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Dark horse for an everyday card: Virgin Atlantic Mastercard credit card review

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® overview

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is a mid-tier airline credit card that can provide serious value to Virgin Atlantic loyalists and travelers that know how to maximize Flying Club redemptions. It's lacking some key benefits like a free checked bag and discounts on inflight purchases, but it earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on almost everything you buy, making it a potential everyday spending card for select travelers. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Airline credit cards aren't generally the most lucrative options on the market when it comes to travel rewards, since they don't offer flexible points and can be weak when it comes to sparse bonus categories or earning on everyday spend.

However, the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is a compelling option for an airline card, because it earns at least 1.5 Virgin points per dollar spent on all purchases. In addition, its points can be used very effectively on partner redemptions. I've personally used Virgin points to book a Delta-operated transcontinental flight in economy for just 12,500 points one way, and using Flying Club points to book Delta-operated flights is far from the program's only sweet spot.

So, let's dig into the earnings and benefits of the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard.

The information for the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For the latest travel news, deals, and points and miles tips, subscribe to The Points Guy's daily email newsletter .

Who is the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard for?

The Virgin Atlantic Mastercard earns points in the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and provides benefits that can useful for Virgin Atlantic flyers and loyalists. However, it's important to note that even though the card earns Virgin points, it can be worth having even if you never set foot on a Virgin Atlantic aircraft.

For travelers who can maximize Flying Club redemptions, this can be a solid everyday spending card , thanks to its ability to earn 1.5 points per dollar on non-bonus spending. Plus, you can earn bonus points when you hit spending thresholds within your anniversary year.

Sign-up bonus: As much as $450 in value

With the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard, you can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. TPG's valuations peg the value of Virgin points at 1.5 cents each, so this welcome bonus is worth $450. But, depending on how you use your points, you may be able to get even more than $450 in value from them.

Plus, with this bonus offer, there are a few opportunities to earn even more Virgin points:

• 2,500 points for each of the first two authorized users added to your card, up to a total of 5,000 bonus points.
• 7,500 anniversary points after you spend a minimum of $15,000 with your card within your anniversary year.
• An additional 7,500 anniversary points after you spend a total of $25,000 with your card within your anniversary year.

So, if you add two authorized users and spend at least $25,000 with your card in the first year, you'll earn 50,000 Virgin points within your first year. And, it's important to note that these bonus points are on top of the miles you'd normally earn on your purchases.

Main benefits and perks

Although Virgin points can be useful to many travelers, the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard's benefits and perks will be most attractive to Virgin Atlantic loyalists. In particular, the card's benefits can be particularly valuable to Virgin Atlantic elites or aspiring elites.

One benefit of the card is the ability to earn tier points through spending. You can earn 25 tier points per $2,500 in purchases — up to 50 tier points per month — to help you elevate your Flying Club status.

It takes 400 tier points per year to reach Silver status and 1,000 tier points per year to reach Gold status. Since you can earn up to 600 tier points per year, you can make it to Silver Tier with the card alone and get within 400 tier points of Gold Tier. So, this card can be extremely useful if you're working toward Virgin Atlantic elite status.

Related: How to get Virgin Atlantic elite status without stepping on a plane

The card's other major benefit is the enhanced anniversary award that you can earn each cardmember year in which you spend $25,000 or more in purchases. For this benefit, you can choose either a companion award in the same cabin class when you redeem Virgin points for a Virgin Atlantic award ticket or a one-cabin upgrade from Economy to Premium class on a Virgin Atlantic award flight.

Although the companion award can be extremely valuable, there are some restrictions. First, the cabin into which you redeem points for a companion award is restricted based on your Flying Club tier at the time of booking. Red Tier (basic) members can only redeem for Economy Classic or Premium; if they choose to book a companion into Upper Class, the ticket is discounted 50% only -- it's not free. Silver Tier and Gold Tier members can redeem for Economy Classic, Premium or Upper Class.

In addition, you'll still be responsible for paying applicable taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges for the companion award, which can mean a lot of cash for most Virgin Atlantic-operated awards. The terms and conditions note that "the initial ticket must be a Virgin Atlantic ticket purchased directly through Virgin Atlantic Airways," which seems to imply the companion award is limited to flights marketed and operated by Virgin Atlantic.

The Virgin Atlantic Mastercard also has some benefits that aren't related to Virgin Atlantic. In particular, you won't pay foreign transaction fees when you use your card abroad. And, you'll have access to select shopping benefits that can provide peace of mind when you make purchases with your card.

For example, most items are protected against damage or theft within the first 90 days after purchase. And, the card's extended warranty protection doubles most original manufacturer's warranties of one year or less. However, unlike the airline credit cards attached to the main U.S. airlines, this card does not offer a free checked bag , nor does it provide a discount on inflight purchases as benefits

Finally, the $90 annual fee on the card isn't waived the first year.

Related: The 8 most valuable World Elite Mastercard benefits

How to earn points

The Virgin Atlantic Mastercard offers 3 Virgin points per dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic tickets and duty free items purchased directly from Virgin Atlantic. TPG values Virgin points at 1.5 cents each , which means you can get a 4.5% return on these purchases. However, since the card doesn't offer much in the way of travel protections, you may want to purchase travel insurance to protect flights you book with this card.

However, the true value for cardholders may be on non-bonus spending. This is because the card earns 1.5 points per dollar spent on all non-Virgin Atlantic purchases, which equates to a 2.25% return. Although this rate of return isn't the best you can find for everyday spending , it's worth considering if you can maximize redemptions in the Flying Club program or are using this spending for the combined value of points plus status earning with Virgin Atlantic.

How to redeem points

You can redeem Virgin points for flights and upgrades with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic's network of partners. However, due to high taxes and fees on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights, most points and miles collectors will want to use these points for award flights on partner airlines.

Related: How to avoid fuel surcharges on award travel

Virgin Atlantic is not a member of any of the three main airline alliances, but there are currently eight partner airlines you can book award flights on using Virgin points. Each partner has its own specific award chart when booking through Flying Club, which can be found using the following links:

• Air France (SkyTeam).
• Air New Zealand (Star Alliance).
• ANA (Star Alliance).
• Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam).
• Hawaiian Airlines .
• KLM (SkyTeam).
• Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance).
• South African Airways (Star Alliance).
• Virgin Australia .

In general, you'll find the best value when using Virgin points to book award flights on Air New Zealand, ANA, Delta and South African Airways. For example, you can fly between Japan and the Western U.S. in first class on ANA for just 110,000 Virgin points round-trip (or 55,000 points each way). Domestic Delta routes within the U.S. can present good value, as well. Transcontinental routes in economy between New York-JFK and LAX cost just 15,000 points.

Previously, you could consistently obtain great value on redemptions for Delta flights. However, a January 2021 devaluation shook this up . Thus, only some Delta award bookings continue to provide good value here.

Additionally, redemptions for Air France and KLM flights can provide value on flights in off-peak periods or short-haul flights where cash prices are high.

For more details on how to search awards and other sweet spots in the Flying Club award charts, check out our guide below.

Further reading: Unlock incredible value with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Should I spend to the anniversary bonus each year?

The Virgin Atlantic Mastercard provides various benefits if you spend at least $25,000 on your card within your anniversary year, including an enhanced anniversary award benefit and anniversary bonus points. You can also earn tier points based on your spending with the card. All of these benefits can provide value that may justify making the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard your everyday spending card .

While it's difficult to estimate the value of tier points and the enhanced anniversary award benefit, we can estimate the value of the anniversary bonus points and calculate how it affects your return on spending with the card. In the following table, let's consider what return you could obtain if you spent $25,000 with your card within an anniversary year:

The above table doesn't take into account the 30,000-point sign-up bonus you can earn in your first 90 days after spending $1,000 on purchases, nor does it account for the bonuses you can earn for adding up to two authorized users.

So, if you earn the sign-up bonus, authorized user bonuses, anniversary bonuses and account for the points earned from $25,000 in purchases, you'll have a first-year return between 6.15% (if you only put non-bonus spending on your card) and 8.4% (if you only put Virgin Atlantic spending on your card). These returns for first year spending are much better than what's offered by most everyday spending cards .

So, should you spend $25,000 on the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard during each anniversary year? If you can get solid value from Virgin points , then the answer for you may be yes. This is particularly true if you can utilize the tier points or the choice of a companion award or a one-cabin upgrade that comes with this level of spending. How much (or how little) you maximize these perks will sway your opinion of whether this spending makes sense for you.

Which cards compete with the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard?

As an airline credit card, the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard competes with other airline credit cards. However, since you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles to Virgin at a 1:1 ratio, this means any card earning those points can also effectively earn Virgin points.

Let's look at some comparisons to see what might be best for your wallet.

The British Airways Visa Signature Card earns Avios , which are the currency of another U.K.-based airline: British Airways . With the British Airways Visa from Chase, you can earn up to 100,000 Avios. Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening and earn an additional 25,000 Avios after you spend $20,000 in the the first 12 months of account opening. The card has an annual fee of $95 and offers a 3 Avios per dollar spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus , Iberia and LEVEL.

You'll do better than the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard on hotel spending (3 Avios per dollar in the first 18 months, then 2 Avios per dollar) but will earn less on everyday spending (just 1 Avios per dollar). If you're looking for a competing credit card with another airline, this is a quality option.

But what about credit cards that earn flexible points you can still use with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club?

You may not think of the Citi® Double Cash Card when it comes to airlines, but the card has no annual fee and earns 2 ThankYou Points (1 when you purchase, 1 when you pay the bill) per dollar on all purchases -- without limits or special categories. When you pair this card with a card like the Citi Premier® Card, those rewards become fully-transferable ThankYou points.

Thus, you can effectively earn 2 Virgin points per dollar on everyday spending with this card by transferring these points to your Flying Club account.

Another solid option would be the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which currently has an elevated bonus of 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The card comes with a number of lucrative bonus categories and better perks that the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard. And while you can transfer your points to Virgin Atlantic, you also have other valuable partners — including World of Hyatt and Aeroplan.

Read more: New 80,000-point bonus for a top travel card: Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card review

The best earning rate for ultimately putting points in your Flying Club account is with The Platinum Card® from American Express. When you book flights directly with the airlines or via American Express Travel, you'll earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (up to $500,000 in purchases each calendar year). And those Membership Rewards points you earn can be transferred to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio — occasionally with a transfer bonus.

Unfortunately, you'll only earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases, and this card has the highest fee of the bunch: $695 (see rates and fees).

Bottom line

Although the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard can be a solid choice for many travelers, it's a particularly good fit for two types of travelers: those who can get solid value from Virgin points and those who are loyal to Virgin Atlantic and can benefit from having status with the airline.

For those travelers, using the card for everyday spending and working to hit the $5,000 in monthly spending to maximize the possible tier points each month can provide a solid rate of return — especially because this will hit the $25,000 spending threshold per anniversary year to earn the bonuses and perks detailed above.

