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If you’ve ever flown to Australia or taken flights around Southeast Asia or Oceania, then you’re probably familiar with Virgin Australia. This airline (which is owned by the same parent company as Virgin Atlantic) also operates an extensive network in this part of the world as well as several long-haul international routes, including routes to Los Angeles.
Virgin Australia also operates its own Velocity Frequent Flyer program that allows you to earn Velocity Points for flying with Virgin Australia, flying with airline partners and in a variety of other ways. You can then spend these points on award flights operated by Virgin Australia or one of its airline partners, which include popular airlines such as United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines and more. You can also redeem Velocity Points in a variety of other ways, but these other redemption methods tend to provide much less value than redeeming for award flights.
And one of the best things about the Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program is that it still prices all of its award flights using fixed distance-based award charts to price its own award flights as well as partner award flights. This means that it’s possible to find redemptions through the Velocity Frequent Flyer program that offer outsized value (exceeding 1 cent per point).
So, if you have a balance of Velocity Points or you’re considering signing up for the Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program, it helps to be familiar with this program’s award charts so that you can quickly identify high-value redemptions. To make this easier, we’re going to include all of this program’s award charts in this article.
It should be noted that all of the following award charts list the minimum number of miles required for award flights. While you can find award flights at these minimum rates through the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, the actual rates available may be higher.
Velocity Frequent Flyer Award Charts for Flights Awards on Virgin Australia
Of course, Velocity Points can be redeemed for flights on Virgin Australia. The Velocity Frequent Flyer program has two separate award charts for Virgin Australia flights: one for domestic flights and one for international flights.
Unfortunately, the Velocity Frequent Flyer program uses a dynamic pricing model to price its own award flights, and these award charts display only the minimum redemption rates for Virgin Australia-operated award flights. Real-world award rates are typically higher.
You can also use a combination of cash and Velocity Points to book flights on Virgin Australia using the Points + Pay feature. However, redeeming Velocity Points with the Points + Pay feature tends to provide far less value than purchasing flights entirely with points, so we recommend not using Points + Pay in most cases.
You should also be aware that the redemption rates of Virgin Australia-operated award flights changed on Jan. 1, 2025. So, in the following sections, we’ll include the minimum award rates for Virgin Australia flights after Jan. 1.
Domestic Flights
The award chart below includes the minimum number of points required for Virgin Australia domestic flights after Jan. 1:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 (e.g. Sydney to Melbourne) | 5,900 - 12,900 | 15,500 |
| 601 - 1,200 (e.g. Melbourne to Sunshine Coast) | 8,900 - 18,900 | 23,500 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 (e.g. Brisbane to Perth) | 13,500 - 26,900 | 35,500 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 | 15,900 - 29,900 | 49,500 |
| 3,601 - 4,800 | 19,900 - 39,900 | 59,500 |
All domestic Virgin Australia flights also have a carrier charge of 10 Australian dollars regardless of the cabin class.
The rates listed in the award chart above are for one-way travel only. If you want to know the minimum price of a round-trip award flight, you’ll need to price each segment separately and then add them together. For instance, if you wanted to book a round-trip business award between Sydney and Melbourne (for which the one-way rate would be at least 15,000 points), you’d have to pay at least 30,000 Velocity Points (15,000 x 2 = 30,000).
Trans-Tasman and Short-Haul International Flights
The award chart below shows the minimum rates for Virgin Australia trans-Tasman and short-haul international flights after Jan. 21:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 | 7,900 | 15,500 |
| 601 - 1,200 | 11,900 | 23,500 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 | 17,900 | 35,500 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 | 22,500 | 49,500 |
| 3,601 - 4,800 | 27,900 | 59,500 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 | 34,800 | 71,500 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 | 39,800 | 83,500 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 | 44,800 | 95,500 |
Carrier charges for all trans-Tasman flights are 10 Australian dollars per one-way ticket. Carrier charges for international short-flight flights are 35 Australian dollars per one-way flight in economy class and 70 Australian dollars per one-way flight in business class.
