Virgin Australia Velocity: 188 questions answered
Everything members ask about Virgin Australia Velocity, answered from Virgin Australia's own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; every answer comes from an official page.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join Virgin Australia Velocity?
Complete Velocity's join process, giving all the information it asks for; if Velocity accepts your application, you become a member and receive a unique Velocity number to add to your bookings. You must live in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and not already have a Velocity account, and under-18s need a parent's or guardian's consent before applying (clause 2.1).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 2.1)
Does it cost anything to join Virgin Australia Velocity?
Nothing. Velocity says it is "totally and completely 100% free to join", with no joining or ongoing membership fees. Velocity's terms do charge for some optional services, such as Points transfers, Points Booster transactions and some Reward Seat bookings made through the Membership Contact Centre.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: 4 convincing reasons to join
Is there a minimum age to join Virgin Australia Velocity, and can children have their own account?
Velocity's terms set no minimum age, so children can have their own accounts: anyone under 18 can join once a parent or legal guardian has consented before the application, and that parent or guardian agrees to the terms on the child's behalf (clause 2.1). A child's new Points can also go into one family account through a Family Pool, which holds up to six members, no more than two of them 18 or over (clause 5.1).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clauses 2.1 and 5.1)
Where do I find my Virgin Australia Velocity membership number?
Velocity gives you a unique Velocity number when you join, and the Velocity app carries your digital Velocity card, which you can add to your phone's wallet. If you've forgotten the number, Velocity's MFA Help Hub points to its Forgot Membership form, or call member support on 13 18 75 in Australia or 0800 230 875 in New Zealand.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
Only Gold (including Forever Gold), Platinum and Platinum Plus members get a physical card, if they opt in to a Status membership pack in the Velocity App before their Review Date; every member gets a digital Velocity Card, which can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Pay (clause 2.8). You don't need a physical card to earn, since adding your Velocity number to the booking is what earns Points, and until you tell Velocity about misuse you may be liable for unauthorised use of your card, number or benefits.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 2.8)
Does Virgin Australia have an app for managing Virgin Australia Velocity, and what can it do?
Yes, the Velocity App. It holds your digital Velocity card, which you can add to your phone's digital wallet, shows your Points activity and your Status Credits toward the next Status level, and lets you book Virgin Australia flights with your membership details filled in automatically. Its Pay with Points feature also lets you link an eligible Visa card, spend with participating partners such as the Virgin Australia onboard menu, and cover the purchase with Points later.
How do I change the name on my Virgin Australia Velocity account after marriage or a legal name change?
Email Velocity copies of supporting documentation: the terms say that is how you ask to change your name or correct a date of birth, since name, sex and date of birth can't be edited online. Velocity recommends your first and last name match your passport or other government photo ID, because the name on a booking must match your account for the flight to earn.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
I accidentally created two Virgin Australia Velocity accounts. Can they be merged?
The terms don't describe merging accounts; instead, having no existing Velocity account is a condition of joining (clause 2.1). Velocity can reverse Points transactions or suspend an account when it reasonably suspects a breach of the terms, so report a duplicate to the Membership Contact Centre rather than earning in both.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 2.1)
How do I close my Virgin Australia Velocity account, and what happens to my points?
You can end your membership at any time by telling Velocity by phone, by email or in the Velocity App. Doing so forfeits all your member benefits, including your Points, Status Credits and Status, so redeem the Points or transfer them to a family member first.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Can I join Virgin Australia Velocity if I live outside the airline's home country?
Only if you live in one of the listed places. Clause 2.1 of Velocity's terms (effective 17 August 2026) limits membership to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, so people living in the US, Europe or Asia cannot join.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 2.1)
How do I update my email, address or phone number with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Log in to your Velocity account, open the My Details tab and update your email, home address or phone number there at any time; you can also call the Membership Contact Centre. Name, sex and date of birth can't be changed online: a date of birth change goes through the Membership Contact Centre, with supporting documents.
What do I do if I am locked out of my Virgin Australia Velocity account?
Use Velocity's Reset Password Request form, or its Forgot Membership form if you've lost your number. Since 10 December 2024 every login also needs a one-time passcode by email or SMS; if you can reach only one of them, choose that one, and if codes still don't arrive after updating your details, log out and back in, then call member support (13 18 75 in Australia, 8am to 8pm AEDT daily for login issues).
If I join Virgin Australia Velocity after a flight, can I still claim points for it?
Yes, for recent trips: Velocity accepts claims for travel completed up to 30 days before you joined. Send your Velocity membership number and a copy of the electronic ticket and boarding pass through Velocity's feedback form; Velocity says successful claims are credited within 2 to 6 weeks of submission.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
Does Virgin Australia have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Yes: Virgin Australia Business Flyer lets a business earn Velocity Points on its team's eligible Virgin Australia flights, up to 1,000,000 Points a year, while each traveller who is a Velocity member still earns their own Points and Status Credits as long as their Velocity number is in the booking. The business can use its Points to offset flights or transfer them to employees' Velocity accounts (at least 100 Points per transfer).
Source: Virgin Australia: Business Flyer FAQs (Points and member benefits)
Earning on Virgin Australia flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are points calculated on Virgin Australia flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
By fare paid on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights, and usually by fare type and distance on partner airlines. Those Virgin Australia flights earn on the all-inclusive fare in Australian dollars (base fare, taxes including GST, fees and carrier charges), and for bookings from 2 April 2025 the rate also depends on whether you hold an eligible Velocity Points-earning credit card. Partner airline earn is usually based on the fare type and the miles flown.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.1)
How many points do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on Virgin Australia?
Eligible Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights booked on or after 2 April 2025 earn 4 Points per A$1 for Red members, 6 for Silver, 7 for Gold and Forever Gold and 8 for Platinum and Platinum Plus. Members with a complete Velocity profile who have earned Points from spend as the primary cardholder of an eligible Velocity Points earning credit card in the 12 months before flying earn 5, 7.5, 8.75 and 10 instead. See the earning guide.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
Do basic economy or light fares on Virgin Australia earn points?
Yes, but less. Economy Lite fares earn 1 Status Credit per A$24 spent against 1 per A$12 on Choice, Flex, Group and Business fares, and the Points bonus that Silver and higher members get does not apply to Economy Lite, so a Lite fare earns only the base Points (see the status guide).
What elite bonus do status members earn on Virgin Australia flights?
Silver members get a 50% Points bonus, Gold 75% and Platinum and Platinum Plus 100%, on top of the base Points on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights (not Economy Lite fares), which is why a Gold member earns 7 Points per A$1 where a Red member earns 4 (see the earning guide). The same bonus applies to miles flown on Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada and ANA flights with a Virgin Australia flight number, and on United flights with a UA or VA number.
How long after a flight do points post to my Virgin Australia Velocity account?
Velocity aims to credit Points from Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights within 2 to 3 days of completed travel, though timing can vary. Points from other partners can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to appear in your account.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do award tickets earn points or status credit on Virgin Australia?
No. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules say Reward Seats earn neither Velocity Points nor Status Credits, and Velocity's terms also exclude reward tickets issued by its partner airlines.
Which Virgin Australia tickets earn no points at all?
Velocity's terms rule out Reward Seat tickets (including partner reward tickets), complimentary tickets, tickets bought as part of a packaged holiday (except for primary guests of Virgin Australia Holidays packages), infant fares where the infant has no paid seat, charter and freighter flights, travel industry negotiated or private fares, competition prize tickets, tickets bought at auction, tickets booked under government contracts and any ticket restricted from earning Velocity Points (clause 3.1).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.1)
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on a Virgin Australia ticket earn points?