The card is missing a few key airline credit card benefits — such as a free checked bag and a discount on inflight purchases — which lowers the value of the card a bit when compared to other airline credit cards . But if you're a regular Virgin Atlantic flyer, you should consider adding the Virgin Atlantic Mastercard to your wallet.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here

• Is the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card the best credit card for you?

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Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard review

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® often flies under the radar, as co-branded credit cards from foreign carriers tend to do. The card offers a decent welcome bonus and has a reliable set of perks that can be worth the $90 annual fee. Between a generous earning rate and annual bonuses, this card can offer hundreds of dollars in value.

17.49% to 25.49% Variable

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good welcome offer and earning rate on non-bonus categories
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Ability to earn tier points with spending
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Companion reward and bonus points after meeting spending thresholds
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Few travel benefits compared to similar airline credit cards
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. The best perks require meeting a high spending requirement
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual fee
• The information related to the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
• Earn 30,000 bonus Virgin Points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
• Up to 15,000 bonus Virgin Points every anniversary after qualifying purchases
• Up to 5,000 bonus Virgin Points when you add additional cardholders to your account
• Get a companion reward in the same cabin class or a cabin upgrade when you book a ticket through Virgin Atlantic. Must spend $25,000 or more in purchases annually to qualify
• 3 points per dollar spent directly on Virgin Atlantic purchases
• 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
• Earn 25 tier points per $2,500 in purchases (maximum 50 per month)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Low $90 Annual Fee

Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Overview

Not only are the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®'s benefits exceptional considering the low annual fee, but Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program also makes award redemptions attainable. While the card's welcome bonus offer of 30,000 bonus Virgin Points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening is one of the lowest credit card bonuses available right now, it's actually enough for at least one round-trip transatlantic flight. 

The card and its corresponding program offer several surprising benefits that you might not know about. Here's our full review of the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® and who it might be a good fit for. 

Who should consider the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard?

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is best for frequent travelers who want to supplement their rewards and accelerate their path towards elite status. The recurring benefits are also tailored towards those who fly with Virgin Atlantic, at least on occasion. 

However, you don't have to be loyal to the airline to make this card worthwhile. If you're willing to familiarize yourself with the Flying Club program and how to maximize its award chart, this card can be valuable. The welcome bonus isn't as high as some other airline credit cards , but big spenders who don't want to deal with category bonuses might benefit from the 1.5x earning rate on all purchases. 

Lastly, it's worth noting that Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and Citi ThankYou . You can also transfer Capital One miles to Virgin Red, the loyalty program of Virgin brands (including Virgin Atlantic).

Those programs have credit cards that not only offer bigger welcome bonuses than this one but also allow you to transfer points to dozens of other programs. That way, if Flying Club ever gets devalued and awards require more points, you have other options. 

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®'s welcome bonus offer is usually small compared to other airline credit cards, but it can still go a long way thanks to Flying Club's generous award chart. New cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus Virgin Points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, cardholders can earn up to 5,000 bonus points for adding two additional cardholders to the account. 

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® doesn't offer much in the way of category bonuses. However, it makes up for it with an elevated earn rate on regular purchases. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent directly on Virgin Atlantic purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else. Considering other airline credit cards typically only earn 1 mile per dollar on non-bonus spending, this is pretty generous.

This card is a great choice for people who want to earn more than 1 mile per dollar spent on everyday purchases without having to track category bonuses. This elevated earn rate makes award flights more attainable, especially considering some of the cheap awards you can book through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (more on that later).

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® will further reward your spending with up to 15,000 bonus points every anniversary. All you have to do is meet a certain spending threshold within your anniversary year to qualify for these bonuses:

• 7,500 points after you spend $15,000 within your anniversary year
• An additional 7,500 points after you spend a total of $25,000 within your anniversary year

Redeem points for flights

Virgin points are undervalued, considering the number of sweet spot awards you can book. Virgin Flying Club offers one of the cheapest ways to travel to Europe. An economy class ticket to London starts at just 10,000 points each way. That's less than what most frequent flyer programs charge for a domestic award ticket.

Keep in mind Virgin Atlantic adds significant fuel surcharges to some awards, so be sure to compare the cost of a flight including taxes and fees to other programs.

If you're looking for reasonable international business and first-class award tickets, Virgin Atlantic offers several sweet spots. You can fly Delta One business class to Europe for just 50,000 points each way. 

If you're itching to get to Japan once it reopens to visitors, you can fly All Nippon Airways' aspirational first-class seat to Japan for just 110,000-120,000 points round-trip. This is an incredible bargain, considering Star Alliance partner United charges at least 70,000 points each way for the same award.

Virgin Atlantic is a great program if you want to redeem miles for international travel. It offers reasonable rates for both economy and premium seats. With the welcome bonus from the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®, you can book at least one round-trip ticket to Europe.

Redeem points with upgrades and companion tickets

If you don't have enough points for a premium cabin award, you might want to book an economy fare and upgrade your seat with points. Rates vary greatly depending on your travel dates, departure city, destination, and the cabin you're booked into.

Upgrades to premium economy start at 16,000 points round-trip, while economy-to-Upper-Class upgrades start at 42,000 points. If you have many Virgin Atlantic points and dread a long-haul flight in economy class, redeeming points for an upgrade can be worthwhile. That's especially true if you booked a particularly cheap fare. 

The ability to book a companion ticket for less is also a noteworthy feature of the Flying Club program. With as few as 9,000 points, you can book a companion ticket on select routes. This can be a good way to put the welcome bonus from the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® to good use. Again, the exact number will vary by route and travel dates.

Redeem points for other travel experiences

If you don't quite have enough points for an award or seat upgrade, you can use them for spa treatments or chauffeur service to the airport. Spa treatments at Flying Club locations start at just 2,000 points for brow wax or 3,000 for a facial. You can choose from many more treatments and the rates will vary, but this is a nice way to unwind during your trip and put a small point balance to good use.

If you want to start your trip in style, you can splurge on a chauffeured ride to the airport for just 17,500 points. You must be traveling on an Upper Class ticket to qualify for this redemption and picked up within 75 miles of the airport.

Virgin Atlantic card benefits and features

Up to 15,000 bonus points every anniversary after qualifying purchases .

With a standard earning rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent, the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is already generous on the rewards front. However, the card offers an additional incentive when you complete a certain amount of spending every year. You can earn up to 15,000 bonus points for completing $25,000 in spending within your anniversary year:

These bonuses may not seem like much, but they can go a long way, thanks to Virgin Atlantic's generous award chart. Moreover, this bonus can help some cardholders justify keeping the card long-term and paying the annual fee.

Up to 5,000 bonus points when you add additional cardholders to your account

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® lets you give your Flying Club balance an easy boost by adding an authorized user. There's no additional fee and you'll earn 2,500 bonus points for adding an additional cardholder to your account. You can earn up to 5,000 bonus points this way.

While 5,000 points may not sound like much, it gets you halfway to a one-way economy class ticket between the East Coast and London. That's a terrific value for a simple action that takes just a few minutes. 

Ability to earn elite status through spending

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is one of the few airline cards that let you earn elite status via credit card spending. You can earn 25 Tier Points for every $2,500 made in purchases, up to 50 per month. That means you can earn Silver elite status through credit card spending alone and get more than halfway through earning top-tier Gold status via credit card spending.

Earning Silver status normally requires earning 400 Tier Points. However, the status requirements have been reduced between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Instead of completing 400 Tier Points for Silver status, you need just 300. Meanwhile, Gold status requirements have been reduced from 1,000 Tier Points to 800. 

Once you achieve status with Virgin Atlantic, you have some practical benefits to look forward to. 

Silver 

• 30% bonus points on flights
• Premium check-in
• Free seat assignments in Economy Light
• 60% bonus points on flights
• Upper Class check-in
• Access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses and London Heathrow Revival lounges
• Extra luggage allowance

Annual Companion Reward

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®'s Companion Reward is a unique benefit. Cardholders who spend $25,000 annually can choose between a companion reward or a one-cabin upgrade. With the companion reward, you can bring a friend or family member on the same itinerary for just the cost of taxes and fees. 

If you're a standard Flying Club Red Tier member, you can book the companion ticket on an Economy Classic or Premium ticket. Red members can also upgrade the companion ticket to Upper Class at a 50% point discount. 

Flying Club Silver and Gold members can use the companion ticket in any cabin class. So if you were to book yourself an Upper Class ticket, you could book your companion's seat for just the cost of taxes and fees.

Solo travelers can forego the companion ticket in favor of a one-cabin upgrade. Virgin Atlantic gives you plenty of time to decide how to use the anniversary benefit. You have two years after the issue date to redeem it. 

World Elite Mastercard perks

Because the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is a World Elite Mastercard , it comes with additional benefits, including:

• Purchase assurance
• Extended warranty
• Travel assistance
• Emergency roadside assistance
• Travel accident insurance
• World Elite Mastercard Concierge

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® has a $90 annual fee, which is slightly lower than the standard $95 fee on most other airline credit cards. The yearly fee is partially offset by recurring benefits like bonus points and companion rewards. 

The card has no foreign transaction fees , meaning you can use it abroad to earn 1.5 points per dollar on all your purchases without any penalties. 

Unfortunately, the card doesn't currently offer an introductory APR , so you'll want to pay your card in full every month to avoid interest fees.

Compare the Virgin Atlantic card

Virgin atlantic credit card frequently asked questions (faq).

Most people who qualify for the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® have a good or excellent credit score, which means at least a 670 FICO score or a minimum VantageScore of 700.

If you're not quite there yet, check out our guide to the top credit cards for fair credit for other options.

If you fly Virgin Atlantic or like redeeming points with the Flying Club program, the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® could be a useful addition to your wallet. It's particularly valuable for big spenders who can unlock bonus points and the companion certificate by meeting spending thresholds.

That said, if your main objective is to earn Virgin Atlantic points from spending, you might want to look at credit cards that earn rewards in transferable points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards instead. Because you can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio from these programs, a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or American Express® Gold Card could be a better fit depending on your spending and travel habits.

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® is issued by Bank of America.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Key takeaways

• Virgin Red allows you to earn points redeemable for flights, hotel stays, cruises, gift cards and unique travel experiences.
• Virgin Red is not a replacement for Virgin Flying Club.
• Members can link their Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts together to pool points.
• New Flying Club members are automatically enrolled in Virgin Red.

Frequent flyers know the value of airline rewards programs . Most, if not all, airline carriers offer a loyalty program where members can earn and redeem rewards for flights, airline upgrades and various redemptions.

For fans of Virgin, there are now two rewards programs you can earn rewards through. Virgin Red is the newest loyalty rewards program from the Virgin Group. The program was launched in the UK in 2021 and in the U.S. later that year. Virgin Atlantic already has a frequent flyer program called Flying Club . Virgin Red is not the replacement for Flying Club. Instead, the two programs pair together for more rewards-earning potential.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the Virgin Red program, how to earn and redeem points and how to link your account with your Flying Club account to pool your points.

