Overview
The Velocity Frequent Flyer Program, launched in 2005 as Velocity Rewards by Virgin Australia, is a robust loyalty program designed to reward members for flying with Virgin Australia and its partners, as well as everyday spending. With 12 million Aussies finding it easy to earn points, the program offers flexibility, competitive award seat availability, and a wide network of over 80 program partners and 300+ e-Store partners. Significant updates in 2025 include new elite tiers (Forever Gold and Platinum Plus), changes to points earning for flights, and simplified status requirements, making it a strong competitor to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Joining the Program
- Cost: Free to join at join.velocityfrequentflyer.com.
- Eligibility: Open to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, or Vanuatu. Non-residents cannot join.
- Process:
- Provide personal details (name, date of birth, email).
- Set a password and four-digit PIN.
- Receive a welcome email with your Velocity membership number.
- App: The Velocity Frequent Flyer App (iOS 16.0+, Android, 4.8/5 on App Store) allows tracking of points, Status Credits, and offers, with a digital membership card for lounge access (if eligible).
Earning Velocity Points
Members earn Velocity Points through flights, credit cards, retail partners, and special offers. Points never expire as long as you earn or redeem annually.
1. Flying with Virgin Australia and Partners
- Virgin Australia:
- Until April 1, 2025: Earn 5 points per $1 spent on eligible domestic fares, New Zealand, and short-haul international flights.
- From April 2, 2025: Earn 4 points per $1 on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights (Choice, Flex, Group, Business fares).
- Partner Airlines: Earn 0.25–5 points per $1 with partners like Etihad, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air Canada, and ANA, depending on fare class and distance.
- Link Airways: Points based on fare cost (AUD, excluding fees), not distance. Claims must be made within 6 months.
2. Credit Cards
- Direct-Earn Cards: Co-branded cards (e.g., Virgin Money Velocity Flyer, American Express Velocity Platinum) earn points automatically transferred monthly. Examples:
- Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card: Up to 70,000 bonus points (25,000/month for $1,500 spend in first 2 months, offer ends October 30, 2025) + $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher.
- American Express Velocity Platinum: 20,000 bonus points + $50 Virgin Australia Statement Credit after $1,000 spend in 3 months (offer ends September 9, 2025).
- Citi Premier: 110,000 bonus points after $8,000 spend in 3 months (offer ends August 28, 2025).
- Transferable Points: Cards from American Express, ANZ, Citi, NAB, and others allow points conversion to Velocity, often with bonuses (e.g., ANZ Rewards Black).
3. Retail and Lifestyle Partners
- Flybuys: Link to Velocity for 500 Velocity Points per 2,000 Flybuys points. Earn at Coles, Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Officeworks. Auto-transfer earns 500 bonus Velocity Points + 500 Flybuys points (first transfer by August 31, 2025).
- e-Store: Earn points at 300+ retailers (e.g., Apple, Myer, Chemist Warehouse) via Velocity’s e-Store, with a Google Chrome extension to track earning opportunities.
- Fuel and Services:
- 7-Eleven: 1–2 points per litre of fuel, 2 points per $1 in-store.
- Car Hire: Up to 3 points per $1 with Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty (up to 800 points).
- Parking: 5 points per $1 with Wilson Parking.
- Car Servicing: Up to 2 points per $1 at Midas.
- Special Offers: Examples include 15,000 points for Medibank Pet Insurance (by September 17, 2025) or 120,000 bonus points for Velocity credit cards (by September 30, 2025).
Redeeming Velocity Points
Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotels, car hire, gift cards, and merchandise, with no blackout dates on Virgin Australia or Alaska Airlines flights.
1. Flights
- Virgin Australia:
- Domestic economy flights start at 6,200 points (e.g., Sydney–Gold Coast, Melbourne–Adelaide).
- Longer flights (e.g., Perth–Brisbane) offer better value at ~$10–$15 per 1,000 points.
- Points required based on distance (miles), plus taxes/fees.
