Got a pile of Velocity Points burning a hole in your pocket?
Velocity Frequent Flyer is your ticket to business and first class flying on some of the world’s leading international airlines.
Discover how redeeming your Velocity Points unlocks travel on leading carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways.
Which airlines do Velocity partner with?
Velocity boasts partnerships with no less than 15 airlines, including Virgin Australia.
Velocity airline partners: Key benefits
When it comes to leveraging Velocity’s airline partnerships, there are three key benefits to know about:
1 Earn Velocity Points and Status Credits
Flying with Virgin Australia is one of the fastest ways to boost your Velocity Points balance, which will get you even closer to redeeming your next getaway. Additionally, travel undertaken on international airline partners unlocks Velocity Points and Status Credits.
Velocity Points can be used for a range of redemptions, including aspirational flights. By racking up Status Credits, Velocity Frequent Flyers can attain elite membership status, unlocking benefits including lounge access, priority boarding and more.
The number of Velocity Points and Status Credits you can earn will vary by airline partner. Refer to the airline partner earn tables on the Velocity website for specific information.
2 Redeem Points
Got Points to burn?
Beyond the ability to redeem Points on Virgin Australia’s extensive network, Velocity Frequent Flyers can also access sought-after redemptions on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, Qatar, Etihad, and more.
3 Access reciprocal status benefits
Top-tier Velocity Frequent Flyer members can enjoy reciprocal status benefits when flying with most airline partners. Depending on the status and airline, this might include lounge access, priority boarding and/or increased baggage allowances.
How to book reward seats for airline partners
When it comes to locking in redemptions, there are two ways to book. Most airline partners offer the ability to redeem points online for a Reward Seat.
ForSouth African Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Hawaiian Airlines, online booking isn’t available at present. In this instance, Velocity Frequent Flyer members will need to contact the Membership Contact Centre to book in a redemption over the phone.
The table below sets out the redemption platform available for key Velocity airline partners:
| Partner | Redemption platform |
|---|---|
| Virgin Australia | Online |
| United Airlines | Online |
| Singapore Airlines | Online |
| Etihad Airways | Online |
| Air Canada | Online |
| Qatar Airways | Online |
| South African Airways | Via Phone |
| Virgin Atlantic | Via Phone |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Via Phone |
It’s important to note that Reward Seat availability varies by airline, and seats may not be available for preferred dates. For the best chance of locking in a preferred redemption online, it’s advisable to search as soon as the booking calendar opens up, and to check the Velocity website frequently.
Points needed for airline partner redemptions
The number of Points needed for partner airline redemptions varies.
Visit the Reward Seat Points Tables on the Velocity website to calculate the minimum number of Points required for a one-way Reward Seat with Virgin Australia and other airline partners.
Velocity International Partners: Our picks
With partnerships in place across 14 airlines, it can be hard to know where you’re best placed to earn – or redeem – Velocity Points. Here are four current partnerships that Velocity members can leverage for extra value.
Velocity x Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer partnership
This longstanding and popular partnership is key in placing Velocity Frequent Flyer Points ahead of the pack.
Via the Velocity website, Velocity Frequent Flyers can book available Economy, Premium Economy and Business Singapore Airlines Reward Seats.
Beyond the ability to redeem Velocity Points for Singapore Airlines seats, Velocity Frequent Flyer and KrisFlyer members also have the reciprocal ability to transfer Points between both loyalty programs.
When converting Points from Velocity to KrisFlyer, members can access a 1.55 to 1 conversion ratio, the same of which applies for transfers from KrisFlyer into Velocity. Both programs require a minimum of 5,000 Points or miles to be moved across with each transfer – the equivalent of 3,225 Points or miles after conversion.
So, when could transferring Velocity Points to KrisFlyer make sense?
Extra availability
The unique ability to transfer Velocity Points to KrisFlyer opens up additional destinations via access to the comprehensive Singapore Airlines flight network. KrisFlyer miles can also be used to ‘waitlist’ reward seats, request upgrades and to book luxe first class redemptions that are not bookable directly via Velocity.
