Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Bank of America has brought back the popular “90,000 mile bonus” offer on their Virgin Atlantic Mastercard. While they market the bonus as being 90K, it’s really a 75K signup bonus with the chance to earn 15K every year on your anniversary based on annual spend.
The Offer
- Earn 20,000 Flying Club bonus miles after your first retail purchase
- Earn 50,000 additional Flying Club bonus miles after you spend at least $12,000 in qualifying purchases within 6 months of your account open date
- Earn up to 15,000 additional bonus miles upon anniversary: 7500 bonus miles with $15K annual spend; an additional 7500 miles if annual spend is $25K or more, awarded after your anniversary
- Earn up to 5,000 Flying Club bonus miles when you add 2 authorized users to your card
Card Details
- Earn 3X on Virgin Atlantic purchases
- Earn 1.5X everywhere else
- Earn 25 tier points toward elite status with every $2500 spent (max of 50 tier points per month)
- $90 annual fee is not waived
Quick Thoughts
Virgin markets this as a 90K signup bonus, but it’s really a 75K signup bonus paired with the 15K annual big spend bonus that exists every year. Remembering that this card earns 1.5X everywhere, you would end up with 127,500 Virgin Atlantic miles after your first anniversary if you spent the full $25K and none of that spend was on Virgin Atlantic purchases. While that’s not amazing return on that kind of spend, it does get you a bit closer to Necker Island if that’s your end-goal. Just remember that Sir Richard might not like it when you earn miles without flying.
Additionally, these miles are an excellent value for premium-cabin travel on ANA. At least, it’s an excellent value until they change their unpublished award charts — so there is some risk involved with collecting Virgin Atlantic miles. Still, this offer can be great for some folks. While the post is from a few years ago and the award information has changed a bit, see An analysis of the Virgin Atlantic 90K offer for a still-relevant and detailed analysis of the 90K offer if you’re interested in applying. As always you can find the link to this offer and others on our Best Offers.page.
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If you are a preferred client at Bank of America does it increase the earning rate on this card?
Not to my knowledge, but I’m not positive.
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Do you have to pay the annual fee at 12 months to get the 15k bonus?
I’m pretty sure you can cancel or product change after points post in order to avoid annual fee. If I remember right, I think I waited until the points posted and then I cancelled. I may have already paid the annual fee, but it was returned to me.
ok that is what I kind of figured – thanks!
So for me, who would probably only add one additional user, it would be an 80,000 mile sign up if I chose to take it. 22,500 Signup and additional user. 50,000 for $12,000 in qualifying purchases in 6 months. And after making $12,000 in 6 months I’m certainly going to make another $3,000 in 12 months.
Rather iffy rewards unless I decide to fly on Virgin Atlantic, which is possible. For example if I ever pulled the trigger on the $2055 RT upgradeable premium economy Seattle to Johannasburg, the Virgin Card would be a no-brainer.
I’ve been sitting on ~200k VS points for a few years. It’s been a major challenge to use these points. Most prohibitive is the requirement for RT awards.
Less value but you can always transfer 80,000 to IHG which gets you spire status and another 25,000 points as the spire perk. Better then going unused. Or use them on Delta flights if saver is available.
Are you sure about the RT requirement?
Their Reward Flights web page says “Book a one way or return ticket”
I’m pretty sure you can book one-way
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That is a very confusing way to earn miles. Bank of America needs to simplify that mileage earning. The first 20,000 points are easy but then after that you have to spend huge amounts within 6 months & 12 months to get anything else.
I don’t know if it’s worth it. Could we fly round trip Business Class to Europe for 125,000 miles?
Yes, you could but you’d have to find saver space on Delta or Virgin Atlantic. With the latter, you’ll also pay big fuel surcharges