What is Virgin Red?

In February 2021, the Virgin Group announced the arrival of Virgin Red in the UK, a new rewards club that earns points redeemable to spend on hundreds of rewards across the Virgin Group and beyond. The loyalty program was later launched in the U.S. in November 2021. The American version is not an exact copy of the UK program, though — it’s structured with American members in mind.

The Virgin Group launched Virgin Red not to replace Flying Club but to complement the popular airline loyalty program. In fact, Virgin Red gives members hundreds of other ways to earn and spend Virgin Points, which aren’t just related to travel. Members can link their Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts to pool points to use with either platform.

How to earn Virgin Points

Virgin Red members can earn Virgin Points, the universal currency used by Virgin brands going forward, in several ways. The number of points you can earn varies depending on the offer.

• Online shopping : Virgin Red members can earn points shopping through select retail partners.
• Travel : You can earn points by booking stays at Virgin Hotels, flights with Virgin Atlantic, Delta , Air France/KLM  and travel booked through Booking.com and other Virgin Red travel partners.
• Unique experiences : Virgin offers distinctive experiences that can earn Virgin Points. For example, you currently can earn 55,000 points by booking a seven-night stay at Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s 74-acre private island in the Caribbean.
• Transfer partners : Both Virgin Red and Flying Club are transfer partners for many popular rewards programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards , American Express Membership Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Bilt Rewards. All four programs allow you to transfer points to your Flying Club account at a 1:1 ratio.
• Credit cards : Virgin Atlantic offers a co-branded airline credit card that earns Virgin Points — the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® *. The card earns 3X points per dollar on Virgin Atlantic purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases for a $90 annual fee.

How to redeem Virgin Red rewards

Virgin Red offers various ways to redeem points, including some noteworthy options you won’t find anywhere else. Point values vary depending on the redemption. Virgin Points don’t expire either, so you can bank your points as long as you want if you have larger redemptions in mind.

You can redeem Virgin Points for award flights through Virgin Atlantic. Redemptions start at 18,000 for Economy Classic reward seats and go up based on when and where you travel — you only pay for any taxes and fees imposed. There are also options to use points and money toward flights or redeem your points for seat or cabin upgrades on eligible flights. Virgin Atlantic is part of the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, so you can redeem points for flights on SkyTeam partner airlines. The full list of SkyTeam airlines includes:

SkyTeam airlines

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Czech Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Garuda Indonesia
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines)
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Airlines
• Xiamen Airlines

SkyTeam airlines aren’t the only airline partners of Virgin Atlantic. You can earn and redeem Virgin Points for flights with the following airline partners:

Additional airline partners

• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Hawaiian Airlines
• LATAM Airlines
• SAS Scandinavian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Virgin Australia

There are plenty of redemption options outside of flights available through both Virgin rewards programs. Virgin Red and Flying Club members can also redeem their points for:

Other redemption options

• Virgin Atlantic Holidays
• Virgin hotel stays
• Stays at Virgin partner hotels (Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, Hilton Honors and Kaligo)
• Transfer points to another Flying Club member
• Donate points to charity and causes
• Entertainment and experiences
• Virtual culinary masterclasses
• Live events

Not only can you earn Virgin Points for a stay on Sir Richard Branson’s private island, as mentioned earlier, but you can also redeem points for an exclusive private island getaway at Necker Island. As you might expect, you’ll need to save a significant points balance and pay cash to cover this one-of-a-kind redemption. A minimum four-night stay at Necker Island costs 540,000 points plus $5,400, which includes one free night. Each additional night runs 180,000 points plus $1,800. This redemption is only available during select Celebration weeks throughout the year. A lot of fine print is included with a redemption of this nature. Read through the offer guidelines and restrictions carefully before booking a stay at this island retreat.

Getting started with Virgin Red

Anyone over the age 18 can sign up for Virgin Red for free online or through the app. You don’t need to be an existing Virgin customer to set up an account. New Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members are automatically enrolled in Virgin Red.

One of the most unique features of Virgin Red is that it pairs with the existing Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer program, Flying Club. To link your account, navigate to the “Link accounts” section of your Virgin Red account and enter your Flying Club account number. Once linked, members can view and redeem Virgin points through either program platform.

Frequently asked questions

Do i need to spend with virgin to use virgin red, how do i link my virgin atlantic flying club account, the bottom line.

Virgin Red is a valuable rewards program that builds on the brand’s existing Flying Club program. The ability to earn points through two programs and pool your points together is unique, although many airline and credit card loyalty programs allow you to earn points beyond booking travel through their brands.

Still, signing up is a no-brainer if you fly on Virgin Atlantic or regularly shop online with any of its retail or travel partners. The program is free, and rewards never expire. Virgin Red is also an excellent option for travelers who want to redeem rewards for one-of-a-kind travel experiences.

*The information about the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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Virgin Money Travel Card Review - 2024 

Virgin Money UK discontinued their prepaid travel card in 2020, and now has a couple of credit card options that are promoted for travel use - the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, and the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card.

This guide covers the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card features, benefits and fees in detail - with a quick look at the differences compared to the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card, too. Plus we’ll touch on the Wise international prepaid card and the Revolut debit card as alternatives you might want to consider.

Virgin Money travel card: key features

Virgin Money UK directs customers looking for a travel card to the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card and the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card . The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual fee, while the Reward+ Card has an annual charge of 160 GBP, in return for higher reward point opportunities.

This guide focuses on the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, but you can learn more about the Reward+ Card over on the Virgin Money UK desktop site.

Here are a few Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card pros and cons to kick off:

Travel credit cards let you spread the costs of travelling out over a few months, while earning rewards, cashback or points as you spend. However, in return you may find you have to pay interest on unpaid balances, cash advance fees, and penalties if you don’t make a minimum repayment every time.

Travel debit cards can be a cheaper way to hold, exchange and spend foreign currencies. With providers like Wise and Revolut you can hold dozens of currencies and spend with your debit card - with no interest to worry about. Just top up your account in pounds, and spend overseas with low fees and fair exchange rates.

Who is the Virgin Money travel card for?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual fee, and you can earn 0.75 points on every pound spent, which can be redeemed against travel benefits. If you’d rather earn more points, and don’t mind paying an annual fee, there’s also the Rewards+ Card which can suit frequent travellers.

In general, travel credit cards are most economical for people who repay their bills monthly to avoid interest charges, who can also benefit from the rewards offered by the card as you spend.

What is the Virgin Money travel card?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card Virgin Money Credit Card is a no annual fee credit card which allows you to earn points on spending that can then be redeemed against travel benefits such as upgrades on travel, lounge access when you fly, and free flights for friends.

Is the Virgin Money Card a multi-currency card?

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is not a multi-currency card, it’s a credit card with benefits optimised for travel, including extra points on some travel spend, and rewards you can redeem against flights.

If that doesn’t suit you, you might prefer providers like Wise and Revolut which have multi-currency accounts with linked debit cards, to add money in pounds and spend internationally with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. More on that. next.

Alternatives to Virgin Money travel card

Travel credit cards aren’t necessarily the cheapest way to spend overseas, because of interest costs and potential penalties, as well as any foreign transaction fees you face.

To help you decide if the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is right for you, let’s look at it alongside a couple of other popular alternatives:

Information taken from Virgin Money Card desktop site and Terms and conditions , Wise pricing page , Revolut international transfer fees .pdf) and Revolut UK ; correct at time of writing, 17th May 2023

There’s a pretty big choice of different types of travel money cards for UK residents - including credit cards and prepaid travel cards from providers like Wise or Revolut. Which suits you depends on how you like to manage your money. Credit cards can be handy to spread the costs of travel over a few months - but more expensive overall.

Options like Wise or Revolut cards can be cheaper and more flexible - but you’ll need to add funds in advance before you can get started. More on Wise and Revolut, next.

Read a full Wise review here

Wise accounts can hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and come with an optional linked Wise card to spend with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.41%, in 170+ countries. You can apply, and manage your account, from your smartphone, and get extra perks like fast payments to 70+ countries, and local bank details for 9 currencies, to get paid easily from 30+ countries.

The Wise card is a debit card, not a credit card - so there are no interest costs and no late payment penalties, just top up in pounds, and you’re good to go.

Revolut accounts come with  linked debit cards, and can hold 25+ currencies. You can either get a standard plan which has no monthly fees, or pay a monthly charge to access extra features and perks. Revolut currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate to plan limits, with fair usage fees after that. Out of hours fees may also apply if you switch currencies when the global markets are shut.

Read a full Revolut review here

Virgin Money travel card fees & spending limits

Let’s look at the costs of using the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card when you’re travelling:

Information correct at time of writing - 17th May 2023

Exchange rates

When you spend overseas with the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card your spending is converted back to pounds using the Mastercard exchange rate, to create your bill.

If you’re paying in EUR, RON and SEK in the UK and EEA, there’s no foreign transaction fee, so the exchange rate is made with the Mastercard rate with no additional charges. All other spending incurs a 2.99% foreign transaction fee, which is added to the rate used to convert your spending back to pounds.

How to get a Virgin Money travel card

To get a Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card you’ll need to complete an online eligibility and credit check.

Eligibility criteria include:

You must be a UK resident, over 18, with a UK bank or building society account

You must have good credit history and an income of at least 7,000 GBP a year

You can’t apply if you’ve recently closed a Virgin Money credit card, or if you have an active Virgin card already

To apply, simply head to the Virgin Money credit card desktop site, to complete the eligibility check and start your application.

What documents and information you’ll need

Virgin Money partners with identity verification service HooYu, to allow you to get verified and set up with your card from your phone. You’ll be guided through the verification process by on screen prompts, but you’ll usually need to upload a picture of your photo ID and a selfie. You’ll also be asked for your current address, and may need to provide proof of this to complete verification.

As the Virgin Money travel card is a credit card, a credit check may apply, and so you may also need to provide proof of income or outgoings.

How to use a Virgin Money travel card?

Use your Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card at home and abroad, just as you would with any other payment card. As the card is issued on the Mastercard network, all you need to do is look out for the Mastercard logo to check if the card is accepted.

How to withdraw cash with a Virgin Money travel card?

To withdraw cash with your Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, just insert your card into any ATM on the Mastercard network, enter your PIN, and the amount you need to receive. Don’t forget, there’s a 5% cash advance fee, and the interest on the withdrawal amount starts to accrue immediately once you’ve made the withdrawal.

Is the card safe?

Yes. Virgin Money issues credit cards through Clydesdale Bank PLC, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA.

How to use the Virgin Money travel card overseas?

The  Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card can be used anywhere you see the Mastercard symbol. If you’re in the UK or EEA, and spending EUR, RON or SEK, there’s no extra fee for foreign transactions. A 2.99% charge applies on all other spending overseas, though.

