Virgin Atlantic's airline credit card is giving away enough air miles to fly to New York for free

Customers applying for the airline's Virgin Atlantic Reward Card can now earn up to 10,000 Flying Club rewards miles while the premium Rewards+ card offers a generous 25,000 free miles.

The airline has previously only given new customers 5,000 bonus miles for the Reward Card or 15,000 bonus miles for the premium Reward+ card.

The new offer is for new customers who sign up on or before December 14.

If you already have one of the cards you can still qualify as a "new customer" as long as you're applying for the other of the two cards on offer and you signed up more than six months ago.

But as usual with attractive deals, there are a number of catches you need to consider before applying for the credit card.

For example, the offer gives you thousands of air miles for free but taxes and surcharges apply when you book a ticket.

Virgin Atlantic has not yet clarified whether the miles can be used to pay for these as well.

Also always make sure you clear the debt each month to avoid the high interest rates.

Here's all you need to know about the deal:

Virgin Atlantic Rewards

  • You'll get 5,000 Flying Club miles after your first purchase within three months
  • You need to spend £1,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account to get the additional 5,000 free miles
  • No monthly fee
  • You get 0.75 miles per £1 spend on the card, or 1.25 miles per £1 spent on Virgin holidays or Virgin Atlantic holidays
  • After a £20,000 spend, you get a free companion ticket or seat upgrade to Premium class
  • Annual percentage rate of 22.5 per cent

Virgin Atlantic Rewards+

  • You'll get 15,000 miles for your first spend within three months
  • You need to spend £1,500 within the first 90 days of opening your account to be eligible for the 15,000 free air miles
  • Annual fee of £160
  • You get 1.5 miles per £1 spend on the card, or three miles per £1 spent on Virgin holidays or Virgin Atlantic holidays
  • After a £10,000 spend, you get a free companion ticket or Premium upgrade
  • Annual percentage rate of 22.5 per cent

The following customers can apply:

  • Aged 18 years old or over
  • UK residents
  • Have a UK bank or building society account
  • Have a good credit history
  • An income of at least £7,000, or household income of at least £15,000
  • You can't have applied for another credit card by Virgin Money in the last six months

How to apply for a credit card

Which card do you need: The first thing you need to do if figure out what kind card you are going to need.

Luckily for you, you are in the right place as this article will explain what kind of card you need for your situation.

Check your credit score: Your credit score determines how reliable you are when it comes to borrowing money.

The better your credit score the more likely it is that banks will accept you for the best deals.

When you apply for a credit card your bank will check your credit score to see if you suitable for the deal they are offering.

If you have a bad credit rating the bank may not want to lend you money in case you can't pay it back.

You can find out how to check your credit score here

Don't apply all over the place: If you just apply for loads of different deals you may end up hurting your chances of getting the best deals.

If you apply and your application gets refused it will leave a mark on your credit file which means that providers might be less likely to lend to you.

Always check using an eligibility like MoneySuperMarket's Smart Search to see how likely you are to be accepted for a credit card.

Don't believe everything you see: Just because you see a credit card advertised with a great rate online, it doesn't mean that that is the rate you will end up getting.

By law credit card companies have to give the rate they advertise to the 51 per cent of the people who successfully apply for a credit card.

But, depending on your credit score you might get a different interest rate or a shorter 0 per cent period.

You don't have to accept the rate you are offered and you can always shop around for a better deal.

Fill in your application form: Once you have decided on the card you are after just fill in the online form on the credit card company's website.

Try to be as honest as possible with your credit details.

If your application is declined it might be worth asking the bank for a copy of your credit file to see why it is that you weren't accepted for the credit card.

If you are accepted can take a week or two for your card to arrive.

What other deals are there?

Keep in mind that airline rewards scheme are only worth considering if you can fly from airports close to you using your points, and to destinations you want.

For example, Virgin Flying Club miles can't be spent on short-haul flights because Virgin Atlantic doesn't have any.

But you can also use your points on Eurostar, Delta and Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Jet Airways, Air China, ANA, Scandinavian Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

If you're travelling a lot and would like to earn air miles on your spending, British Airways is the main rival to Virgin Atlantic.

The American Express British Airways credit card has no annual fee and almost the same interest rate as Virgin Atlantic at 22.9 per cent.

You get 5,000 points called Avios when you spend £1,000 in the first three months, one Avios per £1 spent and the free companion voucher after an annual £20,000 spend.

The American Express British Airways Premium Plus costs £195 per year and comes with a whopping 76 interest rate.

You'll get 1.5 Avois per £1 spent, 25,000 Avios if you spend £3,000 in the first three months and a free companion voucher after spending £10,000 in one year.


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