Updated October 14, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Emirates
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: the differences
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 27.9% |
| Rewards type | Miles | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 21 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 2.95%Lower |
| Perks | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases | Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option, Virgin Money Cashback offers in the credit card app, 24/7 in app chat support with Redi, Virgin Money Rewards and Virgin Red offers |
| Annual fee | $99 | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 27.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 2.95% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 21 months vs 12 months.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Perks: only Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card offers Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Emirates
Emirates Skywards fits people who spend with the airline and travel often, and rewards their miles rather than their balance. Interest is costly at 19.49% to 29.49%, so the card only earns its place for customers who clear it in full each month.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
The UK Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual card fee and earns 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday purchases. The card page says monthly points are capped based on the credit limit and that the Virgin Money Credit Card app is needed to manage the card. Credit is available only to UK...
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Costs $99 a year, far above a €0 median across the cards ranked here. | 9.2Higher |
| Offer | 9.3Pays miles with no foreign transaction fee at 0%, plus tier status and lounge access. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.2 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 395 of 1594 | 271 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
Choosing between them
Pick Emirates if apr matter most.
Pick Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card if cost, balance transfer intro period, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Help centre, Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 27.9%highest quarter | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 21 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2.95%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 5% and carry an introductory period of 12.
- Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone, chat, email and a help centre are all covered.
Cons
- The annual fee of $99 sits far above bunq at €0.
- An APR of 19.49% to 29.49% is higher than the 14.45% median across ranked cards.
- Rewards are miles, so the value depends on how often you fly with Emirates.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Pros
- The Reward card page lists no annual card fee and an everyday earning rate of 0.75 Virgin Points per £1.
- The page explains that monthly points are capped based on the credit limit, making that limit relevant when considering potential points earned.
Who each suits
Emirates
Who it suits
- Emirates flyers who put most of their spending with the airline and want miles that do not expire
- Travellers who pay abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Anyone redeeming miles for tickets rather than cash back, given the rewards type is miles
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, where a fee of €0 suits readers who want no annual cost and no airline loyalty tie
- Wise, at £0, for a spending card held across currencies rather than a miles card
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, at $0, for building credit history rather than collecting miles
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who it suits
- UK residents aged 18 or over who meet the subject-to-status condition, value Virgin Points and are or can become Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members.
Current offers
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Current offer
Bonus
0% interest for up to 21 months on balance transfers and purchases on the all round credit card: 0% for up to 21 months, 2.95% balance transfer fee
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date; applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Credit is available, subject to status, only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Get 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 36 months on the balance transfer credit card: 0% for up to 36 months, fee per transfer
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date. Applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Fees and terms apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Virgin Money Cashback from selected top retailers on the Everyday Cashback Credit Card: up to 12% additional cashback
Register in the Virgin Money Credit Card app. Terms apply. Cashback credited monthly; does not count towards your monthly minimum payment.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Everyday Cashback introductory rate: 1% cashback for the first 90 days, then 0.25%, up to £15 a month
90 days starts from when the account opens; cashback deducted from your card balance monthly. Other fees may apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Emirates
What does the Emirates credit card cost to hold?+
The card charges an annual fee of $99. Beyond that, the only other cost listed is a currency conversion fee of 0% on foreign purchases, so cardholders spending in another currency are not surcharged on top of the fee.
What interest rate applies to a balance?+
Balances carry an APR of 19.49% to 29.49%, above the 14.45% median across the cards ranked here. That rate is the reason the card suits people who pay in full, since interest at this level quickly outruns the miles earned.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who can apply for the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card?+
The card page says credit is available subject to status only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Do cardholders need membership to benefit from points?+
Yes. The page says a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club membership is needed to benefit from points earned.
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Emirates
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card