Yes. Virgin Australia flights earn Points on the all-inclusive fare, which counts the base fare, taxes (including GST), fees and carrier charges but not seat selection or other extras such as Economy X, preferred seating or extra baggage. Status Credits are based on the same all-inclusive fare (see the status guide).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
Do infant or child tickets on Virgin Australia earn points?
An infant fare earns nothing when the infant is not in their own paid seat. Children can hold their own Velocity accounts with a parent's or guardian's consent, and Velocity is clear that you don't earn for others flying with you, even if you paid for their ticket, unless you share an eligible Family Pool.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do group bookings, tour packages or charter flights on Virgin Australia earn points?
Charter and freighter flights earn nothing, and nor do tickets bought as part of a packaged holiday, except for the primary guest on a Virgin Australia Holidays package, who does earn Points. Group fares are not on the excluded list.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do employee, industry or heavily discounted fares on Virgin Australia earn points?
Industry and complimentary fares don't, but a discounted fare still does. Velocity's terms exclude travel industry negotiated or private fares, complimentary tickets, competition prize tickets, tickets bought at auction and any ticket restricted from earning Velocity Points (clause 3.1). A cheaper Virgin Australia domestic or short-haul international fare isn't excluded: it earns on its all-inclusive price in Australian dollars, so it simply earns fewer Points.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.1)
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to Virgin Australia Velocity?
Velocity's airline partners page lists Qatar Airways, United, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, South African Airways, Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Capital Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Link Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand besides Virgin Australia. Etihad and Hawaiian Airlines are not on the current list.
How are points calculated on partner airline flights credited to Virgin Australia Velocity?
By distance and fare: Velocity's Singapore Airlines page says the Points you earn are based on the fare class and the number of miles you travel. Singapore Airlines flights sold with a VA number earn 2 Points per mile in Business, 1 in Flex and 0.5 in Choice, and SQ-numbered flights 0.5 to 2 per mile depending on the fare type (rates correct as at 9 November 2022).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Singapore Airlines partner page
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn points in Virgin Australia Velocity, and which earn nothing?
Each partner has its own table by booking class. On Qatar Airways-numbered flights from 11 December 2025, First and Business Elite earn 2 Points per mile, falling to 0.25 per mile in Economy Lite; Velocity's Qatar page lists Reward Seat bookings, charter bookings and ineligible fare classes as earning nothing.
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, up to a limit. Since 1 October 2025 partner flights earn Status Credits by distance and fare (30 to 160 in Business on a partner-numbered flight), but at least half of the Status Credits for Silver, Gold or Platinum, and 1,500 of the 2,000 for Platinum Plus, must come from Virgin Australia marketed or operated flights.
Does it matter whether a partner flight is ticketed by Virgin Australia or by the partner for Virgin Australia Velocity earning?
It matters for Status Credits. A partner-operated flight with a VA flight number earns from Velocity's table for Virgin Australia marketed flights operated by partner airlines: 10 Status Credits in Choice, 15 in Plus and 30 in Business up to 500 miles, rising to 40, 80 and 160 beyond 8,500 miles. The same flight on the partner's own number earns 5 in Discount Economy and 7 in Regular Economy up to 500 miles (25 and 35 beyond 8,500), with Business and First at the same 30 to 160.
How long do partner airline flights take to post to Virgin Australia Velocity?
Longer than Virgin Australia flights: Velocity says Points from other partners can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to show, against 2 to 3 days for Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights. If a partner flight never appears, claim it within 180 days through the missing Points tool.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do Virgin Australia Velocity elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
Yes. Silver members earn a 50% bonus on miles flown on Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada and ANA flights with a Virgin Australia flight number and on United flights with a UA or VA number, Gold members 75% and Platinum and Platinum Plus 100%. Link Airways and Air New Zealand flights with a VA flight number get the same percentage bonus.
Where does Virgin Australia publish the partner earning charts for Virgin Australia Velocity?
On each airline's partner page on velocityfrequentflyer.com. The Singapore Airlines page, for instance, lists Points per mile by fare type (rates correct as at 9 November 2022) and has separate Status Credit tables for flights flown on or after 1 October 2025.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Singapore Airlines partner page
Missing points and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing points from Virgin Australia Velocity?
Wait 14 days after the flight, then claim within 6 months: that applies to Virgin Australia flights and to airline partner flights taken while you were a member. Transactions with non-airline partners have a 3-month window and are claimed from the partner directly. See the missing miles guide.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
How do I file a missing points claim with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Log in to your Velocity account and complete the missing Points claim form with the flight number and departure date from your e-ticket or boarding pass, at least 14 days after the flight. For a flight taken in the 30 days before you joined, send your Velocity membership number and copies of the e-ticket and boarding pass through Velocity's feedback form instead; missing Points from non-airline partners are claimed from that partner.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
What information does Virgin Australia Velocity need for a missing points claim?
The online claim form needs the flight number and the departure date shown on your e-ticket or boarding pass. For a flight taken in the 30 days before you joined, Velocity asks for your membership number and copies of the electronic ticket and boarding pass, sent through its feedback form.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
How do I claim missing points for a partner airline flight in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Use the same online claim after waiting 14 days, within 6 months of travel and provided you were a Velocity member when you flew. Velocity says airline partner claims take 4 to 6 weeks to process, against up to 7 days for Virgin Australia flights.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
How long does Virgin Australia Velocity take to process a retroactive claim?
Velocity quotes up to 7 days for Virgin Australia flights, 4 to 6 weeks for airline partner flights, 7 days to 6 weeks for non-airline partner credits and 2 to 6 weeks for flights taken before you joined.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
Can I claim points for flights taken before I joined Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, but only for flights taken up to 30 days before you joined Velocity. Those claims take 2 to 6 weeks to process.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points
Will Virgin Australia Velocity credit a flight if the name on the ticket does not exactly match my account?
It may not. Velocity's terms say the name and Velocity number in your itinerary should exactly match your Velocity account details, or you may miss out on earning Points. Velocity recommends your account name match your passport or government photo ID, and name corrections are made by emailing supporting documents.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue Virgin Australia Velocity credit cards, and in which countries?
All the cards on Velocity's comparison page are Australian: American Express (Velocity Platinum, Velocity Escape Plus and Velocity Business), Virgin Money's Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer and the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer card, Westpac's Altitude Velocity Black and Platinum, and BOQ Specialist's Signature and Platinum cards.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards
How many points per dollar do Virgin Australia Velocity credit cards earn?
As of September 2026: up to 2.25 Points per A$1 on the American Express Velocity Platinum (on Virgin Australia spend), up to 1.75 on the Amex Velocity Escape Plus, up to 1 on the Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer, 0.66 on the Velocity Flyer, up to 0.75 on Westpac's Altitude Velocity Black and 0.5 on its Platinum card, and 1 per A$1 on the first A$7,500 on BOQ Specialist's Signature card.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards
What sign-up bonus do Virgin Australia Velocity credit cards typically offer?
As of September 2026 Velocity's comparison page shows up to 120,000 bonus Points on the Westpac Altitude Velocity Black, up to 80,000 on the Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer (40,000 in each of the first 2 months you spend A$3,500 or more), 75,000 on the Westpac Altitude Velocity Platinum, up to 50,000 on the Velocity Flyer and 20,000 on the BOQ Specialist Signature card. The American Express offers it still shows (120,000 on the Velocity Business card, 60,000 on the Velocity Platinum) were marked to end in July and August 2025, so check American Express for the current offer.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, on some cards. The American Express Velocity Platinum Card awards 50 Status Credits when you spend A$25,000 on eligible purchases in a Membership year and a further 50 for another A$25,000 in the same year, so up to 100 a year. Velocity's card comparison page also lists up to 100 bonus Status Credits on the Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer card.