Conclusion: is the Virgin Money travel card worth it?

Virgin Money UK promotes the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card, and the similar Reward+ Card as good options for international travellers. You can earn points on everyday spending, and extra points on travel - which can then be redeemed for free flights, upgrades and lounge access when you’re going on holiday. However, as with any credit card, you may run into interest costs, and with overseas spending outside the EEA you’ll pay a 2.99% foreign transaction fee too.

For a cheaper alternative, compare the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card against a flexible multi-currency account that comes with a debit card - like the popular options from Wise and Revolut we explored earlier. Debit cards are often cheaper overall, and the option to hold and exchange currencies right in your account can also make managing your budget far easier - even when you’re working across currencies.

Virgin Money travel card review FAQ

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is a credit card with no annual fee which offers travel rewards. Compare the benefits to a debit card designed for overseas spending, from alternative providers like Wise and Revolut, to see which suits you best.

The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card can be used at home and abroad anywhere you see the Mastercard symbol. If you’re spending in the EEA you may find there’s no foreign transaction fee to pay - but elsewhere, overseas usage costs 2.99% in charges.

If the Virgin Money Credit Card isn’t right for you, there’s lots of choice out there. Compare a few travel credit cards from major UK banks against travel debit cards from a provider like Wise or Revolut to build a picture of the options available, including their features and fees.

A Full Guide of Best Travel Credit Cards for Travel Miles

Table of Contents

Best Travel Credit Cards for Travel Miles

I often get asked which credit cards I use for travel. Although I can share with you my opinion and what I use it may not be right for you. All of these cards are mainly intended for travel purposes and most of them have a hefty annual fee. If you use the benefits it is 100% worth it however if you do not travel a lot they are not.

These cards are for UK citizens. I have found that other countries such as the US have more variety of travel credit cards for travel miles available however as a UK citizen you will be unable to obtain them.

I wouldn’t recommend getting these cards for people who don’t travel a lot. I am looking at people who travel 5 times a year or more to get the full benefit. Also, take note of your annual spending. The free cards offer £20,000 annual spend to get a companion voucher while the paid cards are £10,000 spend which is a lot more doable but at a cost.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Cards

These are all credit cards that are offered by Virgin. You will receive Virgin points to be used on your next Virgin Atlantic flight. Virgin also has a current account under Virgin Money however this is different than the cards below.

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card does offer an additional bonus at certain times of the year where you can get an additional 15,000 Virgin Points (this is on top of the welcome bonus). You need to spend £3,000 within 90 days of opening your account for an extra 15,000 points. This is a great bonus as it can take you on a round trip to destinations such as New York, Florida or the Caribbean in economy class.

If it was me I would choose the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card especially if the limited offer with bonus points is available. If you spend £10,000 in the year and get 1.5 Virgin Points for every £1 spent, however, there is a £160 annual fee.

American Express Credit Cards

British airways american express and premium plus credit card.

These two cards are great for people who travel a lot using Avios. You will need to have a BA executive account (which is free to sign up). If you don’t travel with British Airways or any airlines that are part of OneWorld then these cards aren’t for you. British Airways is a part of the One World alliance. You can gain Avios points by travelling with any airline associated with One World.

One World Member Airlines are:

• Alaska Airlines,
• American Airlines,
• British Airways,
• Cathay Pacific,
• Japan Airlines,
• Malaysia Airlines,
• Qatar Airways,
• Royal Air Maroc,
• Royal Jordanian,
• Sri Lankan Airlines,
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect member),
• Oman Air (Future Member).

Note: Although you can earn Avois through all the airlines above you can only use your Companion Voucher flying with British Airways.

American Express Rewards Credit Cards

American Express Rewards Credit Cards are great for people who want to spread out their rewards to perhaps a hotel chain or other airline alliances other than Avios. For every pound you spend, you get 1 point which can be used to convert to Nectar points, emirates or Hilton so you can get money off your shopping or gain enough points to earn free stays in a hotel. You can of course add them to Avios if you prefer but you have more options as to where your points go.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is a great first card for anyone who travels even a little bit. The first year is free (you just have to remember to cancel) and you can get 2 points for airline purchases. You also get 4 free passes to air lounges that are part of Priority Pass. Do remember that you are not guaranteed entry to air lounges and you may be refused if the air lounge is full.

American Express The Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card has a hefty charge to it however you can add another cardholder completely free of charge. This can then allow you to share the cost of the card so £287.50 each per year which doesn’t sound so bad. This card is worth it if you travel a lot.

The air lounge perk is great however you are not guaranteed entry into any lounge and I have been refused entry as it was at full capacity. You are also only allowed in there up to three hours before your flight and no earlier. The maximum time you have in the air lounge is three hours. As for the travel insurance, it doesn’t cover people over the age of 70 something I wished I had known before signing up.

In my opinion, if you travel 4-5 times a year it is worth it for the travel insurance and the air lounge access otherwise I wouldn’t bother. If you have a partner or friend you would want to share it with it may also be worthwhile.

American Express Cashback Credit Cards

Although the credit cards listed below are not intended for use of travel miles. I would recommend these cashback cards for people who are new to credit cards or are a little short on cash (as you get cashback on your everyday spending). The cashback you can then use for when you travel.

Barclaycard Avios Credit Cards

Barclays introduced these cards only a few years ago and are therefore fairly new. The British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card was the only Avios card available until now. I prefer the Barclaycard Avios Plus Credit Card as it can be used anywhere unlike American Express where some shops don’t accept it.

Both of these cards have the same fee although Barclaycard is paid monthly while American Express is annual. They also both have a £10,000 annual spend for a companion voucher and offer 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent as well as having the same welcome bonus. The only difference is British Airways American Express offers 3 Avios for every £1 spent with British Airways or British Airways Holidays, something to consider if you pay via British Airways.

Curve Card is not associated with a bank and you cannot put money onto the card itself. It is used as an “in-between” card where you can put all your Visa, Mastercard and now Papal accounts on the card therefore only taking your Curve Card shopping with you. You can select which card you then want to pay with within the Curve App.

• American Express does not work on ANY Curve Cards
• The best feature is the go back in time feature where you can change where you spent money after you’ve spent it.
• Beware of using your Curve card abroad (in foreign currency) on weekends as it charges you an extra fee.
• For those of you who are self-employed, you can pay your Taxes with Curve (free for Curve Metal up to £3000 30-day rolling period but it is a 2.5% charge after that)
• It is also worth noting that Curve is digital therefore there are no branches. The chat in Curve can take a while for someone to get back to you if you have any issues. It took me 3 working days to get a response from the chat function on the app.

Curve card is great overseas as it uses the FX exchange rate which means you can use it as an in-between card to load your credit card to get you extra points. This service does however charge you a little for using the card on weekends however it is still worth it in my opinion.

Which Travel Credit Cards for Travel Miles do I currently use?

These are the personal credit cards I currently use.

For most of my banking in the UK and Europe, I use a Virgin Money Reward+ Credit Card . This gives me 1.5 virgin points per £1 and it is free to use in Europe. It uses the Mastercard exchange rate.

For paying on my card outside Europe I use Revolut as it uses an interbank exchange rate and has multiple currencies in the app so I can easily exchange money.

For withdrawing money abroad I always use Staling Bank as it has an unlimited withdrawal fee. Revolut is currently free for withdrawing £200 a month after that there is a fee.

I also have Curve Metal which links all my cards together.

If you are looking at getting a debit card you can find my recommendations here .

I have used American Express in the past however I have had a discrepancy with them and they refused to pay me back my money so I have cancelled my card. There bonuses for first-time users are great however I couldn’t justify having two credit cards that both have an annual fee. Always be aware with getting an American Express (Amex) card that fees are high if you do not pay the card back in full every month and not all establishments accept it.

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3 Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid When You're Traveling

I t's common to take a credit card or two along with you when you travel. That way, you don't have to worry about running out of cash or struggling to find an ATM. But if you're going to use your credit cards while traveling, make certain to avoid these three big mistakes.

1. Not checking to see if there's a foreign transaction fee

It's not a given that your credit card will impose a foreign transaction fee. But some cards do. Always check the fine print before taking a credit card with you if you're traveling abroad, because in some cases, you may be looking at paying more than necessary for your purchases.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

Foreign transaction fees commonly amount to 1% to 3% of your purchase total. But let's say you go to Europe for a week and spend $1,000 on food and entertainment. With a 3% fee, you're looking at $30 extra.

If you have time between now and your next trip out of the country and none of your current credit cards are free from foreign transaction fees, consider applying for a new one. You may especially want to look at travel rewards credit cards , which often waive this fee and also tend to offer money-saving perks like discounts on in-flight purchases.

2. Not informing your credit card issuer that you'll be traveling

The fact that credit card companies are constantly on the lookout for fraud is a good thing. But you may run into some issues if you travel abroad or to another part of the country and you don't loop your credit card issuer in.

In that case, your card might get flagged for fraud and you may find that you're unable to use it. And while you can generally call your issuer to confirm that your charges are legitimate, thereby releasing that freeze, that hinges on you being able to place a call.

If you're abroad, you may not have an international calling plan. And if you're in a remote part of the U.S., you may not have reception. That could be a problem if you're trying to fill up your car on a country road, it's rejected at the only gas station within 80 miles, and you don't have cash.

3. Not keeping track of your credit card spending

When you're traveling, it's easy enough to spend more freely because you're in the midst of a whole new set of experiences. But don't let that spending get out of hand. If you don't track your purchases while traveling, you could end up with a costly pile of debt on your hands.

Let's say you've only budgeted for $1,000 worth of spending while on vacation outside of lodging and airfare, and your total purchases reach $1,600. That's a $600 balance you might have to pay off over six months. But on a credit card charging 20% interest, that'll mean paying an extra $35. That's money you could be putting toward a future trip instead.

A credit card can be an asset on your vacation. But do your best to avoid these mistakes, so you don't pay extra or end up having to deal with the hassle of having your credit card denied.

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The Guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

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Table of Contents

About Virgin Atlantic

How to earn virgin atlantic flying club points, how to redeem virgin atlantic flying club points for maximum value, virgin atlantic flying club redemptions to avoid, virgin atlantic flying club’s elite status program, virgin atlantic clubhouses, virgin atlantic flying club, recapped.

In 1984, Sir Richard Branson founded a quirky new airline. Named after his established Virgin Group, he dubbed the airline Virgin Atlantic. His adventurous personality came to personify what the airline was all about, including his famous "screw it, let's do it" philosophy. As it grew, Virgin Atlantic became the airline you flew if you wanted an adventure.

As it wraps up its fourth decade of flying, Virgin Atlantic is setting off on a new adventure. As of March 2, 2023, the United Kingdom-based airline joined the SkyTeam alliance — adding over a dozen new airlines to its already-long list of airline and hotel partners.

