Lexi Webster
Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program is a popular loyalty scheme in Australia, with 9.8 million members. Like other airlines, it offers incentives for customers to earn points that can be redeemed for flights or other products and services. However, a common concern for members is whether their hard-earned points will expire. While the program was temporarily paused in 2020, it has since been reinstated, and members are keen to ensure their points remain valid. So, do Virgin Australia Velocity points expire, and if so, what can be done to prevent this?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the program | Velocity Frequent Flyer |
| Expiry | Points expire if there is no activity in the account for 24 months |
| Reinstatement of expired points | Not possible |
| Exceptions | Compassionate exceptions may be made in case of extenuating circumstances |
| Preventing points from expiring | Earn or redeem at least one point every two years |
| Tracking points | AwardWallet |
| Earning points | Flying with Virgin Australia and partner airlines, spending on co-brand credit cards, everyday purchases, car rental, wine purchases, taking surveys, etc. |
| Redeeming points | Virgin Australia flights, hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, charity donations, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Virgin Australia Velocity points expire after 24 months of inactivity
- Points can be extended by earning or redeeming at least one point every two years
- Points can be earned by flying with Virgin Australia or partner airlines, or through everyday purchases
- Points can be redeemed for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotels, and more
- The future of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program is uncertain due to Virgin Australia's financial situation
Virgin Australia Velocity points expire after 24 months of inactivity
Virgin Australia Velocity points will expire after 24 months of inactivity on your account. This means that if you don't earn or redeem any points within a two-year period, your points will be gone. To keep your points active, you need to make a qualifying transaction on your account at least once every two years.
There are many ways to earn or redeem Virgin Velocity points, so there's no reason to let them expire. You can earn points by flying with Virgin Australia or one of its partner airlines, such as United, Qatar, Etihad, or Singapore Airlines. You can also earn points through everyday purchases, such as buying fuel from BP, getting a phone plan from Virgin Mobile, or shopping at the Velocity e-Store.
If you're not sure how many points you have or when they might expire, you can use a service like AwardWallet to track your point balance and receive reminders if your points are close to expiring.
It's important to note that once your Virgin Australia Velocity points expire, you cannot get them reinstated. However, in rare cases, Velocity may make an exception if there were extenuating circumstances such as illness or family responsibilities that prevented you from travelling and earning points.
With some planning, you can keep your Virgin Australia Velocity points active indefinitely and take advantage of the various rewards and benefits the program offers.
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Points can be extended by earning or redeeming at least one point every two years
Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer points do expire if you do not earn or redeem points for 24 months. However, there are several ways to earn or redeem at least one point every two years and extend the validity of your points.
Firstly, you can use a Virgin Velocity-earning credit card for everyday purchases. For instance, if you live near a 7-Eleven store, buying a $2 coffee can earn you a couple of Velocity points as you earn 2 points per $1 spent in-store or 1-2 points per litre of fuel. You can also connect your Flybuys card with your Virgin Velocity account and shop for products on the Virgin website.
Another way to earn points is by booking a flight, accommodation, or rental car with select Virgin partners. Virgin Australia has several partner airlines, including United, Qatar, Etihad, and Singapore Airlines. You can also earn points with other Virgin Velocity travel partners, such as car rental companies and wine purchases.
You can also redeem your points towards a hotel or car hire booking, with a minimum of 2,000 points required, or by donating points to charity. For example, you can make a $25 donation to the Starlight Foundation for 4,950 points.
It is important to note that points transferred from a Family Pool, Family Points Transfers, and earning Status Credits will not count towards extending the validity of your points. However, transferring flexible credit card points or hotel points to Virgin Velocity will count towards extending the validity.
By keeping your Velocity Frequent Flyer account active and earning or redeeming at least one point every two years, you can ensure that your Virgin Australia Velocity points remain valid.
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Points can be earned by flying with Virgin Australia or partner airlines, or through everyday purchases
Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program offers a multitude of ways to earn points, both in the air and on the ground. The program is free to join and boasts a wide range of partners, making it easy for members to accumulate points for their next reward.
One of the most straightforward ways to earn Velocity points is by flying with Virgin Australia and its partner airlines. These include Etihad Airways, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, Tigerair, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. When flying with Virgin Australia, members earn 5 points per $1 spent on domestic fares, and up to 2 Velocity points per mile on international flights. Silver, Gold, and Platinum members also receive bonuses of 100%, 75%, and 50% respectively. Partner airlines offer up to 3 Velocity points per mile, and members can earn status credits that unlock additional benefits and bonus points.
On the ground, Virgin Australia has partnered with various companies to offer everyday earning opportunities. For example, members can earn points on eligible car rentals, hotel stays, and fuel purchases. They can also earn points on everyday essentials like groceries, phone plans, and ridesharing services. Virgin Australia has also partnered with select retailers, including 7-Eleven, to offer points on in-store purchases.
