Amanda Smith
Athena Cocoves
Virgin Australia, part of the global Virgin network, is the nation’s second-largest airline and operates about a third of the domestic airline market. Velocity Frequent Flyer is its loyalty points program, offering members a variety of ways to earn and redeem points. Here’s what you should know about the program and how Velocity points work.
Key takeaways:
- Velocity Frequent Flyer is free to join.
- Velocity is great for frequent Virgin flyers and everyday shoppers earning points through travel and retail partners.
- Earn points through flights, credit cards and retail partners, like Flybuys.
- Redeem points for flights, upgrades, hotels and shopping.
- There are four membership levels: Red, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each with increasing perks.
- Credit card welcome bonuses boost your points quickly, while everyday spending helps you keep earning.
About Velocity Frequent Flyer
Velocity Frequent Flyer, Virgin Australia’s loyalty program, began as Velocity Rewards, offering co-branded credit cards with NAB. Originally, points were earned based on flight cost, not distance — a unique feature at the time. Today, Velocity has partnerships with many banks and retailers, offering members more ways to earn points and redeem rewards.
How to join
Joining Velocity Frequent Flyer is free, and you can hold memberships in both Velocity and Qantas as long as each remains active. Sign up for a membership online in minutes and manage your points using the Velocity Frequent Flyer app.
Membership tiers and status credits
Velocity Frequent Flyer has four membership levels: Red, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. As you earn points and status credits through flights and eligible purchases, you climb up the tiers, unlocking more benefits.
Velocity Frequent Flyer membership tiers:
- Red: Entry-level
- Silver: 250 Status Credits
- Gold: 500 Status Credits
- Platinum: 1,000 Status Credits
As you climb the tiers, you unlock more benefits. For example, Platinum members enjoy Business Class upgrades, lounge access, flight changes, and bonus points. However, once you reach Platinum, you must maintain it by hitting status credits and taking a number of eligible flights per year.
The program is designed for active travellers, so compare the different status levels and weigh up which is achievable for you to reach, based on your own travel habits. Given the Velocity Frequent Flyer membership is free, any perks you receive through it are worth it, even if you stay on Red or make it to Silver.
How to earn Velocity points
Earning with a credit card
The quickest way to earn points is through a Velocity-affiliated credit card by signing up with a welcome offer and using the card for eligible purchases.
Welcome offers can range from 10,000 to 200,000, and these bonus points are often a way for banks to attract new customers. Generally speaking, the more premium the card, the greater the points offered. The best way to see the latest, most lucrative deals is directly on the Velocity website.
Other ways to earn Velocity points
Beyond credit cards, you can earn Velocity points by:
- Flying with Virgin Australia and partner airlines: Earn 5 points per $1 on eligible flights. Higher-tier members earn bonus points: 50% extra for Silver, 75% for Gold, and 100% for Platinum.
- Booking accommodation, car hire, and activities through Virgin Australia Hotels or partner companies, like Herz, Europcar, Thrifty and Dollar Car Rental. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on hotels and between 3-6 points per $1 on domestic car rentals.
- Shopping with Velocity partners, including Myer and the Good Guys, through Virgin Wines, or online at theVelocity e-Store.
- Recycling with Envirobank: Earn 5 points for 15 Crunch credits (one container).
How many points can you earn?
Here are a few examples of how many Velocity points you could have earned for different activities (based on prices when we checked):
- 1,490 points for a return flight from Sydney-Melbourne (based on $149 each way).
- 21,000 points for a return flight from Sydney to London with Singapore Airlines (based on approximately 10,500 miles each way, earning 1 point per mile with a flex fare).
- 3 points per $1 spent on a hotel booking through Virgin Australia Hotels.
How to use and redeem Velocity points
You can cash out your Velocity points however you like. You can save them for a big international flight, plan a mini-interstate trip with a free stay, treat yourself on your next shopping day out or grab some essentials online at the Velocity e-Store. A lot of the ways you earn you can also redeem.
When it’s time to use your Velocity points, you have several options to choose from. You can redeem your points for:
- Free or discounted flights: Book domestic or international flights using the Points + Pay feature if you don’t have enough points to cover a full flight (or don’t want to use them all up).
- Flight upgrades: Opt for EconomyX or Business on an eligible flight.
- Accommodation and activities: Use points for free or discounted stays at Virgin Hotels and Luxury Escapes, including hotels, resorts, cruises, tours, and car hire.
- Retail shopping: Redeem points online and at department stores, such as Myer and David Jones, or transfer points to gift cards at major outlets such as Coles, JB Hi-Fi, and Apple.
