If you’ve been sitting on a stash of Velocity Points, this could be your chance to put them to good use.
In a major boost for Australian frequent flyers, Virgin Australia is tripling the availability of Velocity reward seats on upcoming long-haul routes between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha.
The Champagne Mile has confirmed extensive availability on key dates, including peak European summer, with at least four Qsuite reward seats available on select flights.
Scheduled to launch in June 2025, the flights will be operated on a ‘wet lease’ basis by Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777s.
Why this move could be a game changer
For frequent flyers looking to stretch their points for premium travel, this announcement offers a valuable opportunity. Virgin Australia’s move has the potential to add much-needed competition to the market, addressing the growing demand for long-haul reward seats.
How many points you’ll need
Here’s how many Velocity Points you’ll need to lock in these flights (with carrier charges levied separately):
- Business Class (Qsuite)
- Perth to Doha: 89,500 Points plus taxes and fees (one-way)
- Sydney/Brisbane to Doha: 119,500 Points plus taxes and fees (one-way)
- Economy Class
- Perth to Doha: 42,000 Points plus taxes and fees (one-way)
- Sydney/Brisbane to Doha: 56,000 Points plus taxes and fees (one-way)
Looking to fly all the way through to Europe? A business class, one way award flights from Sydney and Brisbane to European cities come in at 158,500 Velocity Points, plus around $800 in carrier charges. Note that Melbourne to Doha reward seats aren’t covered under today’s announcement.
Reward seat availability: Digging into the details
The Champagne Mile has confirmed extensive availability on key dates, including peak European summer, with four or more Qsuite seats on select flights.
For example, many dates in mid to late July (peak Euro summer travel season) currently show at least four Qsuite reward flights up for grabs on flights from Sydney to Doha:
How to secure your redemption
You’ll need to act quickly to secure your seat. These redemptions won’t last long, especially in business class. The flights are available to book now via the Velocity website. Simply login to your account and follow the prompts to search and lock in your redemption.
We expect these seats to be snapped up quickly, and inventories can change over time.
What’s the catch?
Virgin’s move to triple reward seats is reminiscent of Qantas’ pledge to offer five million Classic Reward Seats each year, a declaration that hasn’t always translated into easy access to seats. In the case of Qantas, frequent flyers have struggled to secure long-haul premium seats since the launch of Classic Plus rewards in April 2024, highlighting ongoing challenges to meet consumer demand.
It’s positive to see plenty of availability on offer via the Velocity website, but it’s also important to bear in mind that availability can be unpredictable and may change quickly. With this in mind, it’s best to keep a close watch on the Velocity website, especially if you’re aiming for those premium seats.
Conclusion
Virgin Australia’s boost to international reward seat availability spells good news for frequent flyers, and it might put pressure on Qantas to follow suit. More competition typically leads to better value and broader access for Australian travellers, making the coveted Qsuite more attainable than ever. If you’ve been eyeing a premium cabin experience, now is the time to act.
Visit the Velocity Frequent Flyer website to lock in your seat before they’re all snapped up.
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