October 17th, 2024 – Virgin Australia Announces a series of Changes to their Velocity Frequent Flyer Program

Following extensive feedback from Velocity Frequent Flyer Members over the years, Virgin Australia has announced a suite of new changes being implemented to their Frequent Flyer program in order to help members get more bang for their buck in 2025 and beyond.

What’s Changing?

Velocity Frequent Flyer members can expect a range of exciting new changes to come into play over the next twelve months, delivering more where members want it the most.

Two new Status levels

Introducing Forever Gold and Platinum Plus. Unlock exclusive benefits with Platinum Plus, and Status for life with Forever Gold.

A new way to earn and maintain your Status

Simplifying the way you earn or maintain Status, including the removal of Eligible Sectors and awarding Status Credits based on fare type and all inclusive fare on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights.

Velocity Points earn on Virgin Australia Flights

Reducing the base earn rate of Velocity Points on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights. Introducing an additional Velocity Points earn opportunity for eligible Velocity Points earning credit card holders on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights.

Changes to UpgradeMe Points from a Choice and Flex Fares will transition to a single Points price.

Redeeming Points for Airlines Partner Reward Seats

The number of Velocity Points required to redeem Airline Partner Reward Seats will increase on some routes and cabins.

Reward Seats on Virgin Australia Flights

Changing the Reward Seat pricing on Virgin Australia Domestic and increasing Reward Seat pricing on Virgin Australia Short-haul International.

Status Credit earn on Partner Airline flights

Changing Status Credit earn rate on eligible International Partner Airline flights.

Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO, Nick Rohrlach, said understanding the feedback and needs of Velocity members has been central to the program’s expansion.

“Today’s changes to the Velocity program represent our focus and investment in areas that matter most to our members, like great value Domestic redemptions and being better recognised for loyalty,” Mr Rohrlach said.

“For the first time since 2011, the introduction of two exclusive new tiers – Forever Gold and Platinum Plus – demonstrates our commitment to rewarding the ongoing loyalty of our most frequent flyers.

“We are also proud to be further reducing the lead-in Velocity Points required to redeem a one-way Domestic economy Virgin Australia Reward Seat, now starting from an even lower base fare of just 5,900 Points^# – a move that enables members to get to reward flights even faster.

“We have more ways than ever before for members to earn and redeem Velocity Points and will soon have additional opportunities to be recognised for loyalty through the new tiers and benefits announced today.

“These new changes are balanced by adjustments to other areas of the program to ensure we continue to have a sustainable, competitive and valuable proposition for members.

“We have made it a priority to give members plenty of advance notice on the program changes, understanding how crucial it is for them to stay informed to get the most out of Velocity now and into the future.

“I want to thank our more than 12 million members for their ongoing loyalty. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional value and choice for Australians alongside our wonderful partners,” he said.

What does it mean for Velocity Frequent Flyer Members?

Velocity Frequent Flyer Members can expect to see changes from next month, as Virgin Australia seeks to streamline and upgrade their Membership offering. A few of the key changes are:

Now:

• Members can now redeem one-way Domestic economy Virgin Australia Reward Seats from just 5,900 points, enabling members to get to reward flights even faster.

18 November 2024:

• The different pricing for Choice and Flex fares using UpgradeMe Points will transition to a single points price. The minimum Points required to upgrade on an eligible fare (excluding Economy Lite fares) will increase; upgrade requests will now start from 10,000 Velocity Points for Virgin Australia Domestic routes and 8,000 Velocity Points for Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman and Sort-Haul International routes.

21 January 2025:

• The number of Velocity Points required to redeem Airline Partner Reward Seats will increase on a select number of cabins and routes.

2 April 2025:

• Status Credits earned on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and operated flights will no longer be calculated based on route and fare type. Instead, members will earn Status Credits based on fare type and the total fare price.
• Members who book from 2 April 2025 and hold an eligible Velocity Points earning Credit Card, and have earned Velocity Points on that card within 12 months of their travel date, will continue to earn 5 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible Virgin Australia flights.

1 October 2025:

• Velocity will introduce its Forever Gold Status to celebrate and recognise members’ significant loyalty to Virgin Australia and its partners over many years. Velocity will also expand its status tiers for the first time since 2011 to include Platinum Plus, designed to recognise Velocity’s most frequent flyers who will be classified as a ‘VIP’ across all stages of their travel journey.
• Eligible Sectors will no longer be used, instead requiring members to earn at least 50 per cent of their Status Credits in Virgin Australia marketed flights in order to upgrade or maintain Silver, Gold and Platinum Status.
• The number of Status Credits earned when flying with Velocity’s Airline Partners will reduce.
• The Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit will no longer be available to members with Gold Status.
• Companion Platinum Status will be transitioned from Platinum to be an exclusive benefit for Platinum Plus, which will see a number of Platinum members will quality for this new tier continue to receive this benefit.
• A Platinum member will need to earn 650 of the 1,300 Status Credits required to earn Companion Gold by flying on Virgin Australia marketed flights.

More information on the suite of changes rolling out is available on the Velocity Frequent Flyer website, alternatively get in touch with Pulse Travel and our team will discuss your membership with you.