Which bank points transfer to Virgin Australia Velocity, and at what ratio?
Velocity's June 2026 transfer promotion names American Express Membership Rewards, ANZ Rewards and ANZ Business Rewards, CommBank Awards, Westpac Altitude Rewards, NAB Rewards, St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards, BOQ Q Rewards and MyCard Rewards, besides Flybuys and hotel programs. Rates differ by program, for example 2 NAB Rewards points per Velocity Point, and minimums run from 2,000 points for American Express to 30,000 for BOQ.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: June 2026 transfer bonus terms
How long do bank point transfers to Virgin Australia Velocity take?
It depends on the program: Velocity's June 2026 transfer terms quote up to 1 business day for American Express, 3 business days for Westpac and the St.George, BankSA and Bank of Melbourne Amplify programs, up to 5 for ANZ and CommBank, up to 10 for NAB and up to 28 for BOQ. Westpac, St.George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne, BOQ and MyCard cardholders must first register their Velocity number with the card program.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: June 2026 transfer bonus terms
Can I transfer points back out of Virgin Australia Velocity to a bank program?
No. Velocity's terms bar transferring Points except as they expressly permit, and the transfers out they allow are to eligible Family Members and to a linked Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account, which Velocity's Singapore Airlines page prices at 1.55 Velocity Points per KrisFlyer mile (at least 5,000 Points per transfer, not reversible). There is no transfer back to a bank rewards program.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clauses 2.3 and 5)
Does Virgin Australia Velocity run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
Yes, from time to time: between 1 and 14 June 2026 Velocity paid 15% bonus Points on transfers from participating bank, Flybuys and hotel programs, but only on a member's first transfer from that partner and up to 30,000 bonus Points per member. The bonus was credited within 6 weeks after the promotion ended.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: June 2026 transfer bonus terms
Do Virgin Australia Velocity credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes, except BOQ Specialist Platinum (A$0, for medical, dental, veterinary and accounting professionals only). Fees run from A$95 for the Amex Velocity Escape Plus (with a A$50 Virgin Australia statement credit) and A$149 for the Velocity Flyer (A$129 Virgin Australia gift voucher) to A$329 for the High Flyer (gift voucher, two domestic lounge passes and up to 100 bonus Status Credits) and A$440 for the Amex Velocity Platinum (a domestic return flight and lounge access).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards
Do any Virgin Australia Velocity credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
Not a companion fare, but the American Express Velocity Platinum Card gives a complimentary domestic economy return flight on Virgin Australia between selected cities each anniversary year, along with Virgin Australia domestic lounge access and two guest passes a year.
Is there a business credit card for Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes. The American Express Velocity Business Card earns 2 Velocity Points per A$1 spent on eligible Virgin Australia services. Velocity's comparison page still shows a 120,000 bonus Points offer for A$3,000 of spending in the first 2 months, but it was marked to end on 15 July 2025, so check American Express for the current offer.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards
Can I get a Virgin Australia Velocity credit card if I live outside the United States?
Velocity's cards are Australian: American Express requires Velocity Platinum applicants to be 18 or over and an Australian citizen, permanent resident or long-term visa holder, and the other cards on Velocity's comparison page come from Australian banks.
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying points.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes, the Velocity eStore: log in, click Shop Now on one of over 300 retailers and buy in the same session, earning 2 Points per A$1 at most retailers (nothing on shipping or GST). Points show as pending within 7 days and are credited within 37 days, and missing eStore Points must be claimed within 90 days with the tax invoice.
Which hotel chains earn points in Virgin Australia Velocity, and can hotel points be converted?
Six hotel programs convert their points into Velocity Points: Accor Live Limitless at 1 to 1 (minimum 4,000), Shangri-La Circle 1 to 1 (minimum 1,000), Marriott Bonvoy 3 to 1 with 5,000 bonus Points per 60,000 moved in one transaction, Hilton Honors 10,000 to 1,500, IHG One Rewards 10,000 to 2,000 and Choice Privileges 2,000 to 800. To earn the hotel points in the first place, Velocity says to book directly with the hotel on its website, app or contact centre, because most online travel agents such as Booking.com and Hotels.com don't qualify.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: transfer hotel points to Velocity
Which car rental companies earn points in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Europcar, Hertz, SIXT, Dollar and Thrifty for car rental, plus Flexicar car share. Status raises the rate on rentals in Australia and New Zealand: Gold members earn 5.25 Points per A$1 on car rental and 3.5 per eligible A$1 on Flexicar, against 4.5 and 3 for Silver and 6 and 4 for Platinum.
Can I earn points by taking surveys with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, through e-Rewards: every completed survey earns Opinion Points that transfer to Velocity, plus 750 bonus Velocity Points if you complete a survey within 90 days of joining. Allow 4 to 6 weeks after your first survey for the Points to appear in your Velocity account.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: transfer rewards points to Velocity
Can I buy points from Virgin Australia Velocity, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, through Points Booster: from 1,000 up to 250,000 Points a calendar year, priced on a sliding scale from A$36 for 1,000 Points to A$5,850 for 250,000. Points arrive within 72 hours, purchases are non-refundable, and you need a balance of at least 1 Point to buy.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: buy Velocity Points (Points Booster)
Can I gift points to another Virgin Australia Velocity member?
Only to family. You can transfer Points to a Family Member (a spouse, domestic or de facto partner, parent, child or sibling including in-laws, great-grandparent, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew or first cousin, including foster, step and adopted relationships) up to 4 times a year, 5,000 to 125,000 Points each time. Transfers can't be reversed, and a fee applies if you ask the Membership Contact Centre to do it.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clauses 5 and 5.3)
Can I earn points on fuel or groceries with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Fuel, yes: at 7-Eleven you earn 2 Points per litre of Mobil Extra 95 and Mobil Supreme+ 98, 1 per litre of other fuel and 2 per A$1 spent on in-store products, by scanning your Velocity card or the Velocity-linked My Card in the My 7-Eleven app before paying (tobacco, gift cards and online orders excluded). For groceries, Velocity's transferring points page lets you convert Flybuys points at 1,000 Flybuys to 500 Velocity Points.
Can I earn points on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Velocity's status pages name no Airbnb or holiday rental partner. They do list Cruisepilot and Cover-More as Velocity travel partners, and status members earn bonus Points when using them: 50% for Silver, 75% for Gold and 100% for Platinum.
Where does Virgin Australia Velocity list its current earning promotions?
On velocityfrequentflyer.com under Partners and Offers, each with its own terms: the June 2026 transfer promotion, for example, paid 15% bonus Velocity Points on a member's first transfer from a participating card, Flybuys or hotel program between 1 and 14 June 2026, up to 30,000 bonus Points per member, credited within 6 weeks after it ended. The Velocity App also shows your latest account activity and offers.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: June 2026 transfer bonus terms
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Red (the Status you start on), Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus, and a member holds one at a time. Forever Gold, launched with Platinum Plus on 1 October 2025, is a separate entitlement for members who qualify: it is shown alongside any Status above Gold they later earn, and Status Credits never expire from the Forever Gold balance. See the status guide for what each level takes.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 7.1)
How do I qualify for elite status in Virgin Australia Velocity: by spending, segments, distance or points?
By Status Credits alone from your first Review Date on or after 1 October 2025; Eligible Sectors no longer count. Virgin Australia flights earn 1 Status Credit per A$12 on Choice, Flex, Group and Business fares and 1 per A$24 on Lite, partners earn by distance and fare, and at least half of each tier's credits (three quarters for Platinum Plus) must come from Virgin Australia marketed or operated flights.
