Soar into space with the Virgin Atlantic American Express Card

Any old airline credit card can give you air miles. The Virgin Atlantic American Express Card offers airless miles. 

This newly launched credit card from Bank of America offers the chance to experience space travel. The credit card "not only enables cardmembers to earn three miles for every $1 spent on Virgin Atlantic purchases," reads a Bank of America press release, "but also offers card members the opportunity to redeem points for exclusive rewards such as a trip into space."

"Card member rewards include travel on Virgin Atlantic or one of our 14 airline partners that fly from and around the USA, cabin upgrades, car rentals, hotels or a trip into space on Virgin Galactic," Bank of America says. What's that, you ask? "Virgin Galactic is the world's first spaceline," explains its Web site, "giving you the groundbreaking opportunity to become one of the first ever non-professional astronauts.

"From now through the end of January 2009, for every $10,000 a card member spends, he or she is automatically entered for a chance to win a trip into space on Virgin Galactic -- without cashing in any of their miles," the press release says.   

While that may seem like a lot to charge on your plastic, earning a trip into space on Virgin Galactic for $10,000 is actually a deal: According to the Virgin Galactic Web site, tickets usually cost $200,000 and deposits start at $20,000.      

There are two versions of the Virgin Atlantic American Express Card. With the lower fee Virgin Atlantic White Card, cardholders earn one mile for every dollar spent on purchases made with the credit card. Meanwhile, the Virgin Atlantic Black Card provides 1.5 miles for ever dollar in purchases and additional opportunities to earn bonus miles. It's the Black Card that also provides three "Flying Club" miles for each dollar in purchases directly from Virgin Atlantic.

Get to charging now on your Virgin Atlantic card and the next time you have trouble understanding a credit card statement, it can be blamed on a case of space madness.

See related: "Experiential" rewards let credit cardholders live out dreams