In this guide, we'll explore how to earn Virgin Atlantic points, the best ways to redeem them, and what it takes to earn elite status with the airline’s loyalty program, the Flying Club.

Here’s a quick overview of a few key features of Virgin Atlantic and its loyalty program:

Main U.S. routes: Virgin Atlantic operates flights to 12 U.S. cities, with most of its flights routing through London-Heathrow airport. Flights to New York City, Los Angeles , Orlando, Fla., and San Francisco are among the most popular. Virgin Atlantic also operates flights to the U.S. from Manchester, England and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Classes of service: Virgin Atlantic offers three classes of seats — economy , premium economy and "Upper Class" business class. Economy fares are further broken down into three categories: Delight, Classic and Light. Upper Class passengers receive complimentary access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges.

Points currency and loyalty program: Virgin Atlantic travelers earn and redeem Virgin points through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Members earn a percent of the actual miles flown multiplied by an earning rate that depends on the fare class and the traveler's level of elite status. Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades or holiday packages, or they can be transferred to hotel partners or other members.

» Learn more: The guide to Virgin Atlantic premium economy

Earn by flying

Flying Club members earn Virgin Atlantic points based on the ticket class and the number of miles flown. Economy flights earn from 25% to 150% of miles flown, while Premium flyers earn 100% to 200% and Upper Class travelers earn 200% to 400%. Here's how those earnings rates shake out:

Don't want to do the math? The good news is that Virgin Atlantic offers a handy earning calculator .

Flying Club elite status members earn a bonus on top of the base earnings. Silver members get a 30% points bonus, while Gold elites get a 60% points bonus.

» Learn more: How to know how many miles you’ll earn from a flight

Flying Club members can also earn Virgin points by crediting flights flown on any SkyTeam partner or on any of Virgin Atlantic's nine non-alliance partners. The earnings rate depends on the airline you're flying, the fare class you booked and the distance of the flight.

Earn by spending on credit cards

Another way to earn Flying Club points is by using the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® . Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic purchases and 1.5 points per dollar on other purchases.

New applicants can earn the following sign-up bonus: For a limited time: 60,000 bonus Virgin Points after spending $2,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, get an additional 2,500 points for each authorized user on the account, up to a maximum of 5,000 points.

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® offers several bonuses for spending on the card:

Earn up to 15,000 bonus points by hitting spending thresholds on the card each cardholder anniversary year. 

Receive 25 tier points (up to 50 per month) for every $2,500 in purchases on the card. That means you can achieve Silver status solely from credit card spending. Plus, you'll have an easier path to Gold by maxing out this opportunity.

After spending $25,000 on the card, you'll earn a choice of either a one-time one-cabin upgrade or a Companion Fare.

The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® charges an annual fee of $90 but doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Earn Virgin points through transfer partners

Building your Flying Club points balance is easy thanks to Virgin Atlantic's many transfer partners. Virgin Atlantic partners with the following bank and hotel loyalty programs — which travelers can use to convert rewards into Flying Club points.

If you transfer at least 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Virgin Atlantic, you'll receive an additional bonus of 5,000 Virgin Atlantic points. World of Hyatt has a similar offer: You'll receive 7,500 bonus Virgin points when converting at least 50,000 Hyatt points at one time.

Earn Virgin points on lodging

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members have a slew of ways to earn Virgin points through hotel stays, such as the following:

Virgin Limited Edition: Earn up to 55,000 Virgin points by booking a stay at one of Richard Branson's retreats.

Virgin Hotels: Earn 2,000 points per stay. Plus, Silver elites will receive complimentary upgrades, and Gold elites will get upgrades and free breakfast.

Rocketmiles: Earn at least 500 points per night — up to 10,000 points per night.

Kaligo.com: Earn up to 10,000 points per night at 550,000 hotels worldwide.

Hyatt: Earn 750 Virgin points per stay at Hyatt hotels and resorts.

IHG: Earn up to 500 Virgin points per stay at select IHG brands.

Marriott: Earn up to 2 points per dollar spent at qualifying Marriott brands.

Best Western: Earn 500 Virgin points per stay at any Best Western property worldwide.

WorldHotels Collection: Earn 500 Virgin points per qualifying stay.

Yotel: Earn 500 Virgin points on stays of three or more nights in New York and 100 points for stays at Yotel airport locations.

Earn Virgin points on car rentals

Another way to earn Flying Club points is through rental car reservations with these five partners:

Avis: Earn from 250 to 1,000 Virgin points, depending on the length of rental and the rate you use.

Alamo: Earn 1,000 Virgin points per rental in the U.S. and Canada.

Hertz: Earn up to 1,100 Virgin points per rental — 1,000 points for leisure rentals plus 100 bonus points for Hertz Gold Plus Reward members.

National: Earn 1,000 Virgin points per rental in the U.S. and Canada and up to 1,200 points in Europe.

Sixt: Earn 500 points per car rental and 3 points for every euro (about $1.09) spent on Sixt premium limousine services.

Other ways to earn Virgin points

Flying Club members can also earn Virgin points through the following methods:

Online shopping: Earn 2 Virgin points for every English pound (about $1.24) spent through the Virgin Atlantic "Retail Therapy" shopping portal.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays: Book a package through Virgin Atlantic Holidays to earn a base of 2 Virgin Points for every English pound (about $1.24) spent. Even better, Silver Flying Club elites earn 3x and Gold Flying Club elites earn 4x points on bookings.

e-Rewards: Convert e-Rewards Currency or Opinion Points to Virgin points. The transfer rate depends on where your account is registered and how many points you convert.

Purple Parking: Earn up to 500 Virgin points for airport parking bookings.

Business Traveller: Earn 400 Virgin points for a one-year subscription, up to 2,300 Virgin points for a three-year subscription.

Purchase points: Buy Virgin points for $25 per 1,000 points, plus a $22 transaction fee.

» Learn more: British Airways vs. Virgin Atlantic: Which is better?

Virgin Atlantic award flights

For award flights on Virgin Atlantic, Flying Club offers two award charts — one for the standard season and one for the peak season. Points rates depend on which regions you're flying between, which cabin of service you’re in, and whether you're flying during peak or standard dates.

Virgin Atlantic award prices are simply excellent. During standard dates, you can pay just 20,000 Virgin points to fly round-trip between the U.S. and the U.K.

However, fuel surcharges can be a major drag on the value of Virgin Atlantic points. Virgin Atlantic is infamous for charging excessively high cash co-pays on award tickets. For example, you'll need to pay $486 round-trip for that low-mileage economy redemption across the Atlantic.

That's extreme when you consider that the cash price without using award tickets would be as little as $562 round-trip for the same flights — or $732 round-trip for comparable Economy Classic fares.

After subtracting the out-of-pocket cost of the award ($486.15) from the cash ticket cost ($731.65), you'd get around 1.23 cents per point in value from this redemption.

That's in line with NerdWallet's number crunching. We found that Virgin Atlantic points provide a baseline value of 1.8 cents each . You should aim to get this value anytime you redeem your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for award flights.

Redemptions on All Nippon Airways (ANA)

One of the best sweet spots in the points and miles world is booking ANA business class awards through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Travelers can book ANA business class awards between Hawaii and Tokyo for just 35,000 Virgin points each way. Flights from the U.S. West Coast cost just 45,000 Virgin points each way, and flights to or from the U.S. East Coast cost only 47,500 miles each way.

These are spectacular award redemption rates. For reference, United charges 88,000 MileagePlus miles for the one-way award flights in ANA business class. Air Canada Aeroplan charges between 55,000 and 75,000 points each way, depending on your route.

Even after a recent devaluation, travelers can still book ANA first class awards for as few as 57,500 Virgin points one-way from Hawaii, up to 85,000 points each way from the U.S. East Coast. That's excellent for awards that otherwise cost 110,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points or 121,000 United MileagePlus miles.

Here's the full breakdown of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club award prices on ANA:

Booking (certain) awards on Delta Air Lines

Booking an award flight on Delta Air Lines can be an excellent way to redeem Virgin Atlantic points. Flying Club members can book seats in Delta Main Cabin and Delta One business class. Unfortunately, Delta premium economy awards aren't bookable through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Award flights now start at just 7,500 points for short flights under 500 miles, and nonstop flights up to 1,000 miles in distance cost just 8,500 points. That's enough to cover flights like Atlanta to Nassau, Bahamas.

Delta award flights to mainland Europe can also be a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club sweet spot . Nonstop flights cost 30,000 points in economy or just 50,000 points in Delta One business class. And the taxes and fees are minimal on these awards.

However, not all Delta flights are a good deal once you factor in the full cost of the award flight. Make sure to take notice of the taxes and fuel surcharges that apply. Delta Main Cabin awards to the U.K. can cost $556 round-trip out-of-pocket, while taxes and fees on Delta One awards can climb over $2,000 round-trip. With the out-of-pocket cost so high, it may make more sense to pay cash for a flight rather than redeem Virgin points.

Also, after a 2021 devaluation , longer and connecting domestic Delta flights aren't as appealing as before. That's because Virgin Atlantic charges separately for each flight and more for longer flights. For example, an award flight on Delta from Charlotte to Los Angeles costs 21,000 points one-way whether you connect through Minneapolis-St. Paul or Salt Lake City.

Depending on how much Delta is charging for an award, this can still be a good deal. For example, Delta is currently charging 34,500 SkyMiles each way for the same awards — with a 15% discount if you're a Delta cardholder.

Air France and KLM

Like on Delta and Virgin Atlantic, Flying Club redemptions on Air France and KLM range from mediocre to excellent. Fuel surcharges and taxes can eat into the value of what would otherwise be spectacular redemption rates.

For example, a one-way award flight from Atlanta to Paris-Charles de Gaulle in Air France economy class costs just 12,000 points. But you'll have to pay a not-so-nice $146 in taxes and fees.

Virgin Atlantic is also useful for hopping through Europe on KLM and Air France. Awards cost as little as 4,000 Virgin points each way on off-peak dates for under 600 miles in distance from the origin to the destination. That's true even if a connection makes the routing more than 600 miles.

» Learn more: 6 cheap flights within Europe to book with points

Redemptions on Air New Zealand

Virgin Atlantic also offers excellent award rates on Air New Zealand. For instance, you can book round-trip awards between Hawaii and New Zealand for 60,000 Virgin points in economy or just 90,000 Virgin points in business class. Similarly, flights between Los Angeles and the South Pacific cost 60,000 points round-trip in economy or 90,000 points round-trip in business class.

Unfortunately, this is mostly a theoretical sweet spot considering just how difficult Air New Zealand award availability can be to find. If you do find availability, you'll need to call Virgin Atlantic to book awards.

Lap infant award prices

Virgin Atlantic remains one of the best ways to book an award flight with a lap infant. Parents need to pay as few as 1,000 Virgin points each way for a child under the age of two, with the price depending on the class of the ticket:

1,000 points in economy.

2,000 points in Premium.