What are the qualification thresholds for each Virgin Australia Velocity tier?
Silver needs 250 Status Credits in 365 days (125 on Virgin Australia) and 200 (100) to keep it; Gold 500 (250), kept at 400 (200); Platinum 1,000 (500), kept at 800 (400); Platinum Plus 2,000 (1,500) both to earn and to keep. Forever Gold takes 12,000 Status Credits counted from 1 February 2013, at least 9,000 on Virgin Australia.
When does the Virgin Australia Velocity qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
There is no fixed calendar year. You move up as soon as the Status Credits from the previous 12 months meet a tier's threshold, and a Benefit Period then runs for 12 months from the day your Status was upgraded, kept or downgraded. Keeping it is assessed after your Review Date, the last day of the Benefit Period, on the Status Credits earned in that period.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do partner airline flights count toward Virgin Australia Velocity status?
Yes, but only toward part of each tier. Partner flights earn Status Credits by distance and fare, yet partner, Family Pooling, Flybuys and credit card Status Credits together can make up at most half of the total for Silver, Gold or Platinum and a quarter for Platinum Plus and Forever Gold; the rest must be flown on Virgin Australia.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Yes: Forever Gold, launched on 1 October 2025, gives lifetime Gold benefits (with a few exceptions) once you reach 12,000 Status Credits counted from 1 February 2013, at least 9,000 of them on Virgin Australia marketed or operated flights. You then never drop below Gold unless your membership is terminated and you rejoin, and if you later earn Platinum you get Platinum benefits.
If I fall short of requalifying, does Virgin Australia Velocity drop me one tier or all the way?
One tier at a time. If you haven't met the requirement to keep your Status when Velocity assesses it after your Review Date, you are downgraded to the Status below your current one, so a Platinum member who falls short drops to Gold, not to Red.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
What baggage benefits do Virgin Australia Velocity elite members get?
Silver and Gold members get 2 x 23kg instead of 1 on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul Choice, Flex and Economy Reward fares, Platinum 3 x 23kg (3 x 32kg in Business) and Platinum Plus 5 x 32kg. Lite fares get nothing extra, codeshare bookings use the non-member allowance, and on partner flights the extra depends on the operating airline.
Which Virgin Australia Velocity tiers get lounge access, and where?
Silver members get two single-entry Virgin Australia lounge passes a year. Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus members get the domestic lounges before a same-day Virgin Australia flight and for up to 60 minutes after arrival, with one guest for Gold and three for Platinum and Platinum Plus, each plus three children aged 2 to 17. Velocity's Qatar Airways page adds Qatar Airways lounge access for Gold and above.
Source: Virgin Australia: lounge access
Do Virgin Australia Velocity elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
Yes, at the top tiers: Platinum members who buy a Flex fare can use their complimentary upgrades to Business on Virgin Australia domestic, Trans-Tasman and short-haul international flights, and Platinum Plus members can use theirs on Choice or Flex fares. Velocity says all upgrades are subject to Reward Seat availability controlled by Virgin Australia, and members can check how many they have under My Benefits in My Velocity; see the status guide for points upgrades.
Do Virgin Australia Velocity elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Silver members get complimentary seat selection on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights (not Economy Lite), and on the Qatar Airways-operated flights between Australia and Doha free advance selection on Economy Flex, Business and Business Reward fares, with a discount on Economy Choice and Economy Reward fares. Velocity's Qatar Airways page gives Gold and Platinum members complimentary advance seat selection for themselves and up to 8 guests on the same booking. On Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights, Platinum members and their travelling companions on the same booking can choose Economy X extra-legroom seats, as can Platinum Plus members with up to 8 accompanying guests.
Which fees does Virgin Australia Velocity waive for elite members?
The waivers Velocity publishes are on upgrades, for Platinum members: no 4,500 Points or A$35 per-person service fee to cancel an UpgradeMe Points upgrade at least 24 hours before departure, or to change one at least 24 hours before a domestic or short-haul flight (48 hours for long haul), and an UpgradeMe Platinum complimentary upgrade cancelled at least 24 hours before departure is refunded at no charge if it hasn't expired. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules list no Status exemption from change, cancellation or phone booking fees.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: upgrade cancellation and amendment policy
Can elite benefits in Virgin Australia Velocity be shared with family or a companion?
Status itself stays with the member, but Family Pooling can move Status Credits: contributors can pool Points and Status Credits into one beneficiary's account, where they count toward up to half of Silver, Gold or Platinum (a quarter of Platinum Plus) but never toward the Virgin Australia minimum. Pooled credits don't count toward the contributor's own Status.
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in Virgin Australia Velocity?
No. Moving up counts the Status Credits earned in the previous 12 months and keeping Status counts those earned in your Benefit Period, and partner Status Credits drop out of the balance 12 months after the activity date. Only the Forever Gold balance keeps Status Credits for good.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, at the top tiers: since 1 October 2025 Platinum Plus members can nominate one Companion Platinum member, and Platinum members can nominate a Companion Gold member once they earn 1,300 Status Credits in their Benefit Period, at least 650 of them on Virgin Australia flights.
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Virgin Australia Velocity?
No. Velocity's terms say you can't buy, sell, transfer or otherwise deal with Points, Status Credits or Status except as the terms expressly permit, and there is no Status Credit purchase; Points Booster sells Points only.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Will Virgin Australia Velocity elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Partly. Velocity's airline partners page says status benefits with partner airlines may include priority check-in, additional baggage and up to 50% bonus Points for Silver members, adding priority baggage and lounge access for Gold (up to 75% bonus Points) and for Platinum and Platinum Plus (up to 100%). Its Qatar Airways page lists lounge access and priority boarding for Gold and above.
Redeeming on Virgin Australia
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Virgin Australia flights?
A fixed chart for Reward Seats: Velocity prices them from published tables by one-way distance, with a range of prices within each band for Virgin Australia domestic economy (5,900 to 12,900 Points up to 600 miles) and a single price per band for business, Virgin Australia international and every partner. Any Seat bookings are not on the chart: Velocity's terms calculate their Points from the cash fare for the fare type booked. See the award chart.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats (tables from 21 January 2025)
What is the cheapest award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity?
A one-way Virgin Australia domestic economy Reward Seat from 5,900 Points, plus taxes, fees and carrier charges; that lead-in price has applied since 17 October 2024. See the award chart.
Can I book one-way awards in Virgin Australia Velocity, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes. Every Reward Seat price in Velocity's tables is for a one-way journey, set by its distance band, so one-way bookings are the norm; the figures are the minimum for the most direct route.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
How do I search for award seats on Virgin Australia?
Search and book on virginaustralia.com. Velocity's airline partners page says Reward Seats on Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, ANA and Hong Kong Airlines can be booked online there, while South African Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Hainan Airlines and Capital Airlines Reward Seats have to be booked by phone.
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Velocity's two options are Reward Seats and Any Seat. Reward Seats are limited, fixed-price seats from 5,900 Points plus taxes, carrier charges and fees, and earn no Points or Status Credits; Any Seats are 'always available (as long as there is a seat on the plane)', need more Points overall (or Points + Pay) and do earn Points and Status Credits.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained
Does Virgin Australia Velocity allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
Stopovers are allowed but cost more. With no break in the journey, a Reward Seat is priced on the total miles between the two cities; a stopover or break in the journey prices it sector by sector instead, so it needs more Points than the direct-route prices in Velocity's tables. Velocity's terms treat onward travel within Australia on a later calendar day as a stopover. Neither page mentions open jaws.
