Bank of America Virgin Atlantic Black World Elite MasterCard Review (NOT updated)
Updated April 22, 2019. Please see our updated review here.
The Facts
The Math
The card comes with a $90 annual fee and some built-in benefits such as up to 24 tier points toward status and the 50%-off companion economy award. If you value these benefits such that you are willing to pay the annual fee, this card has a lot of potential in earning on general purchases. If you spend $15K a year, you get 22.5K miles plus the 7.5K bonus miles, which essentially makes the card return 2 miles per dollar spent. If you spend $25K a year, you get 37.5K miles plus the 15K bonus miles, which makes the card return 2.1 miles per dollar spent. Then you need to value a mile more than one cent to beat 2% cashback from Citi Double Cash.
It is a great card for Virgin Atlantic flyers, especially if annual spending is $15K or $25K. If you don't fly Virgin Atlantic, you need to factor in how many miles you will be able to accumulate a year: from flying its partner airlines, spending on the credit card, and other sources. Also you need to evaluate Flying Club miles, especially considering fuel surcharges and partner redemption.
The Conclusion
The Virgin Atlantic Black Card is great for Virgin Atlantic flyers and may also be valuable even to travelers who never fly Virgin Atlantic (but use their miles on partners).
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $90
- Signup Bonus: 75,000 miles (20,000 miles after the first purchase when you open an new account, and an additional 5,000 miles after you add the first two authorized users to your account, and an additional 50,000 miles after you spend $12,000 within 6 months of account opening. Note as usual, this offer is advertised as 90,000 miles as they count the 15K anniversary miles once you spend $25K per year, which is an ongoing feature rather than signup bonus in our opinion). Historical best bonus: 75,000 miles with a $12,000 spending requirement for many many times in the past years; 50,000 miles with a $2,500 spending requirement for a few times before 2014.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 3x Virgin Atlantic purchases, 1.5x everything else. You earn 7,500 bonus miles once you spend $15K a year and additional 7,500 bonus miles once you spend $25K.
- Best Use of Flying Club Miles: Flying Club is the frequent flyer program of Virgin Atlantic which is not part of any of the three global airline alliances; however, Virgin Atlantic does maintain partnership with Delta, Hawaiian, Virgin America, Virgin Australia, Singapore, ANA, Hilton, and so on. The miles are generally valuable when redeemed on Virgin Atlantic or partner flights. Note that hefty fuel surcharges will be added to the awards on Virgin Atlantic metals, which need to be taken into consideration when determine the value of miles. However, you could redeem miles on partner airlines for lower fees. For a long time Virgin Atlantic points could also be transferred into Hilton HHonors points at 1:2 ratio, which was an attractive option; however, in early 2014, this ratio was changed to 1:1.5.
- Travel Benefits: (1) You earn 1 tier point toward Flying Club status for every $2,500 spent on the card, up to a total of 24 tier points a year. (2) After you spend $25K a year, you will save 50% of miles for one companion economy award ticket - you get an award ticket for yourself at normal mileage rate and then another ticket for your companion at half of normal rate. (3) Waived foreign transaction fees with an embedded EMV smart chip.
- World Elite MasterCard Benefits: MasterCard Luxury Hotels & Resorts (a collection of 2,000+ luxury hotels worldwide that offer complimentary breakfasts for two, room upgrades upon availability, early check-in, late check-out, and a special amenity such as a certain amount of hotel credit up to $100 per stay, free internet, or welcome gift, etc.), MasterCard Travel & Lifestyle Services (savings on airfare, private jets, airport concierge, car rentals, chauffeured cars, cruise lines, tours, vacation packages, etc.), complimentary ShopRunner membership (free two-day shipping and returns at participating stores), 10% discount with onefinestay (high-end home sharing service), monthly $10 Lyft credit after five rides each month, double Fandango points for movie tickets ($5 rewards for every two tickets purchased), 5% rewards for Boxed purchases, $5 off every order of $25 or more on Postmates, the Dining Program (special amenities at participating restaurants), the Nightlife Program (exclusive access to and recognition at participating night clubs), Priceless Cities, Priceless Surprises, Priceless Causes, Priceless Golf, MasterCard Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection (up to $800 for a stolen or damaged phone as long as you charge your monthly cellphone bills to the card), MasterCard ID Theft Protection, etc.
- Other Facts: BofA also issues the Virgin Atlantic White Card which only earns 1 mile per dollar spent.
- History: Both Virgin Atlantic credit cards used to be Amex, and in late 2013 they were switched over to WEMC. Virgin Atlantic Black Card used to offer a free Regus Gold membership ($300 in value) for access to more than 1,000 business lounges worldwide, but this valuable partnership ended in May 2015. BofA started waiving foreign transaction fees on both Black and White cards in late 2015.
The Math
The card comes with a $90 annual fee and some built-in benefits such as up to 24 tier points toward status and the 50%-off companion economy award. If you value these benefits such that you are willing to pay the annual fee, this card has a lot of potential in earning on general purchases. If you spend $15K a year, you get 22.5K miles plus the 7.5K bonus miles, which essentially makes the card return 2 miles per dollar spent. If you spend $25K a year, you get 37.5K miles plus the 15K bonus miles, which makes the card return 2.1 miles per dollar spent. Then you need to value a mile more than one cent to beat 2% cashback from Citi Double Cash.
It is a great card for Virgin Atlantic flyers, especially if annual spending is $15K or $25K. If you don't fly Virgin Atlantic, you need to factor in how many miles you will be able to accumulate a year: from flying its partner airlines, spending on the credit card, and other sources. Also you need to evaluate Flying Club miles, especially considering fuel surcharges and partner redemption.
The Conclusion
The Virgin Atlantic Black Card is great for Virgin Atlantic flyers and may also be valuable even to travelers who never fly Virgin Atlantic (but use their miles on partners).