Velocity is the Frequent Flyer Program of Virgin Australia, one of 2 full service carriers operating in Australia. The program has around 11.5 million members, meaning just under 1 in 2 Australian is a Velocity member.
When it comes to earning Velocity points, members are spoilt for choice. There are literally dozens of ways to build-up an impressive stash. Given the ease of earning points, it’s not unreasonable for someone even moderately savvy, to have a balance of 150,000 Velocity points. So what can this amount of points get you?
Well, you could burn these points shuttling between Melbourne and Adelaide or Brisbane and Sydney 19 times in economy or 9 times in business. But should you?
Virgin Australia B737 Business Class Seats
Luckily, Virgin Australia have built up an impressive roster of airline partners where you could redeem points. While not all of partner redemption seats are made available to Velocity members, as long as you plan ahead, are flexible and not flying during busy travel periods, you have a pretty good chance at snagging a seat or two.
In that vein, lets take a look at some of the best premium cabin redemptions you can make with 150,000 Velocity points.
United Airlines
At present, United is the biggest U.S. carrier to operate flights between Australia and United States. Later this year, it has plans to become the biggest, yes even bigger than Qantas.
Australians can already fly United between :
- Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles
- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and San Francisco
From October 2023 through March 2024, United will go double daily between Sydney and San Francisco and also kick-off flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles. Last summer, it also operated non-stop flights between Sydney and Dallas Fort Worth although we don’t know whether that will return.
Velocity members can fly United Business Class on any of these routes for 95,500 Velocity points. There are no carrier charges on United flights, fees and taxes total approx $118.
Redeem Velocity Points to fly United Polaris Business Class
Air Canada
Air Canada operates daily non-stop flights between Sydney, Brisbane and Vancouver. During peak Australian summer (Dec and Jan), it plans to expand services between Sydney and Vancouver to 10x weekly.
Recently, high ranking Air Canada officials have shown interest in starting flights to Melbourne too, although that is contingent upon carrier inducting more long-haul planes in its fleets which may not happen for some time.
Velocity members can fly Air Canada Business Class between Sydney, Brisbane and Vancouver for 104,000 Velocity points. There are no carrier charges on Air Canada flights, fees and taxes total approx $125.
Redeem Velocity Points to fly Air Canada Business Class
Air Canada only opens-up Saver Level redemptions to Velocity members. Availability used to be plentiful until mid-way last year, since then though its been slim pickings. These days, your best chance to snag a Business Class seat on Air Canada is 2-3 weeks before departure.
That said, we have also seen Air Canada randomly release redemption space, so it’s a good idea to keep your eyes and ears open.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways operate one of the most extensive networks of flights of any foreign airline into Australia, connecting all major capital cities to its Doha hub. At present, Qatar offers :
- Daily flights between Doha and Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth
- A Daily fifth freedom flight between Adelaide and Auckland
- 2x Daily flights between Doha and Melbourne
Not satisfied with its current Australia operations, Qatar have been canvassing Federal Government for rights to expand capacity.
On flights out of Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, travellers can look forward to Qatar’s award winning Qsuites in Business Class.
Redeem Velocity Points to fly Qatar Airways Qsuites
And while flyers out of Sydney and Perth miss out on the Qsuite, they get to experience Qatar’s A-380 featuring 8 First Class seats.
Redeem Velocity Points to fly Qatar Airways First Class
Velocity members can fly :
- Qatar Airways Business Class between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Doha for 114,000 points
- Qatar Airways Business Class between Perth and Doha for 78,000 points
- Qatar Airways Business Class between Adelaide and Auckland for 38,000 points
- Qatar Airways First Class between Sydney and Doha for 152,500 points
- Qatar Airways First Class between Perth and Doha for 114,000 points
The First Class flight between Sydney and Doha comes in slightly higher than the 150,000 Velocity points cap we are working with, although not by much.
Note that Velocity applies hefty carrier charges on Qatar Airways Business and First Class redemptions. Expect to shell out approx $550 on flights between Australia and Doha.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines flies 5x weekly between Sydney and Honolulu. As temperatures drop and winter sets in, a trip to this Polynesian tropical paradise might just be the tonic your body needs.
If you would like to soak up the Hawaiian sun and ride the waves on one of its many legendary beaches, your stockpile of Velocity points will come very handy. A one-way, Business Class fare on this 10 hour route can easily top $5,000.
Instead, you can take the sting out of your holidays by redeeming 78,000 Velocity points and travel to paradise in total comfort. As Velocity does not apply carrier charges on Hawaiian, fees and taxes should be minimal.
In pre-pandemic times Hawaiian Airlines also flew between Brisbane and Honolulu. If and when it returns to Brisbane, Velocity members can fly this route for just 65,000 points owing to the slightly shorter distance of this flight.
Etihad Airways
Etihad is no longer the brash, opulent Middle Eastern airline it once was. As a result of some poor financial investments in the pre-covid era which turned sour, the airline was forced to enact significant cost-cuttings – which in-turn has taken the sheen off this once revered carrier.
At present, Etihad operates daily flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. Velocity members can fly Etihad Business Class on either of these two routes for 104,000 Velocity points.
Redeem Velocity Points to fly Etihad Airways Business Class
From Abu Dhabi, you can continue your journey on Etihad’s extensive network into Europe and North America. For example, you can fly to London or Paris in Business Class for an extra 35,000 Velocity points (total 139,000 points).
The major downside of redeeming Velocity points on Etihad are the very high carrier charges. For a one-way Business Class flight to Abu Dhabi, you are looking at around $450 in cash outlay. Continue onward to cities in Europe or North America, and the fees, taxes and carrier charges jump to over $700 😠
In Conclusion
Although Virgin Australia ended all long-haul flying after emerging from voluntary administration, Velocity members can redeem points to fly partner airlines to all corners of the world.
In addition to the partners mentioned above, members are also able to redeem points on the likes of Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways to name a few.
I am hoping that when Virgin Australia launches its Cairns to Tokyo service later this month, we hear more on its partnership with ANA. There’s a strong possibility that the expanded partnership will bestow upon Velocity members, the power to earn and redeem points on ANA flights which would be quite amazing.
What has been your best redemption with Velocity points? Leave a comment below.