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in Virgin Australia Velocity, and how is it priced?
Yes, but it is priced sector by sector: Velocity's terms say a Reward Seat is calculated on a per sector basis when the class of travel changes within the journey, or when it combines airlines from different Reward Seat tables, so it needs more Points than the direct-route figures in Velocity's tables.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 4.2)
Can I pay part in points and part in cash with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, on Any Seat bookings: Points + Pay lets you use as few as 100 Points per person per sector and pay the rest of the cash fare in money. Reward Seats are paid in Points, with taxes, carrier charges and fees on top.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity?
On Virgin Australia domestic Reward Seat bookings, an infant under 2 who does not occupy a seat travels free; on international and partner airline bookings the infant pays only taxes, fees and surcharges. Children aged 2 to 11 occupying a seat pay the adult fare plus taxes, fees and surcharges.
Do awards in Virgin Australia Velocity book into basic economy or a regular fare?
Into their own Reward Seat fare, which is closer to Choice than Lite: on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights an Economy Reward booking includes the same checked baggage as Choice and Flex fares (1 x 23kg for Red members, more with status), while Economy Lite includes none.
What is the minimum number of points needed to book an award in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Reward Seats start from 5,900 Points one way, for a short Virgin Australia domestic economy flight. With Points + Pay on an Any Seat booking you can use as few as 100 Points per person per sector and pay the rest in cash.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained
What are the best-value redemptions in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Short Virgin Australia domestic flights at the lowest price level (5,900 Points one way up to 600 miles), and business class on United or Virgin Atlantic, which costs 102,000 Points one way for 7,001 to 8,500 miles, against 113,000 on Air Canada or ANA and 119,500 on Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways. See the award chart.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats (tables from 21 January 2025)
Does flying on an award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity earn status or points?
Not on a Reward Seat, which earns no Velocity Points or Status Credits. Any Seat bookings, which cost more Points, do earn Points and Status Credits.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained
Can I select seats on an award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity, and is there a charge?
It depends on the flight. On Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights, Silver members get complimentary seat selection on every fare except Economy Lite. On the Qatar Airways-operated flights between Australia and Doha, Silver members get complimentary advance seat selection on Business Reward bookings but only a discounted price on Economy Reward bookings.
What baggage allowance do I get on an award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity?
The same as a Choice or Flex fare: on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights an Economy Reward booking includes 1 x 23kg for Red members, 2 x 23kg for Silver and Gold, 3 x 23kg for Platinum and 5 x 32kg for Platinum Plus. Partner airline Reward Seats follow the operating airline's allowance.
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with points from Virgin Australia Velocity?
Velocity's airline partners page lists Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, ANA and Hong Kong Airlines as bookable online at virginaustralia.com, and South African Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Hainan Airlines and Capital Airlines as bookable by phone. See the partner award guide.
Which partner awards can be booked online with Virgin Australia Velocity, and which need a phone call?
Online at virginaustralia.com: Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United, Air Canada, ANA and Hong Kong Airlines. By phone through the Membership Contact Centre: South African Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Hainan Airlines and Capital Airlines.
How are partner awards priced in Virgin Australia Velocity?
From fixed one-way distance tables, one per partner group, plus taxes, fees and carrier charges. In business class for 7,001 to 8,500 miles, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways charge 119,500 Points, Air Canada, ANA and South African Airways 113,000, and United and Virgin Atlantic 102,000; in economy at that distance the Air Canada group is dearest, at 61,000 against 56,000 and 48,000. See the award chart.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats (tables from 21 January 2025)
Does Virgin Australia Velocity charge a fee for partner awards?
Sometimes. Velocity charges a Membership Contact Centre fee if you book a partner Reward Seat by phone when the airline offers online booking, and a cancelled Reward Seat's refund is subject to the fees in its terms (cancellations must be requested at least 24 hours before departure). Taxes, fees and carrier charges that apply to a Reward Seat are paid on top of the Points.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 4.2)
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to Virgin Australia Velocity awards?
Velocity publishes Singapore Airlines' carrier charges: US$40 in economy on journeys of 4,200 miles or less and US$65 beyond, US$120 to US$200 in business and US$130 to US$215 in first. On every Reward Seat, taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable in addition to the Points.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
Can I combine Virgin Australia and partner flights on one award in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, but the price rises: Velocity's tables show the minimum for the most direct route, and a one-way trip involving multiple airlines, or multiple flights with a stopover, or a change of cabin, needs more Points.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes, at a price: Velocity prices partner Reward Seats on the one-way distance, and says a trip with multiple flights and a stopover or break in journey, or with multiple airlines, needs more Points than the direct-route figures in its tables.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats
Can partner awards booked through Virgin Australia Velocity be changed or cancelled online?
Cancellations can be made online if the Reward Seat was paid in full with Points; changes, and other cancellations, go through the Membership Contact Centre during its opening hours. Partner Reward Seats follow Virgin Australia's international rules: each change or cancellation costs 7,500 Points or A$60 per person per booking and must be made at least 24 hours before departure, and nothing is refunded once travel has started.
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with Virgin Australia Velocity points?
On price, United and Virgin Atlantic: their shared table charges 102,000 Points one way in business for 7,001 to 8,500 miles, against 113,000 on Air Canada or ANA and 119,500 on Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines adds carrier charges of US$120 to US$200 in business. Virgin Atlantic Reward Seats have to be booked through the Membership Contact Centre (see Velocity's airline partners).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats (tables from 21 January 2025)
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the points, and which fees can be avoided.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity add fuel surcharges to award tickets on Virgin Australia?
Yes: Velocity's terms say carrier charges apply on Reward Seats with some airlines, including Virgin Australia. The Points cover only the base fare, and taxes, fees and carrier charges, set by the airline selling the fare and varying by route, are paid on top.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 4.2)
Does Virgin Australia Velocity charge a booking fee for award tickets?
Not online; the fees are for phone bookings: A$40 or 5,200 Points per person per booking for a Virgin Australia domestic or short-haul international Reward Seat and A$70 or 8,800 Points for a partner airline that can be booked online, with no fee for partners that can only be booked by phone. Booking and credit card fees are not refunded if you later cancel.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity charge extra to book an award by phone?
Yes. Booking through the Membership Contact Centre costs A$40 or 5,200 Points per person per booking for a Virgin Australia domestic or short-haul international Reward Seat, and A$70 or 8,800 Points for a partner airline that can be booked online; partners that can only be booked by phone carry no fee. Booking on the Velocity website is free.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules list only phone booking, change and cancellation fees, with nothing for booking close to departure; Velocity's terms simply close online booking 1 hour before Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights and 24 hours before partner flights (clause 4.2).
Which award fees does Virgin Australia Velocity waive for elite members?
Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules list none: every member pays the same change, cancellation and phone booking fees. The waiver Velocity does publish is on upgrades: Platinum members pay no 4,500 Points or A$35 fee to cancel an UpgradeMe Points upgrade at least 24 hours before departure, or to change one at least 24 hours before a domestic or short-haul flight (48 hours for long haul).
Are taxes and fees refunded if I cancel a Virgin Australia Velocity award?
A cancellation made at least 24 hours before the first flight is refunded less the cancellation fee (4,500 Points or A$35 domestic, 7,500 Points or A$60 international and partner), but booking and credit card fees are not refunded. Nothing is refunded once travel has started, or if a passenger checks in and doesn't fly.
How can I reduce the cash cost of a Virgin Australia Velocity award?