How many points do you need for different rewards?
Here are a few examples of points required for various redemptions:
- 135,000 points for a return flight Sydney-London
- 85,000 points for a three-night hotel stay in Melbourne
- 157,405 points for an Apple iPhone at Velocity e-Store
The required points depend on the cost of the fare or product, so being flexible with dates and locations can help take your Velocity points further. To get the most value, book directly through the Velocity website rather than third-party services, such as Google Flights.
Note: Economy Lite fares and Rewards Seats can’t be booked in one itinerary. You can, however, make separate bookings — one-way with the Economy Lite fare and the other with the reward seat.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
For the best value, use your Velocity points on flights and upgrades. These redemptions often provide the highest return for your points, especially on long-haul flights.
Velocity Frequent Flyer Program partners
Velocity Frequent Flyer offers members a wide range of partners, making it easy to earn points on everyday purchases or travel bookings. From airlines to hotels and retail stores, these partnerships can provide more ways to accumulate points and unlock rewards like flights, upgrades, and more.
Velocity’s airline partnerships allow members to earn points and status credits when flying with Virgin Australia or its global airline partners. These partnerships also give members flexibility to redeem their points for flights, upgrades, or services across various carriers.
List of airline partners (click to expand):
- Air Canada
- All Nippon Airways
- Capital Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- FlyPelican
- Hainan Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Hong Kong Airlines
- Link Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Tianjin Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Virgin Australia
Earn points based on distance flown or fare class, with Virgin Australia flights typically earning 5 points per dollar. Higher-tier members earn bonus points. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, or other services with Virgin Australia and partner airlines, either online or through the Membership Contact Centre.
Velocity’s holiday travel partnerships allow you to earn points when booking car rentals and vacation experiences.
List of partners (click to expand):
- Dollar
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Looking4Parking
- Sixt
- Thrifty
- Cruisepilot
- Experience Oz
- G’day Parks
- Luxury Escapes
You can convert hotel loyalty points into Velocity Points through the loyalty program’s website or your Velocity account, just be aware of the rules and minimums:
Table of partners and conversion rates (click to expand):
| Program | Conversion Rate | Minimum points required to convert |
| ALL – Accor Live Limitless | 1 ALL Point = 1 Velocity Point | 4,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 Marriott Bonvoy Points = 1 Velocity Point | 3,000 |
| Hilton Honors | 10,000 Hilton Honors Points = 1,500 Velocity Points | 10,000 |
| IHG® One Rewards | 10,000 IHG® One Rewards Points = 2,000 Velocity Points | 10,000 |
| Choice Privileges | 2,000 Choice Privileges Points = 800 Velocity Points | 2,000 |
| Shangri-La Circle | 1 Shangri-La Circle Point = 1 Velocity Point | 1,000 |
Exchanging hotel loyalty points for Velocity can be a smart option when hotel points are difficult to use or when Velocity offers bonus promotions on transfers.
Velocity’s shopping partnerships allow members to earn points on everyday purchases both in-store and online through the Velocity e-Store. Points can also be transferred from loyalty programs like Flybuys, giving members additional ways to build their points balance through daily spending.
List of partners (click to expand):
Retailers:
- Snooze
- Freedom Kitchens and Wardrobes
- Flybuys
- Myer
- Virgin Wines
- Apple*
- Appliances Online*
- Chemist Warehouse*
- Country Road*
- David Jones*
- Dell*
- eBay*
- Lenovo*
- The Good Guys*
- The Iconic*
* Available by online shopping via the Velocity e-Store
Other partners:
- 7-Eleven
- AGL Energy
- DiDi
- Envirobank
- e-Rewards
- FLEXICAR
To transfer Flybuys points to Velocity, link your Flybuys account, and for every 1,000 Flybuys points, 1,000 Flybuys points, you’ll receive 500 Velocity Points. Set up automatic transfers to move points regularly or manually transfer them whenever needed.
Credit card, banking, and insurance partners offer members another way to earn Velocity points. Credit card partnerships often include bonus offers, giving you the chance to earn large point amounts from sign-up bonuses.
List of partners (click to expand):
- American Express
- ANZ
- Bank of Melbourne
- BankSA
- BOQ
- Card Services
- Citi
- Commonwealth Bank
- Cover-More
- HSBC
- NAB
- Suncorp Bank
- St.George
- Virgin Money
- Westpac
- Yak Pay
- Medibank
- Medibank Pet Insurance
Credit cards that earn Velocity points
Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards are available directly through Virgin Australia and as co-branded products with various Australian banks, including the Big Four and some smaller alternatives. Here’s what you need to know:
How to find and compare Velocity credit card options
You can find a range of Velocity credit cards through Virgin Money Australia or your credit card provider by searching ‘Velocity Frequent Flyer’ in the ‘rewards’ or ‘frequent flyer’ credit card categories.