5,000 points in Upper Class.

And these rates also apply to partner awards. You only have to pay 1,000 points each way to add an infant to an economy award or 5,000 one-way in business class.

Unique ways to redeem Virgin points

All airline loyalty programs let members redeem miles for free flights, and most programs offer ways to redeem miles for hotels or other travel redemptions. But only Virgin Atlantic lets you use points for some truly unique redemptions — from a private island in the Caribbean to flying into space.

This wouldn't be a complete guide to Virgin Atlantic if we also didn't share some of the unique ways you can redeem Flying Club points:

Visit Sir Richard Branson's private island: Book a four-night stay at Necker Island for 540,000 Virgin points plus $5,400 in cash — plus an extra 180,000 Virgin points and $1,800 for each additional night.

Stay at a South African winery: Redeem as few as 110,000 Virgin points for a three-night stay at Mont Rochelle. Taxes, fees, breakfast and even the in-room minibar are included.

Safari at Sir Richard Branson's private game reserve: Try your luck at spotting the "Big Five" of safari mammals at Ulusaba in South Africa. Redeem 540,000 Virgin points for a three-night stay or 860,000 Virgin points for a five-night stay, which also includes a massage.

Fly into space: Members who earn 2 million Virgin points can enter a drawing to redeem points for a trip into space on Virgin Galactic.

What these redemptions are worth depends on how much you'd value the experiences. However, each should provide more than our baseline value of 1.8 cents per point when you compare the points cost to the list price.

In NerdWallet analysis, Virgin points have a baseline value of 1.8 cents per point. Here are the redemptions that fall short of this threshold.

Points Plus Money Reservations

Virgin Atlantic likes to promote the ability to use Points Plus Money to book Virgin Atlantic flights. When booking eligible flights on Virgin Atlantic, you'll get the choice during checkout to apply as few as 3,000 points to reduce your out-of-pocket cost. However, this option doesn’t provide great value, as it has a rather poor redemption rate of less than one cent per point.

For example, on our booking from New York to London, Virgin Atlantic provides the following Points Plus Money redemption options:

$20.46 off for 3,000 points.

$40.92 off for 6,000 points.

$61.39 off for 9,000 points.

$81.85 off for 12,000 points.

$102.32 off for 15,000 points.

Each of these redemption options provides around 0.68 cents per point in value — which is well below our baseline value for Virgin points. The only time this redemption makes sense is if you have a small Virgin points balance and no way of topping it off for higher-value redemptions.

Most SkyTeam airline redemptions

When Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023, it added redemptions through over a dozen of its new partners. Flying Club uses an identical distance-based award chart for these new SkyTeam partners — from Aerolinas Argentinas to Xiamen Air, with redemptions starting at just 5,500 points each way for flights under 500 miles.

Travelers may be able to find some niche value using this award chart — such as on short yet expensive international flights. However, distance-based award charts like these are generally constructed to keep travelers from getting outsized value.

Other non-alliance partner airlines

In addition to its SkyTeam alliance partners, Flying Club has nine additional partners. Two of these were covered above: ANA and Air New Zealand. However, not all non-alliance partner awards offer above-average value. Here are the four non-alliance partners with disappointing awards charts:

Hawaiian Airlines : Has a modest awards chart offering 7,500-mile intra-island flights and flights to the mainland starting at 20,000 miles each way.

Singapore Airlines : There are no business or first class awards offered to/from the U.S., and economy rates aren't compelling.

South African Airways : Offers 20,000-point round-trips within South Africa. However, South African Airways' limited route network makes it much less relevant to U.S. travelers.

Virgin Australia : Offers economy redemptions only. Rates are as low as 16,000 points round-trip within Australia. However, Virgin Australia's only long-haul flight is currently to Tokyo.

Three additional Virgin Atlantic Flying Club partners are earn-only partners: IndiGo, LATAM Airlines and SAS.

Convert Virgin points to hotel points

Virgin Atlantic members may convert Flying Club points to several hotel programs. The conversion rate isn't terrible if you need miles in a pinch. But travelers should be able to find better redemptions than these:

Hilton Honors : 2 Virgin points = 3 Hilton Honors points. Minimum transfer of 10,000 Virgin points, and transfers must be made in increments of 10,000 Virgin points.

IHG One Rewards : 1 Virgin point = 1 IHG One Rewards point. A minimum transfer of 10,000 Virgin points, then transfers can be made in increments of 5,000 Virgin points.

If you're considering transferring Virgin points to hotel points, consider booking a night through Kaligo instead. You can redeem from 20,000 to 40,000 Virgin points per night at over 465,000 hotels through Kaligo. That's still a lot of Virgin points to pay, but it might be cheaper than transferring points to Hilton or IHG.

Flying Club has three member levels within its loyalty program, and members start in the Red tier just for joining Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. After earning 400 tier points, you're upgraded to Silver tier and after 1,000 tier points, you'll reach the Gold tier.

Tier points are earned based on the ticket class purchased, ranging from 25 to 200 tier points for each one-way flight. As of Sept. 1, 2020, award tickets also receive tier points toward elite status.

As you achieve higher status, you'll receive more valuable perks, as is the case with most airline loyalty programs. Higher elite status levels receive a bonus of 30% to 60% tier points on every flight.

Silver status receives a 30% points bonus, extra checked baggage, premium check-in, and the ability to select a seat ahead of time when flying on a Light economy ticket. Flying Club Silver members get SkyTeam Elite status perks when flying on other SkyTeam partners.

Gold elites receive top-tier benefits — including 60% bonus points, extra checked bags, Upper Class check-in, expanded award availability, and Clubhouse passes for you and a guest. Plus, Flying Club Gold elites get SkyTeam Elite Plus perks when flying on other SkyTeam airlines.

» Learn more: Which airline elite status should you go for this year?

Virgin Atlantic operates a network of Clubhouses located in six airports. In addition to its flagship location in London-Heathrow, you'll find Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in the following airports:

Johannesburg.

New York-John F. Kennedy.

San Francisco.

Washington-Dulles.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges are considered some of the best airport lounges in the world. Travelers can enjoy complimentary bartender-prepared beverages, freshly cooked food, workout rooms and even a retreat area to relax in.

As part of Virgin Atlantic joining SkyTeam, the airline opened its flagship London Heathrow Clubhouse location to SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta or Aeromexico.

All other SkyTeam Elite Plus members will have to use a partner lounge. Likewise, you'll have access to a partner lounge when flying Virgin Atlantic out of an airport that doesn't have a Clubhouse.

Virgin Atlantic — and its partner Virgin Red program — offer a slew of partnerships that make it easy for travelers to earn and redeem Virgin points. You can earn Virgin points through flights, card spending, hotel stays, car rentals and transferring points from many bank point programs.

Not all Virgin point redemptions are created equally. Redemption options range from spectacular (e.g. ANA business class awards) to mediocre (e.g. most SkyTeam partner redemptions) to downright bad (e.g. Points Plus Money).

Hopefully this guide helped you find new ways to earn Flying Club points, better ways to redeem Virgin Atlantic points, shortcuts to earning elite status, and why it's worth chasing that status.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

What the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card offers

How other travel cards compare to the wells fargo autograph journey℠ visa® card, 3 key benefits cardholders get from the autograph journey , move over, chase sapphire preferred. this new travel credit card is turning heads.

Wells Fargo's newest card has one key advantage over the gold standard in travel cards.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card * -- Wells Fargo’s latest and best travel card -- recently launched with an impressive set of features. Its competitive rewards, welcome bonus and redemption options take aim at incumbent travel credit cards from Chase, American Express and Capital One.

What gives Wells Fargo’s first foray into the point-transfer space an edge is that you don’t have to book travel in a portal to earn the highest rewards rates. 

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of the best travel credit cards, plus three insider tips to help you decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

• Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
• Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
• $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey. 

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines. 

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs. 

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

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Recommended Articles

After writing about hundreds of credit cards, these two are still my favorite, 6 reasons the chase sapphire preferred should be your next credit card, 3 steps to take when your flight is canceled or delayed, 8 best credit card strategies to maximize earnings in 2024, as a foodie who enjoys a night out on the town, this credit card gives me plenty to savor.

* All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

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Find the best credit card for you

5 best credit cards that offer pre-approval or pre-qualification in 2024, pre-approval doesn't guarantee approval, but it can help you avoid an unnecessary hard pull on your credit..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

When you apply for a credit card, the issuer performs what is known as a hard pull or hard inquiry , which shows up on your credit report. Hard pulls temporarily lower your credit score, which isn't the end of the world, but it's better to avoid racking up unnecessary hard inquiries since they can remain on your credit report for up to two years. One way to do this is by going through a card issuer's pre-approval or pre-qualification process before applying.

Getting a pre-approved offer for a credit card doesn't guarantee you'll be approved, but it can give you a better idea of your approval odds with no hard inquiry. There is no impact to your credit score until you formally apply.

Not every card issuer offers pre-approvals. Below, CNBC Select details the top credit cards that generally offer pre-approval or pre-qualification and how they work. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)

Best credit cards for pre-approval

• Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
• Best for balance transfers: Citi Double Cash® Card
• Best for travel rewards: American Express® Gold Card
• Best for cash-back:   Discover it® Cash Back
• Best for premium perks: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees )

Best for no annual fee

Wells fargo active cash® card.

Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Balance transfer fee

3% intro for 120 days from account opening then BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

• Unlimited cash rewards
• $200 cash rewards welcome bonus
• No annual fee
• Introductory APR period for first 15 months
• Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
• Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
• 3% fee charged on foreign transactions

Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) is a jack of all trades, with an easy-to-earn welcome bonus , generous intro-APR offer and a lucrative flat-rate rewards structure — all for no annual fee .

Standout benefits: This card earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase. This simple cash-reward rate takes the headaches out of maximizing the return you get on your credit card spending.

Wells Fargo pre-approval process: Fill out this Wells Fargo pre-qualification form with your name, address and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN). If you have a Wells Fargo online account, you can log in to expedite the process.

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for balance transfers

Citi double cash® card.

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases

19.24% - 29.24% variable

For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies

Fair/Good/Excellent

Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

• 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
• One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
• 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $443
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213

Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is ideal for those seeking a strong introductory APR offer for balance transfers and still want to earn valuable rewards.

Standout benefits: Eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro 0% APR for the first 18 months, then a variable 19.24% to 29.24% APR applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer completed in the first four months ($5 minimum). The standard balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies thereafter.

Citi pre-approval process: See what Citi credit card offers you're pre-qualified for with this form . Enter your name, email, address and the last four digits of your SSN.

Best for travel rewards

American express® gold card.

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

See Pay Over Time APR

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

• Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
• Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
• Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
• Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• No introductory APR period
• $250 annual fee
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is great for earning travel rewards thanks to its generous bonuses on common spending categories like dining and groceries.

Standout benefits: Cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credit (up to $10 per month at Grubhub , Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app to enroll).

