Leslie Massey
Virgin Australia does not fly directly to Europe. However, it has a partnership with Qatar Airways, allowing passengers to fly from Europe to Australia with Qatar Airways and then extend their journey to 20 more destinations within Australia with Virgin Australia, all on one booking. Virgin Australia also offers Velocity Frequent Flyer members the ability to earn Velocity Points by flying with partner airlines to over 600 destinations across Europe. Qantas, a competitor of Virgin Australia, offers more airlines and destinations in Europe but has less availability when it comes to reward seats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Virgin Australia flies to Europe | Yes, in partnership with Qatar Airways |
| Number of airlines that can be flown with Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points | 4 |
| Number of European cities that can be flown to with Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points | 39 |
| Number of European cities that can be flown to with Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points excluding Qatar Airways | 33 |
| Number of destinations that can be flown to in total with Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points | 600+ |
| Number of airlines that can be flown to with Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points in total | 10 |
| Number of airlines that can be flown to from Australia to Europe using Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points or Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points | 14 |
| Number of airlines that can be flown to from Australia to Europe using Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points | 10 |
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What You'll Learn
- Virgin Australia flies to Europe via its partnership with Qatar Airways
- Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn points on flights to Europe
- Virgin Australia flies to 39 European cities via Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Virgin Australia flies to over 600 destinations in Europe and beyond
- Virgin Atlantic plans to launch non-stop flights between London and Australia
Virgin Australia flies to Europe via its partnership with Qatar Airways
Virgin Australia has a partnership with Qatar Airways, which allows Virgin Australia to offer flights to Europe. This partnership was announced in February 2025, with Qatar Airways Group taking a 25% stake in Virgin Australia. The partnership allows Virgin Australia to access the scale and expertise of a world-leading global airline, strengthening its ability to compete internationally.
Through this collaboration, Virgin Australia customers can connect seamlessly to Qatar Airways' global network, including more than 100 new connecting itineraries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Virgin Australia operates long-haul international routes to Doha, Qatar, with flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth commencing in June 2025, and flights from Melbourne to Doha scheduled to begin in December 2025. These flights are operated by Qatar Airways on behalf of Virgin Australia, providing an integrated alliance between the two airlines.
The partnership brings benefits to customers of both airlines, with Privilege Club and Velocity Frequent Flyer members able to earn rewards and status points on eligible flights. For example, customers can collect Avios on Virgin Australia flights between Doha and Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, or Melbourne, earning the same amount as they would when travelling with Qatar Airways. Additionally, customers can earn or spend Avios on any flights within the Virgin Australia network, providing greater flexibility and value.
With the expanded codeshare arrangement, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways also offer enhanced connectivity, with up to 70 weekly flights between Australia and Doha, connecting through Hamad International Airport, which was named the World's Best Airport in 2024. This partnership provides Virgin Australia customers with convenient access to Europe via Doha, unlocking new areas of cooperation and strengthening the relationship between the two airlines.
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Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn points on flights to Europe
Virgin Australia does not operate any direct flights to Europe. However, Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn points on flights to Europe through partner airlines.
The Velocity Frequent Flyer program is the frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia. Membership is free, and members can earn points and status credits on flights with Virgin Australia and its partner airlines. Velocity Points can be redeemed for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, hotels, products, and gift cards.
Velocity members can earn points on flights to Europe by flying with partner airlines such as Qatar Airways, which offers flights to cities like Athens, Paris, London, and Barcelona via Doha. Excluding Qatar Airways, there are 33 European cities that can be flown to using Velocity Points with other partner airlines.
Velocity Frequent Flyer members can also earn points through co-branded credit cards, car rentals, hotel stays, and other ways. For example, Velocity members can earn bonus points by signing up for a participating Velocity Points-earning credit card during promotional periods. Additionally, members can earn status credits by linking a Flybuys account to their Velocity Frequent Flyer account, allowing them to earn rewards points when shopping at certain retailers.
It is important to note that the availability of reward seats using points for flights from Australia to Europe may vary over time, and certain conditions and restrictions may apply when redeeming Velocity Points for flights to Europe.