Virgin Money Australia card examples:
- Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer
- Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer
Co-branded card examples:
- American Express Velocity Platinum
- American Express Velocity Business
- Westpac Altitude Black
- Westpac Altitude Platinum
- NAB Rewards Platinum
- NAB Rewards Signature Card
- BOQ Specialist Signature Card
- BOQ Specialist Platinum Card.
Each card offers different points-earning potential. For example, Virgin’s own High Flyer card earns up to 1 Velocity point per dollar spent, whereas the two Westpac cards offer 0.5 or 0.75 points per dollar. Ideally, you want to choose a card with the largest welcome offer and best points-earning rate per dollar spent.
Consider how much you’ll be using the credit card and the size of your monthly expenses, when determining the best rewards card for you.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Don’t forget to link your Velocity Frequent Flyer number to your credit card. This ensures all your spending is earning you points. You can log into your Velocity account online or via the app to check that your card is properly linked.
How to transfer credit card points
Points earned through more than 50 eligible cards can be transferred to Velocity.
Some cards offer Points Auto Transfer, moving points to your Velocity account automatically. If auto-transfer isn’t available, you can manually transfer your points. Always check minimum transfer amounts and conversion rates as they vary by provider.
List of banks and cards (click to expand):
- ANZ**
- American Express
- Citi**
- Commonwealth Bank
- St. George**
- Bank of Melbourne**
- Bank SA**
- HSBC
- NAB**
- Suncorp Bank
- BOQ
- Cards Services
** eligible for Points Auto Transfer
How to maximise a credit card’s Velocity earnings
Beyond transferring credit card points, you can also maximise your points-earning potential by using your credit card strategically. Here’s how:
- Use your credit card for purchases wherever and whenever possible, then pay it off in full at the end of the month to avoid interest.
- Set up your rewards card for all direct debits and autopayments.
- Add your card to your phone’s mobile wallet.
- Shop with Velocity partners to earn additional points.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Earn points twice by linking your Velocity and Flybuys accounts or by using a Velocity-affiliated credit card with partner offers. Set up auto-transfer to easily grow your points balance.
What to consider before joining Velocity
If Virgin Australia is your preferred airline or you fly with its global partners, Velocity Frequent Flyer can be a valuable program. Here’s what to consider:
Pros
- It’s free to join (unlike the $99.50 fee for Qantas Frequent Flyer)
- Linked to Flybuys, so you can earn Velocity points while shopping at Coles.
- Velocity partners with popular airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Qatar, United Airlines, Air Canada, and Virgin Atlantic.
- Family Pooling allows up to six members to combine points, helping to earn faster and redeem better rewards. You can even use Velocity points to book a flight or upgrade for someone else, which is a unique feature for a frequent flyer program.
- Frequent flyer points are especially valuable for Australians who often face long-haul flights and 24-hour travel times.
Cons
- Velocity may have fewer co-branded credit card options compared to what’s available for Qantas Frequent Flyer members.
- You might not see as much value if you’re buying the cheapest flight tickets, as Economy Lite fares do not allow you to earn or redeem points as easily as other fare classes.
- The program is designed for frequent travellers, so casual flyers might not see as much value.
- Rewards credit cards often come with higher fees. Low-rate, low-fee cards don’t typically offer frequent flyer program rewards.
- Signing up for a credit card because of the bonus points on offer is a slippery slope. Points ‘hacking’ and credit card ‘churning’ may even cost you more — in fees, stress, and credit score damage.
If you frequently fly with Virgin Australia or its global partners, joining Velocity Frequent Flyer may be a practical choice. With no membership fee and the added benefit of Family Pooling, it’s a straightforward way to accumulate points faster.
Frequently asked questions
To link your Velocity Frequent Flyer number to a credit card, log into your Velocity Frequent Flyer account and check if the affiliated credit card is already attached. If not, you can manually add it by updating your account details online.
Yes. You can use a debit card to book flights with Virgin Australia or partner airlines, shop at the Velocity e-store, or earn Flybuys points at Coles.
Yes, you can purchase Velocity points in increments of 1,000, up to 250,000 points (see the pricing table). For example, 50,000 points costs $1,172. This option is useful if you’re short on points and need more for an upcoming flight or upgrade.
Yes, Velocity points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. However, as long as you’re actively earning or redeeming points, they won’t expire.
About the Author
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