Book online to avoid the A$40 or 5,200 Points phone booking fee on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul Reward Seats, and pay any change or cancellation fee in Points rather than cash: 4,500 Points instead of A$35 on domestic bookings and 7,500 instead of A$60 on international and partner bookings.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does Virgin Australia Velocity charge to change an award ticket?
4,500 Points or A$35 per person per booking on Virgin Australia domestic Reward Seats and 7,500 Points or A$60 on international and partner Reward Seats, plus any difference in Points, taxes or fees. Each sector must be changed at least 24 hours before its departure. See the change fee guide.
What does Virgin Australia Velocity charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the points?
The same as a change: 4,500 Points or A$35 per person per booking on domestic Reward Seats and 7,500 Points or A$60 on international and partner Reward Seats, with the rest of the Points refunded. Booking and credit card fees are not refunded.
How close to departure can I cancel a Virgin Australia Velocity award?
At least 24 hours before the first scheduled departure. After that, and once travel has started, a Reward Seat can't be refunded or re-credited.
What happens to my points if I no-show a Virgin Australia Velocity award?
You lose them. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat rules say guests who check in but don't fly are not eligible for a refund or credit, and cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before departure.
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip Virgin Australia Velocity award?
Only before you fly. A Reward Seat can be cancelled (for a fee) up to 24 hours before the first departure, but refunds and re-credits are not permitted once travel has commenced, so an unused return sector brings nothing back.
Can I change the passenger name on a Virgin Australia Velocity award?
No. Name changes are not permitted on Velocity Reward Seats in any cabin.
Are change and cancellation fees waived for Virgin Australia Velocity elite members?
No. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules charge 4,500 Points or A$35 (domestic) and 7,500 Points or A$60 (international and partner) per person per booking to change or cancel, with no exemption for Status members. The waiver Velocity's program FAQs do mention is for Platinum members changing or cancelling an UpgradeMe Points upgrade, not a Reward Seat.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
Only for itineraries touching the US: bookings made at least 7 days before departure can be cancelled up to 24 hours after confirmation without penalty. Other Reward Seats pay the normal cancellation fee.
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Partner Reward Seats cost 7,500 Points or A$60 per person to change or cancel, the same as Virgin Australia international flights and more than the 4,500 Points or A$35 for domestic flights, with the same 24-hour deadline.
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
Do Virgin Australia Velocity elite members get extra award availability?
Yes, at the top: clause 8.1 of Velocity's terms gives Platinum Plus and Platinum members one Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat booking each Benefit Period, for up to four guests including the member, on an Economy return flight when no Reward Seat is available on their preferred flight or within one day (domestic) or three days (short-haul international) of it. It covers only Australian domestic and short-haul international flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia, must be requested through the Membership Contact Centre at least six months before departure, and the member must travel and pay the Points from their own account.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 8.1)
Can I redeem points for any seat on Virgin Australia, or only for designated award seats?
Any seat, through Any Seat: Velocity says Any Seat is "always available (as long as there is a seat on the plane)", and its terms calculate the Points from the cash fare, so it needs more Points overall. Reward Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained
Upgrades
Using points to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade a Virgin Australia flight with points?
Request an UpgradeMe Points upgrade on an eligible paid Virgin Australia booking (not Economy Lite); since 18 November 2024 one price applies to Choice and Flex fares, starting from 10,000 Points on domestic routes and 8,000 on trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes. A request can be waitlisted, and the Points price is the one published when you made the request.
Which fares are eligible for a points upgrade on Virgin Australia?
Paid Virgin Australia Economy Choice and Flex fares: since 18 November 2024 both upgrade at the same UpgradeMe Points price, which starts from 10,000 Points on domestic routes. Virgin Australia's Reward Seat fare rules add that Reward Seats can't be upgraded with Points or with complimentary upgrades.
How many points does an upgrade cost in Virgin Australia Velocity, and is there a cash copay?
Since 18 November 2024 UpgradeMe Points has a single price for Choice and Flex fares, starting from 10,000 Points on Virgin Australia domestic routes and 8,000 on trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes. Velocity lists no cash co-pay; changing or cancelling more than 24 hours before departure costs A$35 or 4,500 Points per person per booking, waived for Platinum members.
Can I waitlist for a points upgrade in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes. If no upgrade seats are available you may be able to waitlist, and the Points price is the one published when you made the request, even if it clears later.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
Yes: Platinum and Platinum Plus members get complimentary upgrades held as Upgrade certificates, which Platinum members can use on Flex fares and Platinum Plus members on Choice or Flex fares on Virgin Australia domestic, Trans-Tasman and short-haul international flights. Members can check how many they have and their validity under My Benefits in My Velocity, and all upgrades are subject to Reward Seat availability and Velocity's Upgrade Cancellation and Amendment Policy.
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more points in Virgin Australia Velocity?
No. Upgrades with Points and complimentary fare upgrades cannot be used with a Reward Seat.
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend points.
Can I redeem points for hotels through Virgin Australia Velocity, and what is the value?
Yes: Velocity lists accommodation and car hire among the rewards Points can be used for, alongside Reward Seats, upgrades, gift vouchers and gadgets from the Velocity Rewards Store. For how that compares with flights, see what Velocity Points are worth.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: turn your Velocity Points into rewards
Can I redeem points for car rentals through Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes. Velocity lists car hire, alongside accommodation, among the rewards Points can be used for, besides flights, upgrades and the Velocity Rewards Store.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: turn your Velocity Points into rewards
Can I redeem points for merchandise or gift cards in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Yes. Velocity lists sports gear, the latest tech and gift vouchers among the rewards you can use Points for, and gadgets are sold in the Velocity Rewards Store. Under Velocity's terms the store is run by Collinson Group, which sources and manages the retailers selling there.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: turn your Velocity Points into rewards
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with points on Virgin Australia?
Not Wi-Fi: Virgin Australia's inflight connectivity page sells 30-minute and full-flight passes by credit card and mentions no Points option. Velocity Platinum and Platinum Plus members and Business Class guests get Wi-Fi free.
Can I redeem points for lounge access or a lounge membership in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Not for single-entry passes: Velocity says they are bought at lounge reception and cannot be purchased by redeeming Velocity Points, and its flight extras page does not offer Points as a way to pay for lounge membership. Lounge access comes with status instead: Silver members get two single-entry passes each Benefit Period, and Gold and Platinum members get complimentary access to Virgin Australia's domestic lounges.
Can I convert points to cash or statement credit in Virgin Australia Velocity?
No. Velocity's terms say Points have no cash value, can't be converted to cash and aren't property or currency.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Can I use points to extend status or buy tier credit in Virgin Australia Velocity?
No. There is no way to buy Status Credits: the terms bar buying or transferring Status Credits or Status except as they expressly permit, and Points Booster sells Points only.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Expiry and reactivation
Whether points expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do Virgin Australia Velocity points expire?
Yes. Under clause 3.4 (effective 17 August 2026) Points expire 24 months, rounded to the end of the month, after your last Long Term Activity, or 1 month after your last Short Term Activity if that is later. See the expiry guide.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.4)
What counts as activity to keep Virgin Australia Velocity points from expiring?
Long Term Activity resets the 24 months: earning or redeeming Points, or transferring Points in, with Velocity or a partner; receiving Points from a Virgin Australia Business Flyer account; or buying Points through Points Booster. Receiving Family Pool, family-transfer or inherited Points is only Short Term Activity, which keeps the balance for 1 month.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.4)
Are Virgin Australia Velocity elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
No. Clause 3.4 sets one expiry rule for every member, whatever their Status or credit card: Points expire 24 months (rounded to the end of the month) after your last Long Term Activity. Receiving pooled, family-transferred or inherited Points counts only as Short Term Activity, which moves the expiry date to 1 month after it, rounded to the end of the month, and only when that is later.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.4)
What is the cheapest way to keep Virgin Australia Velocity points active?
