Virgin Atlantic American Express Black Credit Card

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  • Cash Advance Rate:
  • Intro Balance Transfer Duration:
  • Intro Balance Transfer Fee:
  • Intro Balance Transfer Rate:
  • Representative APR:
  • Standard Purchase Rate:
  • 20.9% p.a.
  • 6 months
  • 2%
  • 0% p.a.
  • 47.2% p.a. variable
  • 18.9% p.a.

Pros

  • Earn Virgin Flying Club miles at a higher ratio

  • Free travel insurance against inconvenience and accidents

  • Complimentary upgrades & tickets for a friend or family member

Cons

  • High annual fee can negate the value of rewards

  • Quite a short balance transfer offer compared to other cards

  • No introductory low interest rate on purchases

Best Features of the Virgin Atlantic American Express Black Credit Card

  • 6,000 bonus Flying Club miles
  • Earn up to 4 Virgin Flying Club miles per £1
  • Free seat upgrades and tickets for companions
  • Complimentary travel inconvenience and accident insurance

Our Review

If you’re a serious traveller then you’ll love the Virgin Atlantic Black credit card. This American Express credit card has one of the best reward schemes on the market – it’s only a matter of time before your jetting off to the sun, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic.

Who it’s for

The Virgin Atlantic American Express Black credit card is the perfect companion for anyone who is a frequent traveller, or wants to be! It comes with a £140 annual management fee, which is why this card is recommended for people who use their credit card on a regular basis and pay it off in full each month in order to get the most out of it. If you don’t regularly use your credit card then look for a reward card that comes without a management fee such as the Virgin Atlantic White card.

Eligibility

Before you apply for the Black card, remember that you must be a UK resident over the age of 18 and already own a bank or building society account. Applying for the card takes a matter of minutes and the outcome of your application is instant.

Balance transfers

If you already have a credit card and want to save money by transferring your balance, you’re in luck! This Virgin Atlantic credit card has a 6 months introductory 0% p.a. interest rate on all balance transfers with just a 2% handling fee. The rate thereafter jumps to 18.9% p.a.. This isn’t as competitive as other balance transfer credit cards, so if consolidating your balances so save on interest is what you want then you would be better off looking elsewhere.

Purchases

If you’re looking for an introductory purchase rate then you’ll be disappointed. Unfortunately the VA American Express Black credit card has a set rate of 18.9% p.a.. However, the account does come with a 46 day interest free period on all purchases, which, although shorter than that of other cards, is ideal if you can afford to pay your balance in full at the end of the month.

Rewards

For every £1 you spend on your AMEX card, you’ll be rewarded with two Virgin Flying Club air miles. What’s more, you’ll also receive an impressive 6,000 bonus miles on your first ever purchase. There’s also the opportunity to earn double points if you use your card to buy a Virgin Holiday or a flight with Virgin Atlantic.

The rewards don’t stop there either! The Virgin Atlantic Black credit card can also get your friend a free flight subject to you spending £7,500 on the card within a year. Virgin will also upgrade you to Premium Economy, so long as you have spent £5,000 or more on your credit card.

Becoming a Black card owner also gives you access to American Express Select’s scheme which offers members exclusive discounts on travel, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Cash advances

The Virgin Atlantic Black card can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs no matter where you are in the world. It’s recommended that you only use your credit card for cash advances in an emergency as the interest rate is generally high, in this case 20.9% p.a..

Security & fraud protection

The Virgin Atlantic Black credit card integrates state-of-the-art security technology, giving you peace of mind that your money is in safe hands. Not only this but Virgin also have a fraud protection guarantee, protecting you against any loss that you may incur due to fraudulent activity. Virgin also offer free global travel assistance should you have problems with your credit cards whilst abroad.

Conclusion

If you already spend a lot of time flying, or simply want to be rewarded for spending on your credit card instead of being punished with interest charges, then the Virgin Atlantic Black card is the one for you. If you spend regularly on your credit card and can justify the annual management fee then what are you waiting for? Just be wary that American Express isn’t as widely accepted as other credit cards such as Visa or MasterCard.

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