The rates listed in the chart above are the minimum rates for one-way flights. If you wish to know the minimum price of a round-trip short-haul international Virgin Australia economy award flight, you’ll need to price each sector separately. For instance, if were to purchase a round-trip Virgin Australia award flight between Sydney (SYD) and Bangkok (BKK), the distance of which is about 4,600 miles in each direction (which means each direction would cost at least 27,800 points in each direction), the price of that award would be at least 55,600 points total (27,800 x 2 = 55,600).
Velocity Frequent Flyer Award Charts for Flights Awards on Partner Airlines
The Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program prices partner award flights according to three different distance-based award charts. There’s one award chart for each of the three groups of airline partners:
- United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
- Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways
- Air Canada, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines, South African Airways
Similar to Virgin Australia-operated award flights, award pricing for partner-operated award flights changed as of Jan. 21, 2025. So, in the following sections, we’ll include the award charts for these partner airlines after this date.
Virgin Atlantic and United Airlines
The following partner award chart is for flights operated by Virgin Atlantic and United Airlines after Jan. 21:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Economy | Premium economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 | 8,500 | 12,000 | 16,500 |
| 601 - 1,200 | 12,500 | 19,000 | 25,000 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 | 19,000 | 28,000 | 37,500 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 | 23,500 | 37,500 | 51,500 |
| 3,601 - 4,800 | 30,000 | 46,000 | 62,000 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 | 42,000 | 64,500 | 87,000 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 | 48,000 | 73,500 | 102,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 | 57,500 | 86,000 | 115,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 | 63,000 | 98,500 | 136,000 |
| 9,501 - 15,000 | 80,000 | 142,000 | 158,500 |
Other taxes, fees and carrier charges may apply to United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic award flights depending on the specific flight that you’re booking.
The rates above are the minimum rates for one-way flights. If you wish to know the round-trip price of an award flight on either United or Virgin Atlantic, you’ll need to price each segment separately. For instance, if you want to know the price of a round-trip United Airlines economy award flight from New York City (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX), the distance of which is about 2,500 miles in each direction (so the price of each one-way flight would be at least 23,500 points), the total price would be at least 47,000 Velocity Points.
Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways
The award chart below includes the rates for award flights operated by Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways after Jan. 21:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 | 11,000 | 15,000 | 19,500 | 28,500 |
| 601 - 1,200 | 14,000 | 23,000 | 29,500 | 42,000 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 | 22,000 | 37,500 | 44,500 | 61,000 |
| 2,401 - 3,000 | 25,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 86,000 |
| 3,001- 3,600 | 27,000 | 55,000 | 74,000 | 86,000 |
| 3,601 - 4,200 | 29,000 | 57,500 | 74,000 | 104,500 |
| 4,201 - 4,800 | 35,000 | 67,500 | 79,500 | 104,500 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 | 42,000 | 80,000 | 89,500 | 125,500 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 | 50,000 | 90,000 | 104,000 | 147,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 | 56,000 | 115,000 | 119,500 | 168,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 | 65,000 | 120,000 | 139,000 | 195,000 |
| 9,501 - 15,000 | 80,000 | 142,000 | 158,500 | 223,000 |
The taxes and fees on award flights operated by these range from $25 to $320 and will vary based on airline, distance and cabin class.
The minimum rates in the chart above apply to one-way award flights. If you wish to know the redemption rate for a round-trip award flight on any of these partner airlines, you’ll have to price each direction separately.
For example, if you wanted to know the price of a round-trip Singapore Airlines economy award flight from Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK), which is about 900 miles in each direction (so each one-way flight would cost a minimum of 14,000 points), the total minimum total rate would be 28,000 Velocity Points (14,000 x 2 = 28,000).
Air Canada, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines and South African Airways
The following award chart applies to award flights operated by Air Canada, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines and South African Airways after Jan. 21:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 | 10,500 | 15,750 | 18,500 | 28,000 |
| 601 - 1,200 | 15,000 | 22,000 | 28,000 | 40,000 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 | 21,000 | 32,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 |
| 2,401 - 3,000 | 26,500 | 45,000 | 58,000 | 82,000 |
| 3,001- 3,600 | 28,000 | 45,000 | 60,000 | 82,000 |
| 3,601 - 4,200 | 30,000 | 55,000 | 70,000 | 100,000 |
| 4,201 - 4,800 | 32,500 | 55,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 |
| 4,801 - 5,800 | 45,000 | 65,000 | 82,000 | 120,000 |
| 5,801 - 7,000 | 55,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 | 140,000 |
| 7,001 - 8,500 | 61,000 | 90,000 | 113,000 | 160,000 |
| 8,501 - 9,500 | 70,000 | 110,000 | 130,000 | 185,000 |
| 9,501 - 15,000 | 80,000 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 215,000 |
The taxes and fees on award flights with these partner airlines depend on the airline you’re flying with, your route and your cabin class.
