all fares systemwide. For Friday and Sunday, the rate is around $0.0165 of value per point. Once a ticket is booked via redemption, it is like any other ticket in that you can upgrade it, cancel it or change it at the same dollar cost as normal.
Fixed value, at two different rates: 1.65 cents on Fri and Sun, 2.15 cents other days. Any difference beyond that is probably related to computation of taxes.

SnoopDaddy, if you really like VX points, this is probably the best offer they've ever had. However, as an offer in general, it's not very good at all.

It's really only 10000 points. The additional 5000 are for a balance transfer of $5000 with a 3% fee. Paying $150 to earn $108 of points is not a good value.

The 10000 points are worth, at most, $215.

As a daily spending card, it's pretty good, if you think of it as equivalent of 2.15% cashback. But there are so many better cards...

You'd be far better off signing up for two Citi Thank You Premier cards and using the 100k signup bonus to book $1299 of VX tickets that way.

Also, Elevate is a fixed-value reward program. Those 15000 points won't get you very far...

what is a fixed-value reward program?

what is a fixed-value reward program?

The points have a predetermined monetary value, see MDtR-Chicago's post. This means the number of points required for an award flight varies directly with the price of a ticket. In most USA-based airline programs the number of miles required for an award flight are fixed for geographic zones and do not increase or decrease with fares, although programs do have two or three redemption tiers.

thanks MDTR. really helpful info in your post.

so it looks like the card is worth the $49 annual fee, but the offer in general isn't very good for a credit inquiry.

can't decide on what to apply for next. :D

i just got an e mail with an updated offer. seems like 10k more pts on 1st purchase than original offer. might be time to sign up as 20k is worth at most $430.



20,000 Bonus points with your first purchase3
Up to 5,000 bonus points with a balance transfer in the first 30 days3
Please see the details of this offer for more information about balance transfers.

$150 Off on a companion ticket every year5
All for a $49 annual fee2
3 Points per $1 spent with Virgin America4
1 Point per $1 spent everywhere else4

Earn 10,000 Elevate status points when you spend $25,000 on everyday purchases each year7

Wonder if anyone has experience churning this card? Looks like a good card to get in addition to the US Airways card.

This means the number of points required for an award flight varies directly with the price of a ticket. .


The real value of these VX points to me would be the following:

50k + fees (high but on par with BA) for r/t J SFO/LAX to LHR on VS

or

80k + fees (DL charges 150K + same fees) for r/t J SFO/LAX-SYD/MEL/BNE on VA


To me these are decent redemption values on solid products and then when you mix in the ~2.4 cpp value of VX points for short hauls that you then can upgrade to a 160 degree craddle for $79 - I am starting to warm to this program.

Something to consider anyway. Just wish they'd up the ante with a 40-50k signup bonus.

I noticed that the standard bonus offer changed from 20K to 10K points (on 1st usage) as I was signing up for the Virgin America mileage club. So I quickly hunted for a old link that still had the 20K bonus.
I and my DW got approved instantly for Virgin America cc - hopefully with 20K bonus miles first use, $49 fee.
My DW got the US Airways card a few weeks ago, so it isn't always true that you have to wait 60 days between Barclay cards.
Also interesting, the application asks how many times in the past you used cash advance on credit cards. I assume that is a negative if you have too many cash advances. We have never had a cash advance.

I got this card a little while back when it was at 20k because I like virgin and the high value of points actually makes this more like 40k of value at another airline.

However, I just stumbled across some fine print today which said that it's not churnable. I don't know if that really means anything, but it does SAY that they can charge you for points you get from another offer, if you sign up for one.

