Huge Changes To Velocity Frequent Flyer: Points Devaluation And New Status Tiers

Velocity Frequent Flyer has just revealed significant updates to its loyalty program, which will roll out between now and October 2025. Thankfully it’s not all bad news, with Velocity making some changes that reward its most loyal members, but there’s also plenty to be disappointed about.

New Platinum Plus and lifetime Forever Gold status tiers are finally more than just rumours, but the way Status Credits are earned will move to a cost-based model. Velocity will also devalue its points by increasing the cost of Velocity Reward Seats on nearly every flight, across all cabins. The only exception is domestic Economy Reward Seats, which will see a lower starting price.

Nick Rohrlach, CEO at Velocity Frequent Flyer, explained the devaluation and other changes as good news, mentioning the program updates focus on improving “areas that matter most to our members”. Not sure which members asked for more expensive redemptions and a lower earn rate on flights, but I digress.

“The introduction of two exclusive new tiers – Forever Gold and Platinum Plus – demonstrates our commitment to rewarding the ongoing loyalty of our most frequent flyers … we have more ways than ever before for members to earn and redeem Velocity Points and will soon have additional opportunities to be recognised for loyalty,”

“These new changes are balanced by adjustments to other areas of the program to ensure we continue to have a sustainable, competitive and valuable proposition for members … we have made it a priority to give members plenty of advance notice on the program changes,” adds Mr Rohrlach.

What’s Changing With Velocity Frequent Flyer?

Here’s your brief guide to Velocity’s upcoming program changes;

• 17 October 2024 – Domestic Economy Reward lead-in points reduced.
• 18 November 2024 – Business Class UpgradeMe Points increase.
• 21 January 2025 – Virgin and Airline Partner Rewards increase.
• 2 April 2025 – Base points earn rate on Virgin flights decrease.
• 2 April 2025 – Status Credit earning moves to spend-based model.
• 1 October 2025 – Platinum Plus and Forever Gold status tiers.
• 1 October 2025 – Eligible Sectors removed, 50% requirement for VA flights.
• 1 October 2025 – Status Credit earn on partner airlines reduced.
• 1 October 2025 – Minor changes to Velocity Status benefits.

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1. Dynamically Priced Domestic Economy Rewards

From 17 October 2024, Virgin Australia has reduced the lead-in Velocity Points required to redeem Domestic Economy Reward Seats. You’ll now need from 5,900 Velocity Points + taxes for Virgin’s shortest flights, a price reduction of around 5%. But from 21 January 2025, Virgin Australia will expand the dynamic range of Velocity Points required to book Virgin Australia Economy Reward seats.

Essentially, the three-tier system Virgin currently uses to price Economy Rewards will be replaced with a wider band of required points, especially at the top end. For example, Zone 1 redemptions (those flights between 1 and 600 miles) currently cost from 5,900 to 9,900 Velocity Points, but after these changes will cost from 5,900 to 12,900 Velocity Points. At the top end, that’s a price increase of 30%.

2. Increase To Airline Partner Reward Pricing

From 21 January 2025, the number of Velocity Points required to book Reward Seats with Virgin’s Airline Partners will increase on a select number of cabins and routes. We have compared a few routes below, but the full changes can be found in Velocity’s new Partner Reward Tables.

There are three Partner Reward Tables, one for United and Virgin Atlantic, another for Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar, and a final table for all other partner airlines including Air Canada, ANA and Hawaiian.

3. New Forever Gold Lifetime Status

From 1 October 2025, Velocity will introduce Forever Gold Status to recognise those members who have flown most with Virgin Australia and its partners over many years. Forever Gold members enjoy the perks of Velocity Gold membership for their lifetime, or more specifically 100 years from the date it’s unlocked

To unlock Forever Gold, you’ll need to earn 12,000 Status Credits (with at least 9,000 from VA-marketed flights) across your lifetime. To recognise the loyalty of members over the past decade, all Status Credits earned since 1 February 2013 will count towards eligibility for Forever Gold.

4. New Platinum Plus Status

From 1 October 2025, Velocity will introduce a new Platinum Plus status tier for the most VIP flyers, who earn at least 2,000 Status Credits (with at least 1,500 from VA-marketed flights) within their Membership Year. Unlike other Velocity tiers, there is no reduced requirement to retain Platinum Plus, with members required to earn another 2,000 Status Credits within their Benefit Period.

