Virgin Australia Will Wipe $93 Million In Travel Credits: How To Check If You're Owed Money

Virgin Australia is urging customers to check whether they have any unused travel credits before a major expiry deadline arrives later this month. Virgin estimates that around $93 million worth of Travel Bank credit remains unredeemed, with thousands of Australians potentially unaware they still have money available to put towards a future flight.

The carrier says that more than 90% of its COVID-19 credits have already been redeemed, and claims that it has made flight credits “very easy to use, offering customers the ability to use their credits on all flights operated by Virgin Australia, as well as flights on its partner airlines”.

These fight credits were issued by Virgin following flight disruptions, cancellations or booking changes during the pandemic in 2020-22. Of course, Qantas and Jetstar also offered similar credits, but following public pushback, the Qantas Group removed their expiry dates and now allows passengers to request refunds.

However, Virgin Australia plans to wipe all flight credit balances that have not been redeemed by 30 June 2026, leaving thousands of Australians out of pocket if they fail to act before the deadline.

Fortunately, checking whether you have a Virgin Australia travel credit only takes a few minutes and can be done easily online. Here's how to find out if you have any remaining balance and what to do next.

How Do I Check If I Have A Virgin Flight Credit?

As mentioned, there is an estimated $93 million worth of Virgin Australia travel credits that are not yet redeemed by customers. Here is how to find out if you have a travel credit with Virgin, and how to redeem before it expires on 30 June 2026.

You’ll first need to log into your Virgin Australia Travel Bank account online. For Velocity Frequent Flyers, these credits are normally issued under your frequent flyer number, with the password the same as your Velocity account.

If you’re not sure if you have a Virgin Australia Travel Bank, you can visit the Retrieve Travel Bank page and enter your name and email address. If you have a flight credit, Virgin Australia will then email your Travel Bank login username.

Virgin’s Flight Credits Aren't The First To Spark Controversy

Virgin Australia's looming flight credit expiry deadline comes just a few years after Qantas faced significant scrutiny over its handling of COVID-era travel credits.

During the pandemic, many airline customers accepted flight credits after their bookings were disrupted by border closures, lockdowns and widespread flight cancellations. However, some consumers later argued they should have been offered refunds instead, while others complained that travel credits were difficult to redeem due to expiry dates and booking restrictions.

The issue ultimately led to a class action against Qantas, which was settled in 2024 for $105 million. While Qantas denied liability, the case renewed scrutiny over how airlines manage customer credits and highlighted the risk of passengers losing money if they fail to redeem balances before expiry deadlines.

With Virgin Australia estimating that around $93 million in Travel Bank credits remain unclaimed, consumer advocates are encouraging travellers to check whether they have unused funds before the 30 June 2026 deadline. For some customers, it could mean recovering hundreds of dollars that would otherwise disappear.

Summing Up: My Take

At a time when the cost of domestic travel remains high, it's surprising that tens of millions of dollars in airline credits are still sitting unused. While I guess Virgin Australia is within its rights to impose an expiry date that is years beyond the pandemic, the problem is that many customers may have forgotten these credits exist altogether.

The lesson from both Virgin Australia's Travel Bank deadline and the Qantas flight credit controversy is that airline credits are not the same as cash. Travellers should treat them like a gift card with an expiry date, not money that will always be available when they need it.

For anyone who flew during the pandemic or changed travel plans in recent years, checking for unused flight credits could be one of the easiest ways to save money on their next trip. With $93 million still waiting to be claimed, there is a good chance some Australians are unknowingly leaving hundreds of dollars on the table.