Virgin Atlantic launches new credit cards

Virgin Atlantic has launched two new branded credit cards, both of which will allow customers to earn Flying Club miles on purchases.

The miles can be swapped for Virgin’s complete range of Flying Club rewards, including flights and cabin upgrades.

The two new cards have been launched as part of a new partnership with Virgin Money and Mastercard.

The free Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard will give passengers:

• 0.75 Flying Club miles for every £1 spent
• 5,000 bonus Flying Club miles with the first card purchase (within 90 days of account opening)
• double miles for all direct bookings with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays
• a reward for spending of £20,000 plus a year

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard, which comes with an annual fee of £160 offers:

• 1.5 Flying Club miles for every £1 spent
• 15,000 bonus Flying Club miles with the first card purchase (within 90 days of account opening)
• double miles for all direct bookings with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays
• a reward for spending £10,000 a year
• free access to over 1 million global hotspots via Boingo wifi

In addition to earning Flying Club miles, Reward and Reward+ customers can receive further credit card rewards based on spending. Red Flying Club members can choose a free Premium upgrade when flying economy, or an economy reward companion seat which enables them to take a companion for no additional miles.

Silver members can choose from these same options, as well as a Premium reward companion seat or a pass for a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

Gold members can choose two Clubhouse passes, an Economy, Premium or Upper Class reward companion seat, or a free premium upgrade.

Oliver Byers, SVP of sales and customer loyalty at Virgin Atlantic, said: "’We are incredibly excited to launch our new credit cards. With our cards customers can earn miles on their everyday spend to redeem for flights and upgrades and more. On top of that we’re offering our most valuable customers even more choice of rewards, so that they can create the Virgin Atlantic experience that suits them best.”

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive at Virgin Money, said: "We’re delighted to be launching the first products from our exciting new partnership with Virgin Atlantic, in a market that’s seen greatly reduced customer choice in recent years.

"Together we are offering customers an easy way to earn Flying Club miles and access to a brilliant range of Flying Club and Virgin Group benefits, all supported by the outstanding service customers expect from the Virgin brand."