Virgin Atlantic has launched its own credit card with partners American Express and MBNA Europe Bank. (7/4/2006)

The new offering will enable cardmembers to earn up to four miles for every ? spent, more than any other airline credit card. As per the information available, the level of benefits for the Virgin Atlantic American Express credit card from MBNA is determined by whether cardmembers choose the White card, which has no annual fee, or the Black card, which has an annual fee of ?15 and offers cardmembers even quicker ways to earn miles. All cardmembers will need to be members of Virgin Atlantic's loyalty programme, Flying Club, which is open to flyers and non-flyers.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman, Virgin Atlantic, commented: every pound you spend, every day, will take you miles faster with the new Virgin Atlantic credit card. With the option of earning up to quadruple miles, there's no quicker way of earning enough miles to take you to one of our 27 destinations around the world, or even into space.?

Michael Rhodes, president, MBNA Europe, said that the initiative is a further enhancement to MBNA's relationship with Virgin Atlantic and gives cardmembers the benefit of a generous loyalty programme and access to the American Express payment network.?

It was further stated: By including all spend on either credit card, including petrol, clothing, supermarket shopping or meals, cardmembers can soon earn enough miles to pay for free Virgin Atlantic flights, upgrades or for redeeming with partners, such as Eurostar or bmi. All Flying Club miles earned through the Virgin Atlantic credit card can also be redeemed for travel on Virgin Galactic spacecraft. It's the only credit card that gives you access to space travel.