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Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program announced a host of changes. To put it bluntly, the bulk of these changes are negative, comprising an increase in some award fares, a reduction in earning rates, and much more. Fortunately, only some of the changes take effect immediately but the rest are spread out over five dates in what remains of 2024 and through 2025.
So, what's changing with Virgin Velocity? Let's take a look.
Page Contents
- Virgin Velocity Program Changes Overview
- Minimum Domestic Reward Seat Pricing [October 17, 2024]
- More UpgradeMe Points Will Be Required To Upgrade [November 18, 2024]
- Changes to Award Pricing on Virgin Australia and Partner Airlines [January 21, 2025]
- Alterations to Velocity Point Earnings and Status Credits [April 2, 2025]
- New Elite Status Tiers, Reduction in Status Credits [October 1, 2025]
- Our Take
Virgin Velocity Program Changes Overview
Thanks to all the changes that just took effect, plus what's coming next year, Velocity Frequent Flyer is now (and will be) a fundamentally different program than it was just a short time ago
Here's a high-level overview of all the modifications that Virgin Australia is making to its loyalty program:
- Introducing two new status levels: Forever Gold and Platinum Plus.
- Changes to how you'll earn elite status.
- Reducing base earning rates on Virgin Australia flights.
- Adding new point-earning opportunities.
- Increasing pricing on some partner awards.
- Changing award pricing on Virgin Australia – mainly increases.
- Altering status credits earned on partner flights.
With so many changes on the way, the next logical question is when will all these devaluations happen? Virgin Velocity has spread these over five dates in 2024 and 2025. Here's the timeline.
Minimum Domestic Reward Seat Pricing [October 17, 2024]
Virgin Velocity is reducing the base fare in points for domestic one-way economy awards. Starting on October 17, 2024, these awards will start from 5,900 points plus taxes and fees.
More UpgradeMe Points Will Be Required To Upgrade [November 18, 2024]
Virgin Australia will eliminate the pricing difference between Choice and Flex Fares when using the UpgradeMe Points product. Virgin will transition to a single price point, and it will be no surprise that it will increase.
Upgrade requests on Virgin Australia flights will be priced as follows:
- Domestic routes: Starting at 10,000 Velocity points.
- Trans-Tasman and international short-haul routes: Starting at 8,000 Velocity points.
Changes to Award Pricing on Virgin Australia and Partner Airlines [January 21, 2025]
Some significant changes are coming to reward pricing both on international partners and Virgin Australia’s own metal. These changes will take effect on January 21, 2025.
Virgin Australia Reward Seat pricing will increase
New pricing for domestic and short-haul international awards, including those that include a connection on partner airlines, will price as follows:
| One-way miles (Zone) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 1-600 (1) | 7,900 | 15,500 |
| 601-1,200 (2) | 11,900 | 23,500 |
| 1,201-2,400 (3) | 17,900 | 35,500 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 (4) | 22,500 | 49,500 |
| 3,601 - 4,800 (5) | 27,900 | 59,500 |
| 4,800 - 5,800 (6) | 34,800 | 71,500 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 (7) | 39,800 | 83,500 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 (8) | 44,800 | 95,500 |
Partner Airline Reward Seat pricing will increase
The Virgin Australia partner award chart will feature increases in some travel classes. The rise in pricing applies to routes operated by Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Etihad. Effective from January 21, 2025, awards will be priced as follows:
| One-way miles (Zone) | Economy | Premium | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-600 (1) | 11,500 | 15,000 | 19,500 | 28,500 |
| 601-1,200 (2) | 14,000 | 23,000 | 29,500 | 42,000 |
| 1,201-2,400 (3) | 22,000 | 37,500 | 44,500 | 61,000 |
| 2,401 - 3,000 (4) | 25,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 86,000 |
| 3,001 - 3,600 (5) | 27,000 | 55,000 | 74,000 | 86,000 |
| 3,601- 4,200 (6) | 29,000 | 57,500 | 74,000 | 104,500 |
| 4,201 - 4,800 (7) | 35,000 | 67,500 | 79,500 | 104,500 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 (8) | 42,000 | 80,000 | 89,500 | 125,500 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 (9) | 50,000 | 90,000 | 104,000 | 147,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 (10) | 56,000 | 115,000 | 119,500 | 168,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 (11) | 65,000 | 120,000 | 139,000 | 195,000 |
| 9,501 - 20,000 (12) | 80,000 | 142,000 | 158,500 | 223,000 |
In addition to the increase in some award prices, Singapore Airlines' carrier-imposes surcharges will also see an increase as follows:
| One Way Miles | Economy | Premium | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4,200 | $40 | $80 | $120 | $130 |
| 4,201+ | $65 | $130 | $200 | $215 |
Sadly, that is not the only change. Awards on ANA, Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines, and South African Airways are also due for a price hike:
| One-way miles (Zone) | Economy | Premium | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-600 (1) | 10,500 | 15,750 | 18,500 | 28,000 |
| 601-1,200 (2) | 15,000 | 22,000 | 28,000 | 40,000 |
| 1,201-2,400 (3) | 21,000 | 32,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 |
| 2,401 - 3,000 (4) | 26,500 | 45,000 | 58,000 | 82,000 |
