Virgin Australia: Velocity Frequent Flyer international redemptions start 1 November 2021

Nick Rohrlach, the new CEO of Velocity Frequent Flyer, made this announcement in an email to members today.

From midnight on Monday 1 November (11:59 pm AEDT, actually), you will be able to use velocity points to redeem for flight rewards on:

• Air Canada
• Delta Air Lines 
• Etihad Airways 
• Hawaiian Airlines 
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Virgin Atlantic

That’s the initial rollout, but it will soon be joined by Singapore Airlines. No date for that yet.

Limited Reward Seats

Nick is warning us that there will be an initially limited supply of seats, but will gradually increase as international demand expands.

Bonus Points and Double Status Credits

Virgin is sweetening the pot to encourage us all back into the air by offering 20-30% bonus points from 1 November when you transfer points from participating credit card partners before 30 November, with details to come next week. Further, if you are travelling on domestic or international services from now and 31 March 2022, you will be getting double status credits – of course – subject to what fare class you purchased and when – remember Virgin changed its fare classes back in August. Without going into details, you won’t be getting double status credits on entry-level fare classes like the ‘Lite’ fares.

Fiji – first international destination

Virgin Australia commences its first post-administration international route to Nadi, Fiji from 16 December 2021 – just in time for Christmas – if there is any accommodation left in Fiji!

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

It appears pre or post-announcing changes is the pattern for Virgin Australia. Most of these announcements lack detail, such as the teaser about bonus points on credit cards, or a re-announcement like the double status credits that started on 1 October 2021.

Stil, gift horses and mouths. If you are travelling on Virgin – take advantage of these benefits.