Find Award Flights with Virgin Australia Velocity

What is Virgin Australia Velocity?

Virgin Australia Velocity is the frequent flyer program for Virgin Australia. It is a solid loyalty program for frequent flyers based in Australia, New Zealand, and others. Here's the rundown:

• Earning: Collect Velocity Points on Virgin Australia flights and a bunch of partner airlines (including Singapore Airlines and United as of recently). Transferring points from partner rewards programs like Citi Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards can be a great way to boost your balance quickly.
• Redeeming: Use your points for reward seats, upgrades, or even grab "Any Seat" award flights on Virgin Australia and many partners. For the best redemption value, consider premium cabin flights on Virgin Australia or partner airlines like Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways.
• Partners: Their network extends beyond Virgin Australia with over 70 program partners, offering opportunities to earn and redeem points across airlines and other travel options.
• Status: Climb the tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum) for perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage allowance - similar to other frequent flyer programs.
• Family Pooling: A unique benefit that allows families to combine points and status credits, making it easier to reach higher tiers.

What's New With Virgin Australia Velocity in 2025?

Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program is undergoing significant changes throughout 2025. Here's what you need to know:

• New Status Tiers: Starting from 1 October 2025, Velocity is introducing two new status levels:
  • Forever Gold: Recognizes long-term loyalty. To qualify, members need to have accumulated 12,000 Status Credits since 1 February 2013, with at least 9,000 earned on Virgin Australia marketed flights.
  • Platinum Plus: Caters to the most frequent flyers. Eligibility requires earning 2,000 Status Credits in the previous 12 months, including at least 1,500 on Virgin Australia marketed flights.
• Earning Velocity Points: For flights booked from 2 April 2025, the base Points earn rate on eligible Virgin Australia flights will be adjusted:
  • Standard Members: Earn 4 base Points per $1 spent.
  • Eligible Credit Card Holders: Members who have earned Velocity Points using an eligible Velocity Points-earning credit card within the 12 months prior to travel will earn 5 base Points per $1 spent.
• Status Credits Earning: The method for earning Status Credits is changing:
  • From 2 April 2025, Status Credits on eligible Virgin Australia flights will be earned based on the fare type and the total amount spent (all-inclusive fare):
    • Choice, Flex, Group, and Business Fares: Earn 1 Status Credit per $12 spent.
    • Lite Fares: Earn 1 Status Credit per $24 spent.
• Reward Seat Pricing: Adjustments are being made to Reward Seat pricing:
  • From 21 January 2025, the minimum Points required for a one-way domestic Economy Reward Seat will be reduced to 5,900 Velocity Points, plus applicable taxes, fees, and carrier charges.
  • There will be increases in Points prices for certain international partner airline Reward Seats.
• Partnerships:
  • Air New Zealand: From 9 December 2024, Virgin Australia renewed its partnership with Air New Zealand, allowing members to book flights operated by Air New Zealand directly through Virgin Australia with a VA flight number. This partnership offers approximately 300 weekly flights between Australia and New Zealand, providing more opportunities to earn and redeem Velocity Points.
  • Qatar Airways: Virgin Australia has entered into a partnership with Qatar Airways, enabling members to earn and redeem Velocity Points on Qatar Airways flights. This collaboration enhances long-haul international travel options for Velocity members.

How Many Virgin Australia Velocity Points for a Flight?

Virgin Australia Velocity doesn't actually publish a traditional award chart with fixed points per route. Instead, they use a dynamic pricing system based on factors like (1) the type of fare you want to book, (2) your destination, and (3) the time of the year.

Award Types

There are three main ways to use Velocity Points to book flights.

• Reward Seat: This is the best value option, with flights starting at 6,200 points for short-haul flights within Australia. However, the number of points required can vary depending on the route, date, and time of travel.
• Points + Pay: This allows you to use a combination of points and cash to pay for a flight. The minimum number of points required is 2,500 for a one-way flight and 5,000 for a return flight, but the cash amount you'll need to pay will vary depending on the fare.
• Any Seat: This allows you to use your points to book any available seat on a Virgin Australia flight, even if it's not a Reward Seat. However, this is generally the least value-for-money option, as the number of points required can be quite high.

Here are some examples of how many Velocity Points you might need for a flight:

• Sydney to Melbourne: 6,200 points (one-way Economy Class Reward Seat)
• Sydney to Brisbane: 6,200 points (one-way Economy Class Reward Seat)
• Melbourne to Brisbane: 9,400 points (one-way Economy Class Reward Seat)
• Los Angeles to Sydney: 75,000 points (one-way Economy Class Reward Seat)

The table below shows the mileage requirements for various travel classes on different routes for the Velocity program, based on our recent search data. These are just ballpark figures to give you a general idea. Remember you can always check the actual award prices for your specific desired flight using AwardFares.

Notes:

• These are estimates for Reward Seats and may vary depending on the specific route, date, and time of travel.
• Virgin Australia does not offer Premium Economy on all routes.
• Always check AwardFares or Virgin Australia's website or app for the exact number of points required for your desired flight.

How Much Are Virgin Australia Velocity Points Worth?

Virgin Australia Velocity Points don't have a single fixed value. Their worth depends on how you redeem them. In general, each point can be worth anywhere between 0.4 cents to 4 cents. However, to get the most out of your points, you should aim for redemptions that give you a value closer to 1.9 cents per point.

Business Class flights, First Class flights, and upgrades on flights are generally considered the best ways to redeem your Velocity Points. With these options, you can potentially get a value of up to 4 cents per point. On the other hand, using points for things like shopping or even Economy Reward Seats will give you a lower value, around 0.4 to 2 cents per point.

Remember, the key to maximizing your Velocity Points is to be strategic. By focusing on Business Class flights, upgrades, and finding good deals on Economy Reward Seats, you can stretch your points further and enjoy greater value on your travels.

Key Features of Velocity

• Tiers and Elite Status: Basic, Silver (250 Status Credits), Gold (500 Status Credits), Platinum (1,000 Status Credits).
• What we love: Family Pooling of Points and Status Credits, Generous Earn Rates, Great Domestic Reward Seat Availability, Points Never Expire.
• Exclusive Perks: Complimentary Domestic Upgrades - Gold and Platinum members receive complimentary upgrades on domestic flights, Priority Boarding and Check-in - Available for Silver, Gold, and Platinum members, Global Lounge Access - Extensive lounge network for Gold and Platinum members.
• Best Cabin Redemptions: Virgin Australia Business Class, Singapore Airlines Business Class, Etihad Airways First Class, Delta One Suites.
• Award Release Dates: Virgin Australia releases reward seats 330 days before departure for all flights. This means you can book a flight with Velocity points up to 331 days in advance. Partner airlines might have different policies. Read our full guide here.