The rates listed above are for one-way award flights. If you wish to know the price of a round-trip award flight on any of these partner airlines, you’ll have to price each direction separately. For example, if you wanted to know the price of a round-trip Air Canada economy award flight from Seattle (SEA) to Toronto (YYZ), which is about 2,100 miles in each direction (so each one-way flight would cost at least 21,000 points), the minimum total award rate would be 42,000 Velocity Points.
Velocity Frequent Flyer Award Charts for Upgrade Awards on Virgin Australia
You can also use Velocity Points to purchase cabin class upgrades on Virgin Australia-operated flights. To be clear, there are three types of upgrades available from Virgin Australia: UpgradeMe, UpgradeMe Platinum and UpgradeMe Premium Bid. Only UpgradeMe can be purchased with Velocity Points, so these are the awards we’ll be focusing on in this section.
UpgradeMe awards are only available to those who are already booked on a Virgin Australia domestic or short-haul international flight in either an Economy Choice fare or Economy Flex fare (Economy Lite fares are not eligible). An UpgradeMe award will allow you to move up to Business Class.
Domestic
The following award chart shows the rates for UpgradeMe awards on Virgin Australia flights booked with Velocity Points:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Upgrade from Choice fare | Upgrade from Flex fare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 (e.g. Sydney to Melbourne) | 10,000 | 4,900 |
| 601 - 1,200 (e.g. Melbourne to Sunshine Coast) | 17,500 | 7,400 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 (e.g. Brisbane to Perth) | 30,000 | 9,900 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 | 35,000 | 14,900 |
These upgrade awards are for one-way travel. If you wanted to upgrade an entire round-trip Virgin Australia domestic flight itinerary, you’d have to pay double the number of points listed in the chart above.
International Flights
The following award chart shows the rates for UpgradeMe awards on Virgin Australia short-haul international and trans-Tasman flights purchased with Velocity Points:
| Flight distance (in miles) | Upgrade from Choice fare | Upgrade from Flex fare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 600 | 8,000 | 4,900 |
| 601 - 1,200 | 12,000 | 7,400 |
| 1,201 - 2,400 | 16,000 | 9,900 |
| 2,401 - 3,600 (e.g. Melbourne to Denpasar) | 24,000 | 14,900 |
| 3,601 - 4,800 (e.g. Cairns to Tokyo (Haneda) | 40,000 | 24,900 |
The rates listed in the chart above are for one-way upgrades. If you wanted to upgrade an entire round-trip Virgin Australia international flight itinerary, you’d have to pay double the number of points listed in the chart above.
The Bottom Line
The Velocity Frequent Flyer program is a solid rewards program, boasting some great airline partners (including Air Canada and United Airlines) and a wide variety of ways to earn Velocity Points.
Plus, since this program uses a series of distance-based award charts to price its own award flights as well as partner award flights, you can sometimes find outsized-value redemptions through the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. However, you should be aware that many award rates for flights operated by both Virgin Australia and partner airlines increased on Jan. 21, 2025.
Unfortunately, finding high-value redemptions through Velocity Frequent Flyer can be difficult to find, since award flight prices tend to fluctuate based on which airline you’re flying with, the specific route and the time of year. The award prices displayed in these award charts are simply the minimum number of points that you’ll be required to pay.
So, in this way, the Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program has a sort of hybrid pricing model for award flights that relies somewhat on award charts and somewhat on dynamic pricing. This makes it more difficult to find outsized value than, for instance, a program that uses only award charts such as Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
Nonetheless, if you live in Australia or a nearby country, then you should probably be familiar with the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. Being familiar with these award charts can help you quickly identify high-value redemption deals.
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Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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