Update 9/23/24: Card is now live.
The full details surrounding the Synchrony Virgin Red Mastercard are now live and you can sign up to the waitlist for the card.
- Earn 40,000 points after $3,000 in spend within the first 90 days
- Earn 2,500 points when you add an authorized user (up to 4)
- $99 annual fee, not waived first year
- Card earns at the following rates
- 3x points on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Voyages
- 2x points on dining, at grocery stores, on select streaming services and for EV charging
- 1x points on all other purchases
- Personal perks. Spend $15,000 in a calendar year to choose one of the below or $30,000 to choose two of the below:
- Flying Club reward voucher for a companion seat or cabin upgrade
- One free night stay​ or hotel suite upgrade at Virgin Hotels
- Up to $300 Bar Tab credit or Blue Extras perks package on Virgin Voyages
Our Verdict
Outside of the sign up bonus I don’t see this card being worth it long term. We also don’t have datapoints on how Synchrony treats authorized users. It might make sense to sign up for the waitlist in the hopes they offer a higher than publicly listed sign up bonus but as they aren’t advertising it I doubt that will happen.
Synchrony doesn’t care about inquires or ?/24. I’m 14/24 + 5 Biz card in that time frame and 12 inquires on my report. Still got approved $10K CL.
I have a targeted offer for 50k points via email. I believe this is because I currently hold the BoA card.
Approved with 10k limit at 13/24. Was able to add 1 auth user at application. May try adding another 3 later for the 2500 points.
The PERFECT card for
Avi !
Your mom disagrees.
Lulz
I was on the waitlist. I got an email today and applied. Approved. Already started using it at the grocery with Apple Pay.
Impulse won and I applied and was approved with 7/24. Will add 4 AUs to get the extra 10k points and then close most likely.
It looks like this card has also been released. When you go to the waitlist site it redirects to the application.
The old BofA version of the card was in my queue as it had a decent SUB and Virgin as a program still had a decent number of sweet spots. However, they went on a devaluation binge with ANA first/business, international Delta One, and Delta domestic short-haul over the last couple years. Now it’s just useful for a few long-haul economy routes on Virgin metal to LHR, and intra-European economy on AF/KLM. Meh.
The old card had 1.5X for non-bonused spend?
This with discount points for cruises and Amex transfer bonus = “free cruise”.
Does anyone know how Synchrony treats lol/24?
They don’t care. I got the Cathay card a couple of years ago & was way over.
The Personal Perks are not that bad, especially for only 15k spend. You can get good value in the upgrade voucher if you’re already flying Virgin in PE. I know the surcharges on their awards are sky high, but availability is usually good and it’s nice to have for last minute trips.
This is always going to be a niche card, similar to Amtrak.