American Express pre-approval process: See what American Express card offers you may be eligible for by filling out this form with your name, address, last four digits of your SSN and your annual income. If you already have an Amex account, you may need to open the form in incognito mode or clear your browser's cache to access the page.

Best for cash-back

Discover it® cash back.

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.

Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

0% for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Good / Excellent

* See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Cash Back review.

• Cash-back program
• Generous welcome bonus
• Cash-back categories must be activated each quarter
• Cash-back program limits earnings: Enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back in various categories on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%

Who's this for? The Discover it® Cash Back is a relatively easy-to-get cash-back card with no annual fee and useful rotating bonus categories .

Standout benefits: This card has a unique welcome offer that can supercharge your cash-back earnings. Discover will match the cash back new cardholders earn in the first year. So, purchases that qualify for 5% cash back would effectively earn 10% back in your first year. Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Discover pre-approval process: Fill out this Discover credit card pre-approval form with your name, address, date of birth, housing payment, student status and gross income to see what offers you're eligible for. If you don't qualify for an unsecured card, you may want to consider a secured credit card such as the Discover it® Secured Card which doesn't require a credit score.

Best for premium perks

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable APR

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fees

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is geared towards those seeking luxury benefits like airport lounge access, annual travel credits, various travel and shopping protections and more.

Standout benefits: Every year, Capital One Venture X Card members receive up to $300 in travel credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000-anniversary bonus miles (worth $100 in travel). Those two benefits alone can offset the card's $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Capital One pre-approval process: You can see what Capital One cards you're pre-approved for by filling out this form . You'll need to enter your name, address, email address, phone number, employment status, education, income, housing payment, date of birth, SSN and what type of bank accounts you have.

More on our top credit cards that offer pre-approval or pre-qualification

The  Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card  is a no annual fee card that can help you earn cash rewards, while enjoying various money-saving benefits.

• Unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases

Earn $200 in cash rewards after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Notable perks

Cardholders can take advantage of cell phone insurance when they pay their monthly bill with the card. This insurance covers damage, theft and loss of a cell phone and has a $25 deductible. You can be reimbursed for up to two claims per 12 months and up to $600 per claim.

Cardholders can also save on interest with the card's intro-APR offer. Purchases and eligible balance transfers qualify for an intro 0% APR for 15 months. then a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% applies. To qualify for the intro APR, balance transfers must be completed within 120 days of opening the account. There is an intro balance transfer fee , and for the first 120 days you'll pay 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum). After the intro period, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum).

[ Return to card summary ]

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a cash-back credit card , but it earns cash back in the form of Citi ThankYou points , which which can be redeemed in lots of ways, including the option to transfer them to travel partners.

• 5% total cash back on Citi travel bookings (through Dec. 31, 2024)
• 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% back when you buy and 1% back as you pay

Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

The ThankYou® points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards and travel at a rate of one cent per point. Cardholders also have access to a small number of Citi's travel partners, including Wyndham, Choice and JetBlue. If you have a Citi card that enables full transfers, such as the Citi Premier® Card , you can combine the points you earn with your Double Cash and then transfer those points to all of Citi's partner hotel and airline loyalty programs.

There are also several special cardmember programs, including Citi Entertainment℠, which gives cardholders first access to purchase tickets for thousands of concerts and events. The card also provides access to Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, a service that will help you if you're a victim of identity theft.

The American Express® Gold Card is a travel rewards card with a long list of benefits that can easily make the annual fee worth paying (see rates and fees ). Plus, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with this card are some of the most valuable travel points out there since they can be transferred to a variety of airline or hotel partners.

• 4X points at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com
• 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

$250 (see rates and fees )

Cardholders receive up to $120 in dining credit per year ($10 per month) at participating partners and up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 per month) after you add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app. The card also offers no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ), baggage insurance, rental car coverage (secondary), extended warranty, purchase protection and trip delay insurance .

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The Discover it® Cash Back is a no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card that allows you to earn a generous 5% back on rotating spending categories.

• 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases in rotating categories each quarter (when you activate), then 1% cash back. Check out Discover's 5% cash-back calendar .
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Discover will match the cash back you earn at the end of the first year.

New card members receive an intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers, then a variable 17.24% to 28.24% applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer applies to eligible transfers. The standard transfer fee on future balance transfers is up to 5% of the amount of each transfer. (See rates and fees )

The card charges $0 in  foreign transaction fees , which can save you money when traveling abroad.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) is a premium credit card with a straightforward rewards structure, a long list of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on Capital One Entertainment purchases (through Dec. 31, 2025)
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

In addition to the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X Card comes with airport lounge access for the primary cardholder and authorized users. One great feature of this card is that you can add up to four authorized users for free and each cardholder gets access to Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges and Capital One Lounges .

Other benefits include:

• Hertz Presidents Circle status (enrollment required)
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application fee credit (worth up to $100)
• Cell phone protection
• Visa Infinite Concierge
• Rental car collision damage waiver (primary)
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Extended warranty protection
• Return protection
• Purchase security

What's the difference between a pre-approval and a pre-qualification?

The terms pre-approval and pre-qualification both refer to the card issuers' pre-screening process that can help you determine whether you'll qualify for a credit card without a hard pull on your credit reports. Prequalified offers are typically initiated by consumers who want to check their approval odds, while preapproved offers are generally unsolicited offers from card issuers.

Does pre-approval or pre-qualification result in a hard credit pull?

Most credit card pre-approvals do not result in a hard pull of your credit. Some issuers require a Social Security Number (SSN) or the last four digits of your SSN to process a pre-approval, but this is generally done to verify your identity and shouldn't result in a credit check unless otherwise stated.

Does pre-approval guarantee approval?

If you qualify for a pre-approved credit card or receive a pre-screened offer in the mail, that does not guarantee you'll be approved. Your credit score, income and history with the card issuers are all taken into account, but won't be fully reviewed unless you submit a traditional card application.

Bottom line

Getting a pre-approved, pre-qualified or pre-screened credit card offer doesn't guarantee you'll get approved for the card if you apply. However, seeing whether you're pre-approved for a card offer is easy and typically doesn't require a hard credit pull. So it doesn't hurt to explore what offers you may qualify for.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card   article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card   products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See  our methodology  for more information on how we choose the best business credit cards for LLCs.

Our methodology

To determine which business cards offer the best value and pre-approval, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers that also had a publicly available pre-approval or pre-qualification process at the time of writing. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, employee card fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click  here .

For rates and fees of the   Discover it® Cash Back, click here .

For rates and fees of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, click here .

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• Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Offers For Australians

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Our Pick Of The Best Credit Card Offers For Australians In April 2024

Updated: Apr 16, 2024, 10:26am

If you’re on the hunt for a credit card, there is no shortage of offers to entice you—often with same-day approval. Whether it be balance transfer offers, frequent flyer bonus points on sign-up or low interest rate cards, there are myriad choices on the market to suit a wide variety of spending habits, needs and wants.

The first question you need to ask yourself is whether you are able to pay off a new credit card in full each month. Credit cards can be a trap if not used widely, and one that many Australians are increasingly reliant on as the cost-of-living crisis continues to eat into household budgets.

If you are able to manage your money and the responsibilities of a credit card, it’s important that you shop around to find a credit card offer that suits your needs.

Here’s what you should know.

Note: The list below represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

What Is a Credit Card Offer?

Our pick of the best credit card offers for australians, american express velocity escape card, anz first credit card, anz rewards black credit card, bankwest zero platinum mastercard, citi rewards credit card, coles no annual fee mastercard, kogan money visa card, nab low rate credit card, nab straightup card, st george amplify rewards signature, credit card offers explained, our methodology, frequently asked questions (faqs).

• Best Credit Cards
• Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards
• Best Qantas Points Credit Cards
• Best Virgin Velocity Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Debit Cards
• List Of Credit Card Companies In Australia
• Balance Transfer Credit Cards Explained
• Interest Free Credit Cards
• Rewards Credit Cards
• CommBank Neo Credit Card Review
• American Express Velocity Escape Credit Card Review
• Qantas Points Credit Cards Explained
• NAB StraightUp Credit Card Review

A credit card offer is a perk attached to your credit card that is unique to that particular card and designed in order to stand out against the competition and attract new cardholders. Some perks are only offered for a limited time, while others may be tied to a card permanently, such as a no interest rate card .

Which credit card offer is best for you will depend on your financial situation and preferences, as there are many different types of credit card offers on the market.

Here are our top picks for the best credit card offers currently available to Australians, listed in alphabetical order.

No Annual Fee Offer

Standard Interest Rate

Standard annual fee, offer expires.

If you’re looking to earn frequent flyer points with Velocity without spending a hefty amount on an annual fee, then the American Express Velocity Escape Card may very well be the pick of the lot for you. The no annual fee offer is tied to the American Express Velocity Escape Card permanently, rather than the common credit card introductory offer of the first year being a $0 annual fee before reverting to a high rate.

At the time of writing, Amex is not offering any other additional deals with its Velocity Escape Card, such as bonus points when signing up for a new card. However, there are other benefits to the card, such as uncapped earning potential. When evaluating our choices of the best Virgin Velocity Credit Cards for Australians , the Amex Velocity Escape Card scored 4.5 stars.

It is also worth noting that American Express offers the same card with the same conditions for Qantas Frequent Flyers , known as the Qantas American Express Discovery Card. It charges a $0 annual fee, a 23.99% interest rate, and uncapped earning potential.

Cashback Offer

Standard Annual Fee

The ANZ First Credit Card may be, as the name suggests, a good choice for Australians looking for their first credit card. Its minimum credit limit of $1000 makes it ideal for those not wanting to spend outside their means, and an annual fee of only $30 is much cheaper than the industry standard—and the lowest of all ANZ credit card offerings.

Currently, ANZ is offering new First Credit Card holders the ability to earn $125 cash back when spending $750 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval. ANZ notes that it may vary or end this offer at any time without notice, and that the cashback deal is not available in conjunction with other offers, packages or promotions, or when transferring from an existing ANZ credit card.

ANZ also currently waives the annual fee for the first 12 months before reverting back to the standard annual fee of $30.

Bonus Points Offer

For Australians looking for a general rewards card that isn’t linked to a specific program— such as Qantas Frequent Flyers or Coles’ Flybuys—the ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card may hold appeal.

It offers 180,000 bonus points and $150 cash back to new customers. ANZ notes that the bonus points could be used for $800 in gift cards at participating retailers, $720 cashback to reduce your credit card balance or credited into an ANZ bank account, or transferred to frequent flyer points with ANZ’s airline partners.

To be eligible for these rewards, ANZ Rewards Black cardholders must spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from approval. There is no specified end to this credit card offer, however, ANZ does state that it may “vary or end this offer at any time without notice”.

Balance Transfer Offer

14.99% p,a.