Access to Star Alliance partners
Beyond redemptions with Singapore Airlines, transferring Velocity Points also provides access to reward seats on Star Alliance member airlines.
Velocity x Qatar Airways
Velocity members now earn Points and Status Credits, while unlocking redemption and tier benefits when travelling on Qatar Airways services worldwide.
This means, for example, that Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to Qatar’s airport lounges, priority check-in and priority boarding when travelling on Qatar Airways flights.
Velocity members also have the ability to redeem Velocity Points for Qatar Airways flagship business class – the QSuite.
Velocity x United Airlines
Via United, Velocity members ave access to a comprehensive route network that takes in U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Velocity members can fly with United Airlines directly from Australia to Los Angeles and San Francisco, with connecting ports across United’s network.
Through the partnership, Velocity Points can be earned between Australia and USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America and other destinations in the United Airlines network. To earn Points, Velocity Frequent Flyer members need to be travelling in an eligible fare class flying on United Airlines operated flights with a UA or VA flight number.
When it comes to redemptions, United reward seats are priced at the Virgin Australia reward table rates, resulting in fewer Points needed than most other partner airlines.
Our pick? Flying from Sydney or Melbourne to Los Angeles in United Business Class requires an outlay from 95,500 Velocity Points (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges).
The same route can also be flown in economy from just 89,600 Velocity Points (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges).
Velocity x Etihad Airways
The Velocity Frequent Flyer partnership with Etihad Airways unlocks the ability to earn and redeem Velocity Points when flying to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other destinations across the Etihad Airways network.
The return of Etihad’s flagship A380 aircraft – and the ability to use Velocity Points to book First Class product ‘The Apartment – isn’t entirely off the cards.
Etihad also continues to offer its exceptional Business Class product on widebody Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with flights departing Sydney and Melbourne daily. Reward Seats from Australian cities into Europe can be redeemed from 139,000 Velocity Points, plus taxes, fees and carrier charges*.
It’s worth noting that Reward Seat Carrier Charges on Etihad Airways operated flights are significant, and they apply per segment flown.
Before booking an Etihad redemption with Velocity Points, Velocity Frequent Flyer members should weigh up the cost of carrier surcharges payable to ensure the redemption is worthwhile.
Take off sooner with the American Express Velocity Platinum Card
The American Express Velocity Platinum Card unlocks the ability to earn Velocity Points on everyday spend, helping savvy travellers to lock in aspirational flight redemptions sooner.
Conclusion
Through a wide range of partnerships, there are now more ways than ever to leverage Velocity Points for international airline travel.
This includes luxe international flight redemptions such as the Singapore Airlines A380 suite, Qatar Airways QSuite, extensive networks into the USA with United Airlines, and the potential to fly premium cabins to the Middle East, Europe and beyond with Etihad.
This article is sponsored by American Express. Opinions expressed in this article solely belong to The Champagne Mile.
Point redemption rates we’ve published here are correct at the time of writing and subject to airline T&Cs and availability. Fees and charges are payable in addition to the points redeemed.
Disclaimer: The quoted redemption fares are correct as at 29 May 2023 and are subject to change. Fares are subject to availability. Points value is based on a Reward Seat fare with Virgin Australia or one of their partner airlines and must be booked through the Velocity website. Taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable in addition to Velocity Points redeemed. A Virgin Australia carrier charge is payable per sector, per person. Reward Seats and associated charges are not eligible for Points earn. Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Price may vary until ticketed. Payment surcharge may apply. You can change or get a refund for your booking by paying a fee and any fare difference, at least 24 hours before scheduled departure. You may also request a refund for other reasons, including under the Australian Consumer Law. View the Velocity Rewards Seat fare rules for more information. Some flights may be operated by a partner airline. Full terms and conditions at velocityfrequentflyer.com
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