Platinum Plus members will have access to the current range of Platinum benefits, alongside new perks including;

• Access to an Australian-based Priority phone service.
• Ability to gift Companion Platinum Membership (for each Benefit Period while in Platinum Plus).
• Four complimentary Business Class Upgrades to be used on Flex or Choice Fares.
• Fly Later benefit to move an eligible flight to a later time on the same day.

Additional benefits will be announced prior to launch next year.

5. Move To Spend-Based Status Credit Earning

The price of your flight will soon dictate the number of Status Credits earned when flying with Virgin Australia. From 2 April 2025, Status Credits will be earned for Virgin Australia flights at the following rates;

• 1 Status Credit per A$24 spent on Lite fares
• 1 Status Credit per A$12 spent on Choice, Flex and Business fares

This spend-based Status Credit earning model effectively removes the ability for those members who enjoy arbitrary status runs, to earn Velocity Status as cheaply as possible during a double Status Credit promotion.

While it’s good news for members who regularly book expensive last-minute travel, especially in Economy Flex or Business, where the number of Status Credits earned per flight would increase over previous levels. But those who prefer to book well in advance and during sales, which is arguably most of Virgin Australia’s passengers, will likely earn fewer status credits.

The spend-based model essentially puts a price on each tier of Velocity Status;

• Silver – unlocked at 250sc, works out to $3,000 spent.
• Gold – unlocked at 500sc, works out to $6,000 spent.
• Platinum – unlocked at 1,000sc, works out to $12,000 spent.
• Platinum Plus – unlocked at 2,000sc, works out to $24,000 spent.
• Forever Gold – unlocked at 12,000sc, works out to $144,000 spent.

Note the above is based on Choice, Flex and Business fares.

6. Eligible Sectors Replaced With New Requirement

From 1 October 2025, the number of Status Credits required to upgrade or maintain Velocity Status will remain unchanged, although Eligible Sectors will no longer be required. This was previously the requirement to fly with Virgin Australia two, four or eight times per year.

Instead, members will need to earn at least 50% of their Status Credits on Virgin Australia-marketed flights, to unlock or retain a status tier. These flights also must be flown by the member, and not earned through family pooling.

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7. Reduced Velocity Points On Virgin Australia  Flights

For bookings made from 2 April 2025, members will earn a reduced 4 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible Virgin Australia flights. Existing flights booked before  2 April 2025 will continue to earn 5 Points per $1 spent.

Members who hold an eligible direct-earn Velocity credit card will also continue to earn 5 Velocity Points per $1 spent on Virgin Australia flights.

8. Changes To Business Class Points Upgrades

Virgin Australia will combine the UpgradeMe Points cost for both Flex and Choice fares into a single rate. Previously, the more expensive Flex fare benefited from a significantly lower points cost to upgrade into Business, starting at just 4,900 points.

From 18 November 2024, UpgradeMe Points requests will be available from 10,000 Velocity Points on domestic flights and 8,000 points on Trans-Tasman and international short-haul flights. If your request is made before this date, the lower rate will be honoured.

9. Reduced Status Credit Earn Onboard Partner Airlines

From 1 October 2025, the number of Status Credits earned when flying with Velocity’s Airline Partners will reduce. The updated Partner Airline Status Earn tables can be found here.

10. Minor Refresh To Velocity Status Benefits

From 1 October 2025, Velocity will make the following minor adjustments to loyalty benefits;

• The Guaranteed Economy Reward Seat benefit will no longer be available to Gold members.
• Companion Gold eligibility will be updated, with Platinum members requiring at least 1,300 Status Credits (with at least 650 from VA flights flown by the member).
• Companion Platinum Status will be changed to a benefit for Platinum Plus members only.

Summing Up: Is This Good News Or Bad News?

Most of the adjustments announced today are a positive spin on negative news, but unfortunately, that’s just how loyalty schemes work. Airline miles shouldn’t be considered an investment; earn and burn is key!

It’s exciting to see Velocity finally bring in an above-platinum tier, although the benefits revealed today do leave something to be desired. Forever Gold is obviously a win, but the movie to spend-based Status Earning has me concerned. As someone who prefers to travel and hold elite status with more than one airline, putting a restrictive dollar value on Velocity Status makes me reconsider my loyalty.

It’s a similar story for the 50% self-flown onboard Virgin Australia component of tier retention. The problem here is that family pooling, one of the best benefits of Velocity, is now effectively useless once you pool 50% of the status requirement.

If you’ve been planning to make a Velocity redemption, it would be wise to do so before 21st January, when these increases kick in. Overall, the pending devaluation of Velocity Frequent Flyer could have been worse, but then again, it could have been better…