Velocity Unlocks Online Booking For Hong Kong Airlines
Phone-only Velocity redemptions are being retired!
Velocity Frequent Flyer has just enhanced the booking experience for one of its more annoying points redemptions. Members can now book Velocity Reward Seats for Hong Kong Airlines Business Class online. The change comes after Velocity made Economy Reward Seats available for online booking from December 2025.
Until now, redeeming Velocity Points for Hong Kong Airlines meant a phone call to the Velocity Contact Centre, waiting on hold, and asking the agent to check for reward seats. This could be a frustrating process, as you were more or less going in blind, with little indication of what award space actually existed.
Velocity's Hong Kong Airlines partner page now confirms that Economy and Business Class Reward Seats can both be booked online.
There is one exception however, with Business Class between Hong Kong and Vancouver still only bookable via the Velocity call centre. This is a little strange, but we understand it has to do with Hong Kong Airlines banning infants from flying in Business Class on this specific route.
How Many Velocity Points Do I Need For Hong Kong Airlines?
Velocity doesn't add carrier surcharges on Hong Kong Airlines redemptions, so you're only paying genuine taxes and fees on top of the points.
Of course, Hong Kong Airlines' network doesn't end at HKG either, and because Velocity Reward Seat pricing is based on total distance rather than per-sector, connecting onward throughout Asia doesn’t require too many additional points.
Here are a few example prices, if you're looking to book Hong Kong Airlines one-way from Sydney or Melbourne:
Why This Is Great News
Hong Kong Airlines operates two routes to Australia, into both Melbourne and Sydney. While their A330 Business Class isn't exactly a world-leading product, it's overall quite solid. I've flown it twice now, both in the newer Super Diamond seat and the older Stelia Solstys. Both are lie-flat 1-2-1 configurations, so you get direct aisle access no matter where you're sitting, and the food and service is quite good. It's just not a flashy or over-the-top amazing product.
But what is quite good is the price. You'd only need 75,000 Velocity Points one-way from Australia to Hong Kong, plus a modest tax component of around $120. That makes it one of Velocity's cheapest direct Business redemptions to North Asia.
As an example, the current 100,000 point welcome bonus on the Amex Velocity Platinum Card would be sufficient here. Plus, now that the phone call is gone, it is so much easier.
