Virgin Atlantic credit card: conditions for 'free' ticket
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routières, PCR
Posts: 13,609
Virgin Atlantic credit card: conditions for 'free' ticket
Spend £15,000 or more a year on your Virgin Credit Card and earn a free companion ticket the next time you book a qualifying flight with Virgin Atlantic. Terms & Conditions apply.
That's from the website, with no link to the T+Cs.
According to the VFC helpline today:
- 'book' = buy, i.e. not redeem
- a 'qualifying' flight is one booked in J, W or Y/B/L - i.e. not D, K or other Y fares.
- the flights can only be booked at the end of the 12 month period, even if the £15,000 is spent earlier in the year - e.g. in my case, I can book from Dec 17, 2003 even if pass the threshold next month
- if I've only spent £14,950 in the 12 months, tough.
Important to know the differences between different operators' offers!
That's from the website, with no link to the T+Cs.
According to the VFC helpline today:
- 'book' = buy, i.e. not redeem
- a 'qualifying' flight is one booked in J, W or Y/B/L - i.e. not D, K or other Y fares.
- the flights can only be booked at the end of the 12 month period, even if the £15,000 is spent earlier in the year - e.g. in my case, I can book from Dec 17, 2003 even if pass the threshold next month
- if I've only spent £14,950 in the 12 months, tough.
Important to know the differences between different operators' offers!
#3
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: anywhere but here
Programs: LH au VS au BMI au
Posts: 2,375
these are normal terms and conditions. My guess, somewhat educated is that the the credit card is not aimed at those running an expense account, but those who have a weekly purge at tesco's
Jon
Jon
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routières, PCR
Posts: 13,609
OK, but some of us were hoping that the offer would be competitive with the Amex BA card.
Everybody will have their own views, but I'm disappointed that the 'free' ticket does not go alongside a redemption ticket, that there is no incentive to use the card on Virgin purchases (the BA card offers up to 3 BA miles for BA purchases), that the £15,000 threshold is less flexible than the BA card.
I'm also disappointed that the terms and conditions are not explained until you ask for them. After all, they're quite restrictive.
As for shopping at Tesco, I guess we'll carry on earning 1.5 BA miles per £ and use the Virgin card for places like Boots who don't take Amex.
I can't help feeling that a significant opportunity has been missed.
Everybody will have their own views, but I'm disappointed that the 'free' ticket does not go alongside a redemption ticket, that there is no incentive to use the card on Virgin purchases (the BA card offers up to 3 BA miles for BA purchases), that the £15,000 threshold is less flexible than the BA card.
I'm also disappointed that the terms and conditions are not explained until you ask for them. After all, they're quite restrictive.
As for shopping at Tesco, I guess we'll carry on earning 1.5 BA miles per £ and use the Virgin card for places like Boots who don't take Amex.
I can't help feeling that a significant opportunity has been missed.