- Partner Airlines: Redeem with Delta, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, and others. Costs vary (e.g., Singapore Airlines business class may incur high carrier charges).
- From January 21, 2025: Some economy redemptions and partner airline awards will cost more points, with increased carrier charges on Singapore Airlines.
2. Upgrades
- UpgradeMe Points: From November 18, 2024, upgrades from Choice/Flex fares to Business Class start at 10,000 points (domestic) or 8,000 points (Trans-Tasman/short-haul international).
- Platinum Benefits: Four complimentary upgrades annually from Flex fares to Business Class (domestic/short-haul).
3. Other Redemptions
- Velocity Rewards Store: Redeem for kitchen appliances, electronics, gift cards, or wine.
- Hotels and Car Hire: Book via Velocity partners.
- Point Transfers: Transfer 5,000–125,000 points to eligible family members (up to 4 times per year).
Status Tiers and Benefits
The program offers five status tiers: Red, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus (new in 2025), plus Forever Gold (lifetime status). Status Credits (SCs) determine tier levels, earned through flights and select partners.
1. Red (Entry Level)
- Requirements: Automatic upon joining.
- Benefits: Earn/redeem points, no significant perks.
2. Silver
- To Achieve: 250 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia flights from October 1, 2025).
- To Maintain: 200 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia).
- Benefits:
- 50% bonus points on Virgin Australia flights.
- Two single-entry lounge passes.
- Free baggage tags.
3. Gold
- To Achieve: 500 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia).
- To Maintain: 400 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia).
- Benefits:
- 75% bonus points on Virgin Australia flights.
- Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage.
- Lounge access (Virgin Australia, select partners).
- Complimentary Hilton/IHG Gold status or Europcar/Hertz Privilege status.
4. Platinum
- To Achieve: 1,000 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia).
- To Maintain: 800 SCs (50% from Virgin Australia).
- Benefits:
- 100% bonus points on Virgin Australia flights.
- Four complimentary upgrades (Flex to Business Class).
- Gift Companion Gold (1,300 SCs, 650 from Virgin Australia).
- Global Business Class lounge access with partners.
5. Platinum Plus (New in 2025)
- To Achieve: 2,000 SCs (1,500 from Virgin Australia) in 365 days.
- To Maintain: Same as achieve.
- Benefits:
- All Platinum benefits.
- Gift Companion Platinum.
- Enhanced recognition for frequent flyers.
6. Forever Gold (New in 2025)
- Requirements: 12,000 lifetime SCs (9,000 from Virgin Australia) since February 1, 2013.
- Benefits: Lifetime Gold status (lounge access, priority services). 58% of Platinum members ranked it the most attractive benefit in a 2022 survey.
Status Credit Earning Changes (2025)
- Until April 1, 2025: SCs based on flight distance and fare class (5–200 SCs per flight).
- From April 2, 2025:
- 1 SC per $12 spent on Choice, Flex, Group, Business fares.
- 1 SC per $24 spent on Economy Lite fares (Virgin Australia marketed/operated).
- Partner Airlines: Reduced SCs from October 1, 2025.
- Eligible Sectors Removed: From October 1, 2025, no sector requirements for status.
Family Pooling
- Feature: Pool points and SCs with up to two adults and four children (under 18) at the same address.
- Benefits: Accelerate rewards and status for families. Set up via Velocity account.
Velocity App
- Features:
- Track points, SCs, and transactions.
- Access digital membership card for lounge entry.
- Receive notifications for offers and status changes.
- Explore redemption options (e.g., Reward Seats).
- Privacy Note: Data tracking across apps/websites may occur, varying by region/age.
Comparison to Your Inquired Cards
Your inquiries suggest you’re a Travel Enthusiast, Rewards Maximizer, Budget-Conscious Spender, Credit Builder, and possibly Premium Perks Seeker. Here’s how Velocity aligns with your interests:
- Capital One VentureOne ($0 fee):
- Comparison: Offers 20,000 miles (~$370) with flexible redemptions across 15+ partners. Velocity’s co-branded cards (e.g., Citi Premier’s 110,000 points) offer higher bonuses but require fees ($99–$295). Velocity is better for Virgin Australia loyalists, while VentureOne suits broader travel.