| 3,001 - 3,600 (5) | 28,000 | 45,000 | 60,000 | 82,000 |
| 3,601- 4,200 (6) | 30,000 | 55,000 | 70,000 | 100,000 |
| 4,201 - 4,800 (7) | 32,500 | 55,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 (8) | 45,000 | 65,000 | 82,000 | 120,000 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 (9) | 55,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 | 140,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 (10) | 61,000 | 90,000 | 113,000 | 160,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 (11) | 70,000 | 110,000 | 130,000 | 185,000 |
| 9,501 - 20,000 (12) | 80,000 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 215,000 |
In addition, new pricing for partner awards on Virgin Atlantic and United Airlines will be as follows:
| One-way miles (Zone) | Economy | Premium | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-600 (1) | 8,500 | 12,000 | 16,500 |
| 601-1,200 (2) | 12,500 | 19,000 | 25,000 |
| 1,201-2,400 (3) | 19,000 | 28,000 | 37,500 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 (4) | 23,500 | 37,500 | 51,500 |
| 3,601 - 5,000 (5) | 30,000 | 46,000 | 62,000 |
| 5,001- 7,000 (6) | 42,000 | 64,500 | 87,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 (7) | 48.000 | 73,500 | 102,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 (8) | 57,500 | 86,000 | 115,000 |
| 9,501 - 11,000 (9) | 63,000 | 98,500 | 136,000 |
| 11,001 - 20,000 (10) | 80,000 | 142,000 | 158,500 |
Alterations to Velocity Point Earnings and Status Credits [April 2, 2025]
Continuing on, the number of Velocity points earned for flights on Virgin Australia, including for those made with an eligible Virgin Australia co-brand credit card, will change. Here's how:
| Status | Points earned per $1 | Points earned with co-branded credit card |
|---|---|---|
| Red | 4 | 5 |
| Silver | 6 | 7.5 |
| Gold / Forever Gold | 7 | 8.75 |
| Platinum / Platinum Plus | 8 | 10 |
In addition, the way you earn status credits on flights on Virgin Australia will be changing. The number of status credits you'll earn will vary depending on how much you spent on a given fare.
- Earn 1 status credit per $24 spent on Economy Lite fares.
- Earn 1 status credit per $14 spent on Choice, Flex, and Business fares.
New Elite Status Tiers, Reduction in Status Credits [October 1, 2025]
There is a considerable number of changes coming in on October 1, 2025, including:
Velocity Frequent Flyer will introduce two new elite tiers
Virgin Velocity will introduce two new status levels.
- Forever Gold will be used to recognize long-term loyal members of the airline program.
- Platinum Plus is being added to the program and will feature a host of perks, including:
- 4x complimentary upgrades to business.
- Gift platinum status to a loved one.
- Additional baggage allowance.
Gold and Platinum status members will lose benefits
Both levels see changes, and they are not improvements. Instead, both status levels will see their benefits cut in the following ways.
- Gold status loses the Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit.
- Those with Platinum status will no longer be able to gift Platinum status after earning a fixed number of status credits. This benefit will be reserved for those with Platinum Plus.
- To offer Companion Gold eligibility, Platinum members must earn at least 1,300 Status credits, with 650 coming from eligible Virgin Australia-marketed flights.
Velocity Frequent Flyer will remove the “Eligible Sectors” requirement
Virgin Velocity is removing the eligible sectors to maintain and earn status. Instead, members will earn credits based on the dollars spent and their class of travel.
Changes to upgrading and maintaining elite status
The way you can maintain or upgrade your status with Virgin Velocity is also changing from October 1, 2025. From that date, members will be required to earn 50% of their status credits from Virgin Australia-marketed flights flown by the member.
Changes to status credits earned with partner airlines
The number of Status Credits members earn on partner metal is being reduced by Virgin Velocity. From October 1, 2025, members will earn status credits on partner flights as follows:
| One-way miles (Zone) | Discount Economy | Standard Economy | Flexible Economy | Premium Economy | Business & First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-500 (1) | 5 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 30 |
| 501 - 1,500 (2) | 7 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 50 |
| 1,501 - 2,500 (3) | 10 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 70 |
| 2,501 - 3,500 (4) | 13 | 20 | 45 | 65 | 90 |
| 3,501 - 4,500 (5) | 15 | 22 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| 4,501 - 6,000 (6) | 18 | 25 | 55 | 80 | 110 |
| 6,001 - 7,500 (7) | 20 | 30 | 65 | 95 | 130 |
| 7,501 - 8,500 (8) | 22 | 32 | 70 | 105 | 140 |
| 8,501 + (9) | 25 | 35 | 80 | 120 | 160 |
Our Take
There is no way to sugarcoat this news. It is a terrible devaluation that guts most of the value out of the Virgin Velocity program. The airline only returned to profitability last year after 11 years. This year, the airline is on course to deliver more profit growth. One would think you build on your customer base and improve your offering.
However, Virgin Australia has taken a different approach and decided to punish some of its most loyal customers — those who are the main reason the airline is now profitable. On the positive side of things, you have nearly a year to find another airline loyalty program that offers you better value.
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