After a four-week ban, Virgin Australia is once again allowing Velocity Frequent Flyers to redeem their points for award bookings. From today, Velocity members can redeem points for award seats from 1 September 2020, on Virgin Australia’s most popular routes.
Virgin Australia is also providing extra considerations due to the uncertainty surrounding travel restrictions. The airline is offering several safeguards to reassure travellers.
1) Change and cancellation fees waived for travellers who book a redemption seat before 1 September 2020 for travel on or after the same date, as long as you make any changes before 1 September 2020. Normally, Virgin Australia charge a cancellation fee of $35 or 4,500 Velocity points per passenger for domestic itineraries.
2) Guaranteed refund if you or Virgin Australia cancel your flight before 1 September 2020, for a booking made up until that date. The full amount of points/cash will be refunded to the original form of payment, excluding any booking or credit card fees.
3) Safety and hygiene remains paramount with the airline already implementing additional cleaning and hygiene measures, as well as social seat distancing.
Where can I fly?
As of 15 May 2020, Virgin Australia have opened reward bookings on the following routes. Note that this, like almost anything at this time, is subject to change.
| From (one-way) | To |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | Brisbane Melbourne Perth Sydney Mackay* Rockhampton* |
| Brisbane | Adelaide Cairns Melbourne Perth Sydney Townsville Broome* Mackay* Rockhampton* |
| Broome | Perth Brisbane* Melbourne* Gold Coast* Sydney* |
| Cairns | Brisbane Melbourne Sydney Broome* Perth* |
| Canberra | Melbourne |
| Gold Coast | Melbourne Sydney Broome* Perth* |
| Mackay | Brisbane Adelaide* Melbourne* Perth* Sydney* |
| Melbourne | Adelaide Brisbane Canberra Cairns Gold Coast Perth Sydney Broome* Mackay* Rockhampton* Townsville* |
| Perth | Adelaide Broome Brisbane Melbourne Sydney Cairns* Mackay* Gold Coast* Rockhampton* Townsville* |
| Rockhampton | Brisbane Adelaide* Melbourne* Perth* Sydney* |
| Sydney | Adelaide Brisbane Cairns Melbourne Gold Coast Perth Broome* Mackay* Rockhampton* |
| Townsville | Brisbane Broome* Melbourne* Perth* |
* May require a transfer through a connecting airport
Summing Up
This announcement is fantastic news from Virgin Australia, showing the airline is confident of a return to service. Hopefully, travellers will consider booking flights after we have a clear path of when travel restrictions will be safely lifted.
At this stage, Velocity Rewards Store redemptions will remain paused until at least 19 May 2020.
