If you are a regular Virgin flyer, its Velocity Frequent Flyer program might enable you to earn points for flights, fuel, car hire, accommodation, sport, holidays and more. But despite these benefits, there are a few factors to consider when deciding if getting a frequent flyer credit card is the right option for you.
Please note that as of 20 July 2020, Virgin has announced that Velocity Frequent Flyer members can once again redeem points for certain domestic flights and hotels. From 31 July 2020, points can also be redeemed to book car hire with Europcar. Some redemptions are still currently unavailabl
Why get a frequent flyer credit card?
If you are looking for a frequent flyer credit card where you can earn points with Virgin airlines in particular, it’s a good idea to first consider the following:
- Do you pay your closing credit card balance in full each month? Keep in mind interest rates on frequent flyer credit cards are typically around 20% p.a.
- Do you want to earn points to redeem for domestic or international flights?
- Are you already a member of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, or keen to join?
A frequent flyer credit card might not be the best option if you rarely pay off the balance, only plan to use your credit card occasionally or want to redeem points for other things like cash back, gift cards and shopping vouchers. It can be worth keeping in mind that in some cases, the costs of owning and using these types of rewards-based credit cards can quickly cancel out the benefits of the frequent flyer offers.
Nothing but blue skies. #737 #VirginAustralia ? IG: boeingaviator pic.twitter.com/huP68oZlbC
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) July 10, 2019
Canstar rated Velocity frequent flyer credit cards
Before you decide on a frequent flyer credit card, it’s a good idea to compare your options considering there is such a huge range of products out there. You can see a snapshot of them in the table below, sorted by Virgin airline points gained per dollar spent (highest to lowest) then by provider name (alphabetically). The results shown are based on a monthly spend of $3,000.
Table only displays five products – click here to see more. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions of each deal before signing up.
Velocity Frequent Flyer cards with bonus offers
Certain credit cards also offer special signup deals and bonus offers to new customers. The most common type of deal is rewards points, which can become very valuable when redeemed with Virgin Velocity. You should always check whether the bonus offer is worth it for your rewards style and whether the credit card actually suits your spending habits.
The table below displays a snapshot of frequent flyer credit cards with bonus offers that are partnered with Virgin Velocity, sorted by Virgin airline points per dollar spent (highest to lowest) then by provider name (alphabetically). The results shown are based on a monthly spend of $3,000.
For more information on credit card bonus offers, including their pros and cons, click here.
What to look out for in a frequent flyer credit card
There are a few things you should consider when comparing frequent flyer credit cards to find which product is best for you. Some of these include:
- Earn rate on points – check the rate at which points are earned for each dollar spent.
- Annual fee – consider the annual fee on the card and whether or not it is worth the rewards earned.
- Promotional rates and features – be aware of the expenses of a frequent flyer credit card after the promotional period (typically six months) is over.
- Complimentary extras – some frequent flyer credit cards offer additional features such as complimentary travel insurance.
- Star Ratings – Canstar’s Research team gives products a Star Rating from one to five. It’s a good idea to consider this when comparing frequent flyer credit cards.
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