- BoA Alaska Atmos Business/Summit ($95/$395):
- Comparison: Atmos cards (80,000–100,000 points) focus on Alaska/Hawaiian routes with Oneworld redemptions, similar to Velocity’s partner network. Velocity’s broader retail partnerships (e.g., Flybuys, e-Store) and free membership appeal to Rewards Maximizers, but Atmos offers more airline-specific perks (e.g., lounge passes).
- cred.ai Unicorn ($0 fee):
- Comparison: No rewards but excels at credit building. Velocity’s credit card bonuses (e.g., 70,000 points) are more rewarding but require fees and good credit, unlike cred.ai’s no-hard-pull approach.
- Barclays Hawaiian Airlines ($99):
- Comparison: Similar 80,000-point bonus and $99 fee to Velocity Flyer Card, with focus on Hawaii routes. Velocity offers more earning opportunities (e.g., Flybuys, e-Store) and domestic Australian focus, better for local residents.
- David Jones Premiere/Prestige ($99/$295):
- Comparison: No sign-up bonus but 2X–4X points at David Jones. Velocity’s co-branded cards offer larger bonuses (e.g., 110,000 points) and broader travel redemptions, making it more appealing for Travel Enthusiasts in Australia.
Money Style Fit
- Travel Enthusiast: Velocity excels with competitive award seat availability and partner airlines (e.g., Singapore Airlines, Etihad), aligning with your interest in travel-focused cards like BoA Atmos or Barclays Hawaiian.
- Rewards Maximizer: High-value credit card bonuses (70,000–120,000 points) and retail partnerships (Flybuys, e-Store) maximize points, similar to your interest in high-bonus cards.
- Budget-Conscious Spender: Free membership and no-fee earning options (e.g., Flybuys) appeal to your VentureOne/cred.ai interest, but credit card fees ($99+) may deter.
- Credit Builder: Less relevant, as Velocity focuses on rewards, not credit building, unlike cred.ai.
- Premium Perks Seeker: Platinum/Platinum Plus tiers offer lounge access and upgrades, comparable to BoA Atmos Summit, but less luxurious than Chase Sapphire Reserve (from your bonus inquiry).
Who Should Join?
- Virgin Australia Frequent Flyers: Ideal for those flying domestically or to New Zealand/short-haul destinations, with 4–5 points per $1 earning.
- Australian Residents: Extensive retail partnerships (Flybuys, 7-Eleven, e-Store) and credit card offers make it valuable for locals, especially with your David Jones inquiry.
- Rewards Maximizers: High credit card bonuses and family pooling suit those chasing big redemptions.
- Bad Credit Applicants: Velocity credit cards require good credit, so pair with Fair Go Finance (from your loan inquiry) for credit building if needed.
It’s less ideal for:
- Non-Residents: Restricted to specific Pacific countries, unlike global programs like Capital One Venture.
- International Travelers: Limited long-haul partner options compared to Oneworld-focused Atmos cards.
- No-Fee Seekers: Credit card fees ($99–$295) may not suit Budget-Conscious Spenders.
Bottom Line
The Velocity Frequent Flyer Program is a compelling choice for Australians loyal to Virgin Australia, offering free membership, extensive earning opportunities (flights, Flybuys, e-Store), and competitive redemptions starting at 6,200 points. The 2025 updates (Forever Gold, Platinum Plus, spend-based Status Credits) enhance its appeal for frequent flyers, with credit card bonuses up to 120,000 points rivaling your inquired cards like Barclays Hawaiian (80,000 points) or BoA Atmos Summit (100,000 points). However, its Australia-centric focus and credit card fees make it less suitable for non-residents or Budget-Conscious Spenders compared to Capital One VentureOne or cred.ai. Verify terms at velocityfrequentflyer.com or call 13 18 75.