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Virgin Australia flies to 39 European cities via Velocity Frequent Flyer
Virgin Australia does not fly directly to Europe. However, Virgin Australia has partnerships with other airlines that do fly to Europe, allowing passengers to use Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points to book flights to Europe.
Passengers can use their Velocity Points to book flights to Europe on 4 airlines, including Virgin Australia. With these 4 airlines, passengers can fly to 39 European cities in total. This includes flying Qatar Airways to 38 of those cities.
Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn Velocity Points by spending on car rentals in Australia and New Zealand with Europcar, Dollar, Thrifty, Sixt, and Hertz. Velocity Points can also be earned by applying for a participating Velocity Points-earning card during the promotional period.
In addition to its partnerships, Virgin Australia has expressed interest in launching a non-stop route between London and Australia. As of January 2024, Virgin Australia serves 6 international destinations, including Bali.
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Virgin Australia flies to over 600 destinations in Europe and beyond
Virgin Australia, in partnership with Qatar Airways, offers flights from Europe to Australia. With this partnership, travellers can fly to 20 more destinations in Australia with Virgin Australia, all on one booking.
While Virgin Australia does not currently have non-stop flights from London to Australia, Sir Richard Branson has expressed interest in launching this route as soon as possible to compete with Qantas.
With Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer, members can earn and redeem Velocity Points with their global network of partner airlines. There are over 600 destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas that can be travelled to with Virgin Australia and its partners.
Some of the destinations in Australia that can be travelled to with Virgin Australia include Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Adelaide, known as the "20-minute city," offers beautiful beaches, renowned wine regions, and unique opals. Brisbane is home to the Australia Zoo made famous by Steve Irwin and the Gondwana Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Melbourne, the culinary capital of Australia, boasts over 3,500 restaurants with cuisines from 70+ countries and natural attractions like the Great Ocean Road and Dandenong Ranges National Park.
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Virgin Atlantic plans to launch non-stop flights between London and Australia
Virgin Atlantic has expressed interest in launching non-stop flights between London and Australia. In an interview with Your Money, billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson stated that the airline wants to introduce this route "as soon as possible" to compete with Qantas's London-to-Perth flights. Virgin Atlantic previously operated a service from London Heathrow (LHR) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) with a stopover in Hong Kong. However, they withdrew the second leg of the flight in 2014 due to increasing costs and a weakening Australian dollar.
Despite Virgin Atlantic's current absence on this route, both Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic have strong frequent flyer programs that can be used for flights between Australia and Europe. Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program offers members the opportunity to earn points not only on Virgin Australia flights but also on various partner airlines. While the number of partner airlines for travel from Australia to Europe is limited, members can still use their Velocity Points to book flights to numerous European cities.
Virgin Atlantic's frequent flyer program, on the other hand, is known as Virgin Red. While it does not currently have the same focus on earning points and miles as other programs, it still offers rewards. Virgin Red offers members a unique way to earn and spend points, with a focus on creating a personalized experience. Members can earn points not just by flying but also through everyday activities like shopping, dining, and more. These points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including flights, upgrades, and exclusive experiences.
The introduction of non-stop flights between London and Australia by Virgin Atlantic would enhance its appeal to travellers seeking direct connectivity between these two destinations. Additionally, it would provide Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer members with another option for redeeming their points for travel to Europe. This move by Virgin Atlantic underscores the importance of the Australia-Europe route and the demand for more convenient travel options.
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Frequently asked questions
Virgin Australia has a partnership with Qatar Airways, allowing passengers to fly from Europe to Australia with Qatar Airways and then extend their journey to 20 more destinations in Australia with Virgin Australia, all on one booking.
Passengers can enjoy savings in Economy Class (up to 12% on the base fare) and Business Class (up to 8% on the base fare). Privilege Club and Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn rewards and status points on eligible flights.
You can travel to over 600 destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas with Virgin Australia and its world-class airline partners.
Yes, you can use your Velocity Points to book flights to Europe with Virgin Australia and its partner airlines.
