Recommendations for Master/VISA Credit Cards for Virgin Customers with Low Annual Fees?

Lbargainerpro on 05/03/2023 - 15:36
Last edited 05/03/2023 - 19:21 by 1 other user

Hi, I'm sure you all brilliant bargainers see lots of topics asking for good points cards, but this one is slightly different, I hope.

I'm currently using an Amex basic card to fly Virgin and spend for my work expenses (which get refunded a month or 2 later).
I do not use this card for anything else at all, and the only objective is to put all my work expenses there and keep it completely separate from my own expenses (which I always pay using debit, never credit).

And thus lies the main difference here: I don't want something to pay my bills, transfer a balance, or the best interest rates, as I'm always paying the entire balance no matter what. I also have a preference for paying my own bills and expenses using debit always, never credit.
The issue is that Amex is not really widely accepted and I find myself in a pickle when I need to pay for an expense and the card is refused - and that often includes an event with a client.

Since I have a preference for flying with Virgin (and have a frequent flyer number already), I was wondering if your brilliant minds came across a good Master/VISA credit card with a very low (or nothing at all) annual fee with some good points accrual model that I could convert into either becoming a Virgin Platinum/gold/whatever or better yet: Something I could convert into Amazon Gift cards or something tangible rather than the useless trinkets available for points usually at these stores.

Can you recommend me anything, please?

I really appreciate you taking the time to read and help me out.

Thank you.

• 

  ddhar on 05/03/2023 - 17:32

  A good place to start from:

  https://experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/partners-offers…

  You haven't mentioned how much you spend per month. It might be worth going with a high annual fee card (with corresponding higher earn rates) if you are a high spender. The extra points earned basically pays off the difference in annual fee.

  • 

    bargainerpro on 06/03/2023 - 09:04

    Thank you.

    I'd say my average monthly spend is around 2-3K (nothing crazy as it's only for some business meetings and flights to visit customers and pay for stay expenses).

    • 

      ddhar on 06/03/2023 - 11:04

      I'd say that spend amount is enough to justify the higher tier cards.

      Between just the Virgin cards (assume $2,500 monthly spend), the High Flyer will annually earn 30,000 points (vs ~20,000 on the lower-tier card). Using Point Hack's valuation of 1.8c per point, the points are valued at $540 (High Flyer) vs $362 (Flyer). The difference covers the annual fee difference. The High Flyer also comes with lounge access and the difference widens if you actually spend more. However, the High Flyer is not as good a churn card as the lower tier card provides the same bonus points with far lower spend requirements.

      Are you looking for a card you will keep indefinitely or are you happy to be churning regularly (which I can understand is a hassle for business transactions)?

      • 

        bargainerpro on 06/03/2023 - 11:09

        Happy to keep a card indefinitely.

        Bonus points (pun intended) for cards that allow me to use their bonus to pay for the annual fee - at least in part, if possible.

        Thanks again for the help!
        I normally hate Credit Cards and never ever use them, so I don't know any of these points schemes, etc, so thought I'd look up to those who know what they're talking about before pulling the trigger.

        I plan on applying in the next few days to allow me to plan my next trip in April properly.
        Thanks once again and every single comment helps, so please keep them coming!

        • 

          ddhar on 06/03/2023 - 11:21

          @bargainerpro: Sounds like the High Flyer card can work for you. Only caveat is its $3.5K monthly spend requirement (for 4 months) if you want to earn the full 100K bonus points. If this is challenging for you, you could apply for the lower tier Flyer card first and, once you've earned the full 100K bonus points, have Virgin upgrade you to the High Flyer card.

          The Westpac cards are good alternatives but their earn rates are not as good (making them better churn cards).

          • 

            bargainerpro on 06/03/2023 - 11:57

            @ddhar: Thanks! Yeah, I wouldn't be able to spend 3.5K for 4 months reliably, so not a good one.

            Their Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card with Velocity Points seems to also allow for 2x Economy X free upgrades per year, which would be quite the welcome addition, and give more points per dollar spent (although it'd cost me $300 per year in annual fees + Altitude membership).

            What do you say about that last one, assuming I'm ok-ish with paying that for the free upgrades and more points per $$$?
            Would I be making a mistake and just better off with the $ 129 one?

            Thanks!

            • 

              ddhar on 06/03/2023 - 14:00

              @bargainerpro: The Westpac Altitude Black card earn rate is not as good (0.75 pt/$) but has heftier bonus point (120K if spend $6K over 4 months). It's a better churn card than Virgin High Flyer, but not as good for keeping long-term.

              My personal take (with a big grain of salt): Apply for the Westpac Black card, meet the spend requirements and gain that fat 120K point. After that, apply for the Virgin Flyer card and meet the spend requirements to earn the 100K point. Once done, close the Westpac card and upgrade the Virgin card to High Flyer (check if Virgin will pro-rata the initial annual fee you paid against the new card).

              • 

                bargainerpro on 06/03/2023 - 14:44

                @ddhar: Thank you very much.

                Suggestion accepted, but I'll avoid churning, and possibly stick to the Black for a while and see how we go.

                Thanks again for all the help, I really appreciate you taking the time to help a random dude on the internet.

                Have a great week ahead!

• 

  Ghost47 on 05/03/2023 - 17:39

  with some good points accrual model that I could convert into either becoming a Virgin Platinum/gold/whatever

  Not sure what you're talking about here. If it's the Virgin frequent flyer tiers (i.e. Silver, Gold and Platinum) you climb the tiers with status credits not frequent flyer points.

  Something I could convert into Amazon Gift cards or something tangible rather than the useless trinkets available for points usually at these stores.

  It seems like you can use points to buy gift cards on the Velocity shop. Not Amazon specifically but there's probably a retailer on there that you can go through to get what you want,.

  Personally I use the Virgin Flyer card ($129 annual fee, offset fully with a $129 Virgin flight voucher that can be claimed once a year) as an alternative to my Amex where it's not accepted.

  • 

    bargainerpro on 06/03/2023 - 11:53

    I apologize if I didn't quite manage to make myself clear.

    I normally hate Credit Cards and never ever use them, so I don't know any of these points schemes, etc, so thought I'd look up to those who know what they're talking about before pulling the trigger.

    Seems like based on your response and that of @ddhar above, I'd be better off with the $ 129 annual fee card from Velocity.

    Their Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card with Velocity Points seems to also allow for 2x Economy X free upgrades per year, which would be quite the welcome addition, and give more points per dollar spent (although it'd cost me $300 per year in annual fees + Altitude membership).
    What do you say about that last one?

    Thanks!!