Best-ever Virgin credit card bonus: 10,000 – 25,000 Flying Club miles sign-up offer

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• Jason says:

  9 Jan9 January 09:01

  Can you reapply for this card?

  • Rob says:

    9 Jan9 January 09:39

    Not sure. In general MBNA had caused people trouble on other cards in the past. Nothing to lose if you go for the free card though.

• Brian says:

  9 Jan9 January 09:58

  Raffles, no doubt you’ll be including the current Hilton offer of up to 6,000 bonus Virgin points in your post tomorrow…

  • Rob says:

    9 Jan9 January 10:13

    Been there, done that!

    https://headforpoints.com/2013/10/26/earn-up-to-6000-bonus-virgin-flying-club-miles-with-hilton/

    As Hilton is scrapping ‘fixed miles’ as a reward option, I doubt this sort of promo will come round again – let’s see.

    • Brian says:

      9 Jan9 January 11:52

      Okay. It was mentioned in my January statement, so it’s obviously still ongoing – and it seems to be combinable with miles and points earnings…

• CliveJ says:

  9 Jan9 January 10:08

  There is another option for converting to Virgin FC miles, although it is perhaps more use for keeping the account active than topping up, unless you are a big gambler. If you play on the Virgin Casino or Virgin Games sites you earn V-Points based on how much you wager and which games you play (around £10 of play will get you a point). These can be converted to Virgin FC miles at a rate of 1:1 (1 point is worth 1p if converted to cash).

  I don’t use my Virgin credit card much these days so occasionally I will convert a few V-Points to re-set the clock. There is no minimum to convert, I’ve done it with a single point before.

• Trevor says:

  9 Jan9 January 10:09

  I wouldn’t give up on the voucher so easily. Even at a higher price for the ticket, it would still prove cheaper to buy 1 ticket than 2, and the value you get wouldn’t prove too dissimilar to that obtained when redeeming points for a flight.

• Ian says:

  9 Jan9 January 10:35

  Is the £1000 spend in 90 days in a single card or you can spend it in both and it accumulates the spending?

  • Ian says:

    9 Jan9 January 10:37

    I just found the answer. This is for the white card.

    “A further 7,000 bonus miles will be credited to your account when you apply by 31 March 2014 and spend £1000 on either card in the 90 days of your account opening and supply your Flying Club membership number. “

• Phoenix says:

  9 Jan9 January 10:44

  This is similar to a couple of question above but I wanted to know if you had any magic knowledge Raffles before I called MBNA.

  If you currently have a white card, can you “upgrade” to the black and be eligable for the above bonuses?

  • Rob says:

    9 Jan9 January 11:04

    No idea, sorry!

    • Phoenix says:

      9 Jan9 January 11:22

      No problem – thought I’d ask before wasting my time! Love the blog by the way, have read it almost every day for a year or so now – easily the best of about 10 that I check regularly!

      • James67 says:

        9 Jan9 January 12:04

        Put uour question in writing via secure onl9ne message at your account then you will get answer in writing.

        • Gordon says:

          9 Jan9 January 17:39

          They told me they dont have a downgrade or upgrade mechanism. You are in effect applying for a new card which is why you qualify for the bonus. Thsts what they told me and i will be holding them to it 🙂

  • Gordon says:

    9 Jan9 January 13:20

    I just spoke with MBNA and was told they regard white and black as separate cards. I can apply for the white one whilst I have my current black one and they confirmed I am eligible for the sign up bonus. I intend to cancel the black as I am not using it much but for a short while I will have both and will have collected sign up bonuses on both.

    I’m not sure what would happen if as a new customer you applied for both black and white. Even if successful its probably not good for your credit record

    • Phoenix says:

      9 Jan9 January 13:42

      Gordon – thanks for this; really helpful. Now to do some back of the envelope maths on whether it is worth it…

    • John says:

      10 Jan10 January 01:16

      It really doesn’t affect your credit report unless you are looking to get a mortgage in the next 6 months, or you already have available credit worth 2x your annual income. I think it is more likely that you won’t get approved for 2 MBNA cards at the same time, though.

• Simon says:

  9 Jan9 January 11:34

  I got accepted for the United card by MBNA last month and I’ve now got 3 MBNA cards so can’t imagine I’d get accepted for this card (MBNA reduced my limit on another card automatically when they accepted my United application). As Virgin are a clubcard partner earning Virgin miles without the card shouldn’t be too difficult for me.

  If anyone is thinking about topping up their account with the 5000 miles for the Virgin Money ISA, I did this a couple of months ago, although you have to keep the ISA for 6 months I was impressed the points posted within a couple of days of applying before any money had left my account.

  Also don’t forget the Virgin wine offer runs until the end of the month https://headforpoints.com/2013/12/04/an-even-better-laithwaites-wine-deal-with-virgin-flying-club/

  • Idrive says:

    9 Jan9 January 11:44

    Simon, you mean you have 3 accounts (ie. AA/United/VIrgin) with MBNA??

    • Simon says:

      9 Jan9 January 12:03

      Yes I’ve got 3 accounts with MBNA they are AA/United/Amazon though.

      Probably should cancel the Amazon so I stand more of a chance of being accepted for another airlines card like this one.

      • James67 says:

        9 Jan9 January 12:07

        Apply. If they say no just call and offer to split your available credit. Usually works

        • Simon says:

          9 Jan9 January 12:39

          I’ve got nothing to lose I guess, will wait until nearer the end of March so it’s been a few months since my United application and then might give it a go.

          Raffles mentioned MBNA are rumoured to be very keen to get the BA / Avios credit card contract when it comes up for renewal. It would be interesting if they do, AMEX would have a very limited card range then and a company they let have an AMEX license would have all almost the whole UK credit card market for airline cards.

        • Rob says:

          9 Jan9 January 14:01

          Barclaycard also has an Amex licence now, although they have yet to launch any Amex branded cards. This may (or may not) explain why the IHG card still remains branded as Priority Club – perhaps a relaunch as an IHG branded card with an Amex and Visa is coming?

        • Simon says:

          9 Jan9 January 15:14

          I remember you writing an article about Barclaycard getting a licence, hope that happens (provided existing card members can get the double pack), I’ve got the Hilton and Priority Club Visa cards at the moment, having an extra Amex is always useful for small shop etc and presumably they would have a better points earning rate.

      • Trevor says:

        9 Jan9 January 13:38

        That gives me hope as my wife and I each hold 2 accounts. 1 is the old earner everyoen wishes was still available, so won’t be cancelling that in a hurry. Might trim back on the AA card from last year though.

• Richard says:

  9 Jan9 January 11:46

  Does anyone know if there is any restrictions on current holders of Amex cards? i.e. I have Gold, and also a newly acquired SPG Amex? Meaning that this Virgin (either black or white) card would be a third card held?

  • Idrive says:

    9 Jan9 January 11:47

    no restrictions. they are not AMEX issued.

    • Richard says:

      9 Jan9 January 12:39

      Cheers, Idrive. Will probably wait til mid March and re-assess whether to jump on board this one.

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