VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Velocity Frequent Flyer program becomes spend based

Virgin Australia today released details of changes to its Velocity Frequent Flyer program. Some come into effect immediately, and some in October 2025. Unsurprisingly, most changes are adverse for Frequent Flyers. Status earned will now be based on what you spend instead of a combination of where you travel and what class of ticket you buy.

More positive changes include introducing Gold lifetime status and a Platinum Plus status level.

However, while one hand gives, the other takes away with reductions in some Gold and Platinum level benefits like the Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit.

Summary of changes

There are quite a few changes to get through, so here is a summary of the main ones:

• Introduction of lifetime recognition with Lifetime Gold
• More status recognition at the top of loyalty with Velocity Platinum Plus Status (think Qantas Platinum One)
• Velocity lowers the number of points required for domestic economy one-way fares to start at 5,900 Velocity Points
• Reward Seat pricing on domestic and Short-Haul International services increases
• Some International Partner Airlines reward redemptions also increase
• Status credits are now based on how much you pay for your fare
• No more ‘Eligible Sector’ qualification
• Status Credit earn rate reduced on International Partner Airline flights
• Earn rate for Velocity points reduced to 4 points per dollar spent (Velocity credit card spending stays at 5 points per dollar)
• Gold Status members will no longer get the Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit
• Platinum members will lose Companion Platinum Status. The benefit will now only apply to Platinum Plus status,
• Platinum member’s Companion Gold benefit changes: 650 of the 1,300 Status Credit threshold must be earned on Virgin Australia marketed flights
• UpGradeMe points required for Choice and Flex fare will be the same, and the minimums required will change

Phasing in of changes

Velocity changes will be phased in over 12 months. From 17 October, the minimum number of points required to redeem fares is being lowered. However, you will need to wait until 1 October 2025 to see the introduction of lifetime Gold and Platinum Plus.

The upside of this is that you have 12 months to adjust your frequent flyer strategy to take advantage of these changes.

2PAXfly Takeout

These are mainly adverse changes for Velocity’s frequent flyer scheme members. However, there are also changes to take advantage of.

I will publish additional posts detailing the changes over the next week or so. In the meantime, please have a look at the Velocity/Virgin Australia media release.

The most significant changes, like the new Forever Gold lifetime status and the new Platinum Plus loyalty tier, place Velocity in a bitter position to compete with the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme. This means that Virgin Australia, with the new Platinum Plus tier, now has a rival to Qantas, Platinum One status. Introducing a lifetime Gold status tier, matching the equivalent on Qantas, also makes the two schemes more comparable.

Given that Virgin Australia intends to commence international flying via wet leasing aircraft and crews from Qatar next year, these changes are advisable and necessary to put Virgin and its Velocity loyalty scheme in a competitive position with the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.