Bankwest is currently offering the longest running 0% balance transfer deal out of the credit cards that Forbes Advisor Australia analysed with the balance transfer period running for 28 months. A balance fee charge of 3% applies, along with other fees and charges dependent on the balance transfer amount.

Following this 28-month period, cardholders will be charged the standard 14.99% p.a rate on any further balance transfers.

As a bonus, the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard also offers its cardholders an ongoing $0 annual fee—a permanent feature that doesn’t expire.

0% Interest Rate Offer

21.49% p.a.

The Citi Rewards Credit Card is a high-ranking credit card according to Forbes Advisor Australia, scoring 4.5 stars on our analysis of the best credit cards on the market for Australians this year . This is largely due to its many rewards perks, as well as its complimentary insurances, including phone insurance, international travel, purchase cover and more.

As for its current credit card deals, Citi Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders a 0% interest rate offer for the first 12 months.

Citi is also offering new Citi Rewards Credit Card holders a 0% p.a. interest rate on balance transfers for the first 12 months, with no balance transfer fee. After this period, balance transfers will incur a very high 22.24% rate.

No Annual Fee

Issued by NAB, the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard is just as the name suggests: a card offering no annual fee. It is a rewards card although instead of earning points that can be redeemed anywhere, cardholders earn Flybuys points that are therefore only able to be redeemed at participating Flybuys retailers.

As the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard has a low minimum credit limit of $1000, it could be a suitable option for frequent Coles’ shoppers who want to earn more Flybuys points to redeem for their groceries, hardware needs from Bunnings, or office staples from Officeworks, without having to worry about spending outside their means.

Additionally, for new cardholders who apply for the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard by June 30, 2024, you will be able to enjoy a 0% purchase rate for the first six months before it reverts to the standard interest rate of 19.99%.

For those looking for a credit card with no annual fee, the Kogan Money Visa Card could be an appropriate choice. It is a type of rewards credit card, where cardholders are able to earn rewards to an uncapped potential.

It is rare that reward cards do not charge an annual fee, making the Kogan Money Visa Card stand out in our analysis.

The perks on offer by the Kogan Money Visa Cards don’t end there, either. For those applying for the card in the next few weeks, you will be able to enjoy 0% p.a on balance transfers for the first six months with no balance transfer fees applying. After the six month promotional period, the balance transfer rate will revert to 21.74% p.a.

Additionally, when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from card approval, you will be eligible to receive a $300 Kogan.com credit voucher. Both the balance transfer deal and the credit offer are only available to those who apply for a new Kogan Money Credit Card by April 30, 2024.

Low Interest Rate

The NAB Low Rate Credit Card offers a low interest rate to its cardholders of 13.49% p.a. This is significantly lower than the current credit card interest rate average in Australia which, at the time of writing, is around 20%.

There is also 0% on balance transfers for the first 28 months (with a 2% balance transfer fee). After the 28-month period, any remaining balance transfers will be subject to the card’s cash advance rate of 21.74%.

In conjunction with the balance transfer offer, NAB is also offering new cardholders a $0 annual fee for the first year. This introductory offer commenced on October 4, 2023, and is still running as of April 2024—although NAB does state that this offer “may end at any time”.

It’s important to note that these introductory offers are not available when closing or transferring from another NAB credit card account or in conjunction with any other offer. However, the low rate offer remains available.

With a 0% interest rate card, the NAB StraightUp Card is a leading choice according to Forbes Advisor Australia. It may suit Aussies looking for a no-frills credit card, but not be ideal for those looking for a card that supports balance transfers or the potential to earn rewards.

The NAB StraightUp Card also doesn’t charge an annual fee like most credit cards do. Instead, it charges a monthly fee dependent on the credit limit the cardholder chooses. For a $1,000 credit limit, your monthly fee will be $10; a $2,000 credit limit incurs a monthly fee of $15; and the highest credit limit option of $3,000 will result in a $20 monthly fee.

This monthly fee can then be multiplied by 12 in order to understand the annual cost and compare it to other credit cards on the market. For example:

• A $1000 credit limit would cost $120 annually in monthly fees,
• A $2000 credit limit would cost $180 annually in monthly fees, and
• A $3000 credit limit would cost $240 annually in monthly fees.

However, it is important to note that if you don’t make any purchases and have an outstanding balance of $0 during the whole statement period, NAB will reverse your monthly fee for that period. That means you will only be charged the total annual fee if you use your credit card every month.

Bonus Points

St George is currently offering a significant deal to new Amplify Rewards Signature cardholders, with 150,000 bonus Amplify points on sign-up. These bonus points are available to St George Amplify Rewards Signature cardholders who spend the minimum amount of $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 12 months from card approval.

St George is also offering a discounted first year card fee of $199 (before reverting to the standard $295 annual fee), and a 0% p.a. balance transfer deal for the first 24 months. The balance transfer offer needs to be requested at the time of application, and will be subject to a 1% fee on the balance.

All of the above promotions are only available to those who apply and are approved for a new Amplify Rewards Signature credit card between now and July 31, 2024.

Pre-existing St George card holders can also benefit from a more heavily discounted card fee for the first year of $99, before reverting to the standard $295 annual fee.

Below we outline the different types of credit card offers available to Australians, and round up our top ten picks for the best deals on the market right now. It’s worth noting that these deals aren’t always standalone offerings, either. Some cards will have numerous offers attached to them.

Balance Transfer Offers

Credit card companies will frequently offer a period of 0% balance transfers to new cardholders, encouraging them to move from their current credit card issuer. Since a credit card balance transfer involves moving the amount you owe (the balance) to another credit card, you may end up saving money if you transfer your balance within a promotional period and pay zero interest.

These balance transfer offers vary with some offering the 0% interest rate for a period of six months and some for up to 28 months. After this period expires, the balance transfer interest rate is usually quite high.

Related: Balance Transfer Credit Cards Explained

Many rewards cards offer cardholders the ability to earn points, which can then be redeemed for a variety of goods and services. Sometimes these points are directly linked to the company—such as Coles’ Flybuys points program—while others can be used to redeem in a variety of stores, or even to put towards paying off your balance.

Bonus points are a common introductory offer for new customers. Credit card companies will entice individuals to sign up to their credit cards in order to receive a large chunk of bonus points if they spend a certain amount of money within a specified time frame.

Credit card companies may also offer ad-hoc bonus point specials, such as extra bonus points to customers who shop at a particular store (again, spending a certain amount of money within a timeframe). These bonus point deals are for a limited time only and vary across each credit card company due to their retail partnerships and the like.

Frequent Flyer Deals

Similar to bonus point offerings, frequent flyer credit cards may also offer deals to their customers, albeit in relation to travel. While this often involves a large amount of frequent flyer points upon sign-up, it could also include a waived annual fee of a frequent flyer membership program, access to airport lounges at no extra charge, travel insurance, and other travel-related perks.

Related: Our Pick Of The Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Sometimes a credit card company may offer you a cash back deal when you sign-up and spend a certain amount on your new credit card within a specified period from when you are approved for the card. The amount of cash back, the spending criteria, and the period of time ranges depending on the credit card issuer. This is another example of an introductory offer.

It’s worth noting that some cards have cash back deals as an ongoing offer, which are valid through partnerships with the credit card issuer. For example, at the time of writing, the American Express Velocity Escape Card is offering $100 back to those who spend $500 at Samsung online when they activate the offer. These offers are valid for a limited time, and therefore vary throughout the year.

A common sign-up offer from credit card companies is to waive the first year’s annual fee for new customers, and then revert back to the standard annual fee after the first 12 months. This is an example of an introductory offer.

However, there are some cards on the market that don’t charge an annual fee whatsoever, although many charge a monthly account keeping fee. These types of cards can suit those who are looking for a no-frills type of card, that they may only use in the case of an emergency, instead of a rewards card that is designed to maximise perks and points.

No Interest Rate

Many card companies are now offering no interest rate charges on the first year for new cardholders. As this is an introductory deal, it would revert back to the actual interest rate, which may even be much higher than the average interest rate on the market.

However, there are also cards that offer no interest as a permanent offering, again suiting Australian consumers looking for a straight-forward, no-frills option.

To establish the above list, Forbes Advisor Australia conducted extensive research into the credit card offers currently on the market. To best represent all of the deals, we found a minimum of three cards for each of the following categories:

• 0% balance transfer offers
• Bonus point and cashback offers
• Frequent flyer offers
• No annual fee deals
• No or low interest rate cards

After establishing the large spread of deals available to Australian consumers, Forbes Advisor Australian then analysed the cards to find the leading contender/s of each category. The criteria varied depending on the offer, but largely included:

• What is the current deal on offer?
• When does the credit card offer expire, or is it attached to the card permanently?
• Are balance transfers available and, if so, at what rate?
• What is the interest rate charged?
• Is there an annual fee and, if so, how much is it?
• What is the minimum credit limit?
• Can cardholders earn rewards, including frequent flyer points, through the card?
• Does the credit card offer any other perks outside of the primary offer?
• What are the eligibility requirements for the credit card?

Answering the above questions then helped us to establish the stand-out offers in each category, and rank them accordingly. From these rankings, we then established our top 10 picks.

As you can see from our pick of the best credit card offers, some credit card deals were featured multiple times via different credit cards, while other categories were only featured once. This is due to the overall benefits that the credit card could provide a cardholder, along with the standard of reviews via ProductReview.

Whatever you decide, it is critical to fully understand the terms and conditions of a credit card agreement before applying. Though we always recommend paying off your balance in full each month, it’s particularly important with rewards credit cards as interest rates are generally higher. Any interest charges on a balance will quickly wipe out the value of any rewards earned.

Is a low credit limit offer good?

A low credit limit on a credit card can be a good thing for those looking to spend within their means, and don’t want to risk falling into credit card debt. By having a lower credit limit, cardholders can be assured that they will be able to pay off their balance in the specified timeframe. Higher minimum credit limits, therefore, are more risky for those who don’t have the financial means to be borrowing—and repaying—a large figure per month. It also means that you are looked upon more favourably by lenders because when you apply to borrow for a mortgage or loan as lenders assume your credit card limit is reached—even if it isn’t—when they assess your loan viability.

Do all AMEX cards offer bonus points when signing up?

While it is common for American Express to offer bonus point deals for new cardholders upon signing up, it is not guaranteed. For example, at the time of writing, only six of the nine personal American Express credit cards are offering a new cardholder offer of bonus points.

These bonus point offers are for a limited time only, and can change in value throughout the year.

Can I receive a credit card deal if I’m already a cardholder?

Most credit card deals are only available to new card holders, and many are known as introductory offers for this purpose. If you already hold a credit card and a new offer commences, such as no annual fee for the first year, you will not be eligible. However, if it is a deal that is tied to the credit card permanently, then you will be.

The terms and conditions of each credit card deal and offer depends on the credit card issuer, so be sure to read the fine print before signing up to an offer.

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany site, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally. Sophie grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives in Melbourne.