Quote " From time to time, we may offer bonuses or awards of
points, credits or other premiums (for example, First Use
Points, First Use Certificates, and Promotional Companion
Tickets) to new Virgin America Visa Cardmembers.
Unless otherwise stated in the offer, these bonuses and/
or awards are intended for persons who are not, and have
not previously been, Virgin America Cardmembers. You
understand and agree that, unless we otherwise state,
you are no longer eligible to receive these bonuses and/or
awards for any new Virgin America account you open after
this Account is opened. If you receive a bonus or award for
which you are not eligible, we may direct Virgin America to
revoke the bonus or award, or reduce your Elevate points by
the amount of the award, or charge your accoun"

Link (not sure if it'll work): https://gif.barclaycardus.com/servicing/img/vam/rewardsTnC/VAM_notVA06_JUNE2012_RwdTC.pdf

Is this a standard clause or do you think they mean it?

Anyone have a link to the 20k offer ?

TIA and much appreciated !

A quick search got me this link:

https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1658&cellNumber=16&prodidreq=CCVVS48847

A quick search got me this link:

https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1658&cellNumber=16&prodidreq=CCVVS48847

Super - Many Thanks .... got instantly approved in seconds with your magical link ^

Your search-skills must be awesome, since mine wouldn't render the expected results within a reasonable time frame ;)

I think the 20 k link is right on their homepage as well

No one seemed to have had any experience churning this card yet that I've read

I think the 20 k link is right on their homepage as well


All links that I'd found - as well as their website (https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1478&cellNumber=30&prodidreq=CCVVS42009) - offer the 10K.

No one seemed to have had any experience churning this card yet that I've read

No intention or interest in churning (yet) - just applied first time for the 3 most rewarding Barclay cards, all at once.

All links that I'd found - as well as their website (https://www.barclaycardus.com/apply/Landing.action?campaignId=1478&cellNumber=30&prodidreq=CCVVS42009) - offer the 10K.


No intention or interest in churning (yet) - just applied first time for the 3 most rewarding Barclay cards, all at once.

i was mobile earlier, but do see only the 10k link on their site. good job to whoever located it.

let me know how you feel in 90 days. :)

if anyone is interested, there have been reports of people getting 5 or even 6 barclays cards all at the same time.

Be very careful about paying these VA cards off in time. Unless you have an excellent credit rating, your interest rate will be 24.99%.

I've had this card for a year and a half now, before they had the $150 off companion ticket benefit. Does my card get that benefit now, or am I screwed over? Anyone here ever get the companion code from this?

can these points be transferred to a hotel program?

For those of you who applied for this late last year, check your e-mails to see if you were targeted for this bonus offer:

You already earn points for every purchase with your new Virgin America Visa® Card. And with this special offer your card is now more rewarding than ever. Earn 7,500 bonus points when you spend over $750 in new purchases in March, April and May

Seems like the US Air offers are being applied to VA cards now too.

There are reports on the blogosphere about how lucrative elevate points could be for redemptions on SQ, especially in coach. It would be great to capture people's experiences in applying for this card. Reports for the US air card are not encouraging. I wonder if that is the same for this card.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2013/03/05/has-the-virgin-america-visa-suddenly-become-one-of-the-most-rewarding-credit-cards-out-there/

There are reports on the blogosphere about how lucrative elevate points could be for redemptions on SQ, especially in coach. It would be great to capture people's experiences in applying for this card. Reports for the US air card are not encouraging. I wonder if that is the same for this card.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2013/03/05/has-the-virgin-america-visa-suddenly-become-one-of-the-most-rewarding-credit-cards-out-there/

Wife and I were both instantly approved for this card in January and this card has indeed become my go to card for regular spend as Lucky suggests, but not for the Singapore Airlines partnership.

Wife and I were both instantly approved for this card in January and this card has indeed become my go to card for regular spend as Lucky suggests, but not for the Singapore Airlines partnership.

Good to hear.. this will be on my list for next round. VX points will have multiple uses for me as well b/c of hub in SFO and partnerships. Any gotchas when redeeming VX points?

I've only made one redemption thus far, HNL-PPG on HA, and that went smoothly over the phone so don't know of any gotchas yet.

Be very careful about paying these VA cards off in time. Unless you have an excellent credit rating, your interest rate will be 24.99%.

I think most people are just using these cards to buy a pack of gum, I think we can all afford $1.50.