In addition to travel and everyday spending, Virgin Australia offers several other ways to boost your points balance. The airline has co-branded credit cards that allow members to earn points on their spending, with some cards offering bonus points on specific purchases. Members can also transfer flexible credit card points or hotel points, such as Marriott Bonvoy points, to their Velocity account. Furthermore, Virgin Australia offers a Business Flyer program that provides benefits for businesses, such as reducing travel costs and increasing flight benefits.
With so many ways to earn points, Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program makes it convenient for members to accumulate points and work towards their dream rewards. By taking advantage of the various earning opportunities, members can get closer to redeeming points for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and more.
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Points can be redeemed for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotels, and more
Virgin Australia Velocity points can be redeemed for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotels, and more. The airline's loyalty program, Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer, allows travellers to collect points and redeem them for flight awards. While Virgin Australia points do expire if there is no account activity for 24 months, there are numerous ways to earn and redeem points to extend their validity.
One of the main ways to redeem Virgin Australia Velocity points is for flights and flight upgrades. Virgin Australia has several partner airlines, including United, Qatar, Etihad, and Singapore Airlines, which offer various redemption options. For example, a business class flight between London and New York on Virgin Atlantic or United Airlines costs 49,500 points plus taxes and fees one-way. Similarly, a business class flight from Singapore to Sydney on Singapore Airlines costs 65,000 points plus taxes and fees. Virgin Australia Velocity members can also transfer their miles to partner airlines, such as Singapore KrisFlyer, at a favourable ratio.
In addition to flights, Virgin Australia Velocity points can be redeemed for car rentals and hotel stays. The minimum number of points required for these options is 2,000 points. Virgin Australia also offers a distance-based award chart, which can provide great value for short-haul flights and redemptions on partner airlines. For example, a flight from Perth to Christmas Island, covering a distance of 1,618 miles, can be booked for 17,800 Velocity points in economy or 35,500 points in business class.
Other redemption options for Virgin Australia Velocity points include purchasing gift cards or products from the Velocity Rewards Store, donating points to charity, and redeeming points for wine. Velocity members can also earn points through various everyday partners, such as 7-Eleven, BP, Virgin Mobile, and Ola, making it easier to accumulate points for future redemptions.
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The future of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program is uncertain due to Virgin Australia's financial situation
The future of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program is uncertain. Virgin Australia has been facing financial challenges, which have impacted the program's stability. While the program currently offers a range of benefits to its members, recent changes and updates have caused some uncertainty among its members.
One of the main concerns is the expiration of points. Virgin Australia Velocity points do expire if members do not earn or redeem points within a 24-month period. This means that members must actively engage with the program to maintain their points balance. While there are ways to extend the validity of points, such as earning or redeeming at least one point every two years, the onus is on the members to keep their accounts active.
In late 2024, Virgin Australia announced significant changes to the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, which took effect between then and October 2025. These changes included the introduction of new status tiers, adjustments to reward seat and upgrade pricing, and a reduction in points earned when flying with Virgin Australia or partner airlines. The new "Forever Gold" and "Platinum Plus" tiers offer additional benefits to loyal members, but the changes to points accumulation and redemption have caused some uncertainty and may impact the overall attractiveness of the program.
The financial situation of Virgin Australia could influence the future of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. While the program currently boasts over 13 million members, making it one of Australia's largest airline loyalty schemes, any further financial difficulties could potentially affect the program's stability and the value proposition for its members.
In summary, while the Velocity Frequent Flyer program currently offers a range of benefits and rewards, the recent changes, coupled with Virgin Australia's financial situation, have created some uncertainty among its members. To maintain the program's stability and attractiveness, it is crucial for Virgin Australia to carefully navigate its financial challenges and continue offering valuable incentives to its loyal customer base.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Virgin Australia Velocity points expire if you do not earn or redeem points for 24 months.
To prevent your points from expiring, you can earn or redeem at least one point every two years. You can do this by flying with Virgin Australia or one of its partner airlines, booking hotels, resorts, car rentals, or other travel experiences with Velocity partners, or buying everyday essentials from Velocity partners.
There are several ways to earn Virgin Australia Velocity points, including flying with Virgin Australia or its partner airlines, such as Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Tigerair, and Delta Air Lines. You can also earn points by booking hotels, car rentals, and other travel experiences with Velocity partners, as well as by making everyday purchases from select retailers.
You can redeem your Virgin Australia Velocity points for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotels, products, gift cards, and more. You can also donate your points to charity.
Yes, you can transfer your Virgin Australia Velocity points to an eligible family member who is also a Velocity Frequent Flyer member. You can transfer points up to four times per membership year, with each transfer ranging from 5,000 to 125,000 points.