Earn or redeem any Points with Velocity or a partner at least once every 24 months: a transaction on a Points-earning credit card or a partner purchase counts, as does buying Points through Points Booster (from 1,000 Points). Receiving pooled or family-transferred Points does not, as it only protects the balance for a month.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.4)
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of points reset the Virgin Australia Velocity expiry clock?
Yes. Transferring Points into your account from a partner, such as a bank or hotel program, and buying Points through Points Booster are both Long Term Activity, which resets the 24-month clock; family transfers and Family Pooling are excluded.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 3.4)
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on Virgin Australia, and how does status change it?
On Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights, Choice, Flex and Economy Reward fares include 1 x 23kg for Red members and non-members, 2 x 23kg for Silver and Gold, 3 x 23kg for Platinum and 5 x 32kg for Platinum Plus; Economy Lite includes no checked bag at any level. Business fares include 2 x 32kg, rising to 3 x 32kg for Platinum and 5 x 32kg for Platinum Plus.
Which lounges can Virgin Australia Velocity members access, and how?
Virgin Australia's domestic lounges admit Business Class guests, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus members and paying lounge members; Silver members and holders of eligible Westpac, Virgin Money and American Express cards get two single-entry passes a year, and eligible members of Air Canada, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, United and Virgin Atlantic programs are admitted too. Virgin Australia has no lounges at its international departure ports.
Source: Virgin Australia: lounge access
Can I buy lounge access on Virgin Australia without status?
Yes. Virgin Australia sells lounge membership at A$450 a year plus a A$99 joining fee, or A$9,750 for life (A$6,750 for seniors aged 60 and over), and single-entry passes at A$65 for adults and A$45 for children aged 2 to 17. Members can bring one guest and three children.
Source: Virgin Australia: lounge access
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Virgin Australia?
Velocity Gold members get Virgin Australia's Priority Airport Service, along with Request to Fly Ahead to an earlier flight and Preferential Seating. On partner airlines, Velocity's airline partners page says status benefits may include priority check-in and priority baggage, and its Qatar Airways page lists priority boarding for Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus members.
Does Virgin Australia offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
Platinum Plus members get Fly Later: a later Virgin Australia domestic flight on the same day and route (not on Economy Lite fares) for themselves and up to 3 accompanying guests, requested at least 40 minutes before the original departure and subject to availability. Velocity's Gold and Platinum pages add Request to Fly Ahead on an earlier flight.
Does Virgin Australia offer free Wi-Fi to Virgin Australia Velocity members?
To Platinum and Platinum Plus members, yes: Virgin Australia gives Velocity Platinum and Platinum Plus members and Business Class guests complimentary inflight Wi-Fi, while others buy a 30-minute or full-flight pass by credit card. Not every aircraft has it (the F100, A320 and B737-700 fleets are excluded), and typical speeds are 5 to 15 Mbps.
Do Virgin Australia Velocity elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
Some do. Platinum Plus members and up to 8 accompanying guests on the same booking can select Economy X seats on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul international flights, and Velocity's Platinum page extends Economy X to Platinum members' travelling companions on the same booking. In Virgin Australia's domestic lounges Gold members can bring one guest and Platinum and Platinum Plus members three, plus up to three children aged 2 to 17.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Platinum Plus membership benefits
Can Virgin Australia Velocity elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
On Qatar Airways, yes: Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus members get Qatar Airways lounge access and priority boarding. On other partners, Velocity says Gold and Platinum members may have access to selected partner airline lounges when flying internationally, while the Silver benefits it lists for partner airlines are priority check-in, additional baggage and bonus Points.
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Virgin Australia Velocity?
Your baggage allowance, yes: on Virgin Australia domestic and short-haul flights an Economy Reward booking gets the same status allowance as a paid Choice or Flex fare, from 2 x 23kg for Silver and Gold to 5 x 32kg for Platinum Plus. On partner airline Reward Seats the operating airline's baggage allowance applies instead.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which airlines are Virgin Australia's partners outside its alliance?
Velocity's airline partners page lists 13 partner airlines besides Virgin Australia: Qatar Airways, United, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, South African Airways, Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Capital Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Link Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand.
Which joint ventures is Virgin Australia part of, and what do they mean for Virgin Australia Velocity members?
Virgin Australia's 2025 annual report describes an integrated alliance with Qatar Airways, whose group bought a 25% stake in Virgin Australia in March 2025. Under a wet lease, Qatar Airways has operated Virgin Australia's flights between Australia and Doha since June 2025, and Velocity members can earn and redeem Points on those flights as well as on Qatar Airways' own flights to Doha and beyond.
Which partners has Virgin Australia Velocity added or lost recently?
Hawaiian Airlines left: Velocity's Hawaiian Airlines page says the partnership ceased from 1 July 2025, and Hawaiian no longer appears on Velocity's airline partners page. On the other side, Virgin Australia's flights between Australia and Doha (VA1-29) are operated by Qatar Airways, and Velocity status members get bonus Points and seat benefits on them.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: Hawaiian Airlines partner page
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with Virgin Australia Velocity?
Accor Live Limitless, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Choice Privileges and Shangri-La Circle all convert points to Velocity, at rates from 1 to 1 (Accor and Shangri-La Circle) down to 10,000 Hilton Honors points for 1,500 Velocity Points. Marriott Bonvoy converts at 3 to 1, with 5,000 bonus Velocity Points for every 60,000 Bonvoy points moved in one transaction.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: transfer hotel points to Velocity
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking Virgin Australia flights?
Qatar Airways Privilege Club, for one: Qatar says its members can earn Avios and Qpoints on eligible Virgin Australia flights and redeem Avios for award flights on them. On the Virgin Australia flights Qatar operates to Doha under a wet lease, oneworld benefits don't apply.
Do Virgin Australia's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in Virgin Australia Velocity the same way?
Yes. Flights operated for Virgin Australia by airlines such as Air North and Alliance Airlines count as Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights, so they earn Points per dollar and Status Credits like Virgin Australia's own domestic and short-haul flights.
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns points, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns Virgin Australia Velocity points: the member or the airline?
Not the member in any property sense: Velocity's terms say Points have no cash value, can't be converted to cash and aren't property or currency, and Velocity can change how they are earned and redeemed.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Do the Virgin Australia Velocity terms prohibit selling or bartering points?
Yes. The terms say you can't buy, sell, transfer or otherwise deal with your or someone else's Points, Status Credits, Status or other member benefits other than as the terms expressly permit.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
What can Virgin Australia Velocity do if it finds points were sold or awards were bought?
If Velocity reasonably suspects a breach of the terms or fraudulent or dishonest activity, it may end or suspend the membership or the account, reverse or cancel Points and Status Credit transactions, and cancel or refuse to honour member benefits.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Is it against the Virgin Australia Velocity rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
The terms don't name paid award bookings, but they bar buying, selling or otherwise dealing with Points or member benefits except as expressly permitted, and Velocity can cancel Points, benefits or the membership if it suspects a breach.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
Can Virgin Australia Velocity change its rules or devalue points without notice?
Not if the change hurts members. Under clause 1.4 of its terms, Velocity gives at least 30 days' notice of a major negative change, on its website and by email to members it believes are affected, and gives website notice before a minor negative change applies, though that may be less than 30 days; only positive or minor changes can apply without notice. Clause 1.3 lets it change how Points are earned and redeemed, earn and redemption rates, and its partners.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clauses 1.3 and 1.4)
Are Virgin Australia Velocity points taxable?
