On Thursday 17th October 2024, Virgin Australia announced a range of changes to Velocity Frequent Flyer within the next 12 months. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect.
# Introduction of Velocity Gold Forever Status.
Members who have been loyal to Virgin Australia will be rewarded with a new status called Velocity Forever Gold Status.
What is Forever Gold Status?
Velocity will be introducing Forever Gold status from 1st October 2025 to recognise Velocity members’ loyalty to Virgin Australia and its partner airlines. Members who are lucky enough to earn Forever Gold will be placed on a lifetime Gold Status which includes lounge access in Virgin lounges and selected partners, priority check-in and boarding, and seat selection. To be eligible for Forever Gold status, members must earn a total of 12,000 status credits, with a minimum of 9000 status credits earned on selected Virgin Australia flights, flown by the member. Family pooling or eligible partner-marketed flights can be used for the remainder of status credits. These status credits are counted from February 1st 2013.
# Introduction of Velocity Platinum Plus.
A new status above Platinum membership will be called Velocity Platinum Plus.
What is Velocity Platinum Plus?
From October 1st 2025, a new status tier called Platinum Plus will be introduced. This new tier will be a step above Platinum status and will be awarded to Velocity’s most frequent flyers. Members will still get the same perks as Platinum status and a range of new features such as 4x complimentary upgrades to business class when flying on flex or choice fare. Additional baggage allowance of 5x 32kg bags on eligible Virgin flights, plus a request to be moved to a later domestic flight that best suits you, plus more! To be eligible for Platinum Plus membership, members will need 2000 status credits within 12 months with at least 1500 status credits earned through VA flights. Family pooling and flying through partners can be redeemed for the remainder of the status credits. Members will need to maintain Platinum Plus membership using the same status credits listed above.
# Changes to Reward Seats.
Domestic reward seats are changing from the original base of 6200 points to a new fare starting from 5900 points. This refers to one-way selected domestic flights. Additional fees, taxes and charges may apply. From 21st January 2025, a range of Virgin Australia short-haul domestic reward seats will be increased and expanded.
# Increase of Reward Seats for International Partners.
Increasing Reward seat availability on short-haul international travel including selected routes on partner airlines.
# Changes to how status Credits are earned.
Awarding status credits based on the total fare paid and fare type on eligible Virgin Australia flights rather than the distance flown and the fare type. Members will now earn 1 status credit per $12 spent on Choice, Flex or Business class fares and 1 status credit per $24 for lite fares. Virgin Australia has also announced the removal of Eligible sectors which are flights that begin with a VA flight number that are not reward seats. Members wanting to upgrade or maintain Silver, Gold or Platinum status must earn at least 50% of their status credits through Virgin Australia-marketed flights.
# Changes to Status credits earn rates on International partners.
Status credit earn rates are being reduced on selected International travel partners. Whilst the number of points used to book reward seats with partners will increase.
# changes to points earned.
Credit card holders will still be eligible to earn 5 velocity points per $1 spent on eligible Virgin Australia flights, whilst other members will earn 4 points per $1 spent.
# Other Changes for Gold and Platinum members.
There will also be some changes to Gold and Platinum members from October 1st 2025. These include;
- Gold members will no longer have access to the guaranteed economy reward seat benefit.
- Platinum members will no longer have access to Companion Platinum Status where members are able to gift someone Platinum Status. This will be now available to Platinum Plus members.
- A new threshold of 650 credits of the current 1300 status credits must be earned through Virgin Australia-marketed flights to be eligible to earn Companion Gold for Platinum members.
To read more about the changes, click here.
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