Velocity's terms leave any tax to the member: clause 11.2 says you're responsible for any tax liabilities.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 11.2)
Where are the full Virgin Australia Velocity terms and conditions?
On velocityfrequentflyer.com under Member support, Terms and Conditions; the current version took effect on 17 August 2026 and includes the eligibility rules (clause 2.1), the expiry rules (clause 3.4), Reward Seat rules (clause 4.2) and the fee table (clause 11.1).
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions
How does selling Virgin Australia Velocity points through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys Virgin Australia Velocity points in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 0.68¢ to 0.81¢ per point depending on the balance. You get a quote on the Virgin Australia Velocity page, our team confirms the details, the points are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are Virgin Australia Velocity points worth?
No publisher values Virgin Australia Velocity points, so Points Plug values them through their 1.55 to 1 conversion into Singapore KrisFlyer miles: dividing each published Singapore KrisFlyer valuation by 1.55 gives 0.84¢ to 0.87¢ each, about 0.85¢ on average, as of 2026-09-23. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page shows the calculation.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact Virgin Australia Velocity customer service?
Call the Membership Contact Centre on 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand or +61 2 8667 5924 from elsewhere. Membership enquiries are answered 8am to 8pm AEST Monday to Friday, and flight redemptions 7:30am to 10:30pm AEST every day.
What are the Virgin Australia Velocity service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
Membership enquiries: 8am to 8pm AEST, Monday to Friday. Flight redemptions: 7:30am to 10:30pm AEST, seven days a week. The member support page lists the same numbers for every member: 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand and +61 2 8667 5924 elsewhere.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes: a virtual assistant in the chat bubble on Velocity's member support page handles membership and flight redemption questions from 8am to 8pm AEST, Monday to Sunday.
What do I do if my Virgin Australia Velocity account is hacked or points are stolen?
Contact Velocity Member Support straight away (13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand, +61 2 8667 5924 elsewhere); its MFA Help Hub says to report suspicious activity there, and Velocity's terms say you may be liable for unauthorised use until you tell it. Logins need a one-time passcode by email or SMS, so never share a code you didn't request.
How do I see my Virgin Australia Velocity activity statement and past redemptions?
Log in to My Velocity, which holds your activity statement and lets you claim missing Points and manage family benefits; the Velocity app also shows your Points activity.
Does Virgin Australia Velocity support two-factor authentication?
Yes, and it is mandatory: Velocity launched multi-factor authentication on 10 December 2024, and every member now logs in with a one-time passcode sent by email or SMS. The help hub mentions no authenticator app.
How do I escalate a complaint about Virgin Australia Velocity?
Use the membership feedback form linked from Velocity's member support page, or call the Membership Contact Centre on 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand or +61 2 8667 5924 from elsewhere (membership enquiries 8am to 8pm AEST, Monday to Friday).
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on a Virgin Australia Velocity award ticket?
Nothing on Virgin Australia domestic flights, if the infant (under 2) does not occupy a seat; on international and partner airline flights, only the taxes, fees and surcharges. Children aged 2 to 11 occupying a seat pay the adult fare plus taxes, fees and surcharges.
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on a Virgin Australia Velocity award booking?
Through the Membership Contact Centre: Virgin Australia says Velocity Reward and redemption bookings must still have assistance booked there. Paid bookings can add it online unless travel is within 24 hours, when the Guest Contact Centre books it at no additional cost, and on connecting flights with other airlines their own rules apply.
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to Virgin Australia Velocity?
For bookings made from 2 April 2025, Virgin Australia flights earn 4 base Points per A$1 (5 for eligible cardholders) and Status Credits by spend; from 1 October 2025 status is earned with Status Credits only, with at least half on Virgin Australia, and Platinum Plus and Forever Gold launched. Partner Reward Seat prices rose on 21 January 2025, the first significant change since June 2016.
Has Virgin Australia Velocity changed its name or currency recently?
Not recently. The program launched in 2005 as Velocity Rewards and was relaunched in 2011 as Velocity Frequent Flyer, and its currency is still Velocity Points.
When did Virgin Australia Velocity last devalue its award prices?
On 21 January 2025 Velocity raised Points prices for partner airline Reward Seats on selected fare classes and routes (see the award chart), its first significant change to them since June 2016, along with the upper prices in the range for Virgin Australia domestic economy Reward Seats and the price of short-haul international Reward Seats; bookings made earlier kept the old prices. The lead-in domestic price had been cut to 5,900 Points on 17 October 2024.
What changes has Virgin Australia Velocity announced for the coming year?
From 1 October 2026 eligible Commonwealth Bank customers can convert CommBank Yello points, earned on savings accounts, home loans, insurance and credit cards, into Velocity Points; Virgin Australia's 18 August 2026 announcement calls it the first in a series of enhancements to Velocity's financial services offering.
Source: Virgin Australia newsroom: Velocity Frequent Flyer and Commonwealth Bank (18 August 2026)
How does Virgin Australia Velocity notify members of changes?
Through a notice on its website, plus an email to members it believes are negatively affected by a major change. Clause 1.4 of Velocity's terms promises at least 30 days' notice of a major negative change and website notice before a minor negative change applies (possibly less than 30 days), while positive or minor changes may apply without notice.
Source: Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 1.4)
What changed most recently in how Virgin Australia Velocity elite status is earned?
From the first Review Date on or after 1 October 2025, Velocity dropped Eligible Sectors and assesses status on Status Credits alone, with at least half (three quarters for Platinum Plus) earned on Virgin Australia marketed or operated flights. Virgin Australia bookings made from 2 April 2025 earn Status Credits by spend, and Platinum Plus and Forever Gold launched on 1 October 2025.
When was Virgin Australia Velocity founded?
Velocity launched in 2005 as Velocity Rewards and was relaunched as Velocity in 2011, according to Virgin Australia Holdings' 2025 annual report.
Pages these answers were read from
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: program terms and conditions (clause 2.1) · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: 4 convincing reasons to join · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: MFA Help Hub · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: the Velocity App · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: account how-to guides · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: how to claim missing Points · official page
- Virgin Australia: Business Flyer FAQs (Points and member benefits) · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: changes to Points earn and Reward Seats · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: program changes FAQs · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Silver membership benefits · official page
- Virgin Australia: Velocity Reward Seat fare rules · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Qatar Airways partner page · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: airline partners · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Singapore Airlines partner page · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: compare Velocity partner credit cards · official page
- American Express Australia: Velocity Platinum Card · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: June 2026 transfer bonus terms · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer eStore: how it works · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: transfer hotel points to Velocity · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Gold membership benefits · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: transfer rewards points to Velocity · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: buy Velocity Points (Points Booster) · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: 7-Eleven · official page
- Virgin Australia: checked baggage · official page
- Virgin Australia: lounge access · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Platinum membership · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: upgrade cancellation and amendment policy · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: program changes · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Reward Seat and Any Seat explained · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: turn your Velocity Points into rewards · official page
- Virgin Australia: inflight connectivity · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: flight extras · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: family benefits · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Platinum Plus membership benefits · official page
- Virgin Australia Holdings: 2025 annual report · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: Hawaiian Airlines partner page · official page
- Qatar Airways: partnership with Virgin Australia · official page
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: member support · official page
- Virgin Australia: mobility assistance · official page
- Virgin Australia newsroom: Velocity Frequent Flyer and Commonwealth Bank (18 August 2026) · official page