The best ways to earn Velocity Points

The easiest way to earn a chunky stash of Velocity Points is by nabbing a credit card sign-up bonus, such as the deal below.

But if you’re also looking to boost your Velocity Points balance with day-to-day spend, then here are some easy ways, from flights to banking, fuel purchases, car rental and more.

Earning Velocity Points from travel

1. Flying with Virgin Australia and partner airlines

First and foremost, Velocity Frequent Flyer is the loyalty program of Virgin Australia. So naturally, flights are one of the best ways to earn Velocity Points. For domestic and short-haul international flights, you’ll earn a minimum of five Velocity Points per $1 spent on the fare. This increases by 50%, 75% or 100% for Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum members, respectively (excluding Lite fares.)

For long-haul international flights with partner airlines, the earn rate depends on the airline and cabin class flown. For the most up-to-date info on earning Velocity Points from flights, see Velocity’s partner airlines page and click on the relevant carrier.

2. Hotels and accommodation

Need somewhere to stay once you arrive at your destination? Book through Rocket Travel, which partners with Virgin Australia, to earn at least three Velocity Points per $1 on accommodation. During promotions, you could even earn quadruple points – that’s 12 Velocity Points per $1!

Alternatively, you could directly earn Velocity Points when booking through your favourite chains, such as IHG or Shangri-La.

Or, if you’d rather earn points towards a participating hotel loyalty program, you could later transfer those points to Velocity Frequent Flyer. Participating programs include:

• Accor Live Limitless: 1 ALL point = 1 Velocity Point
• Choice Privileges: 2,000 Choice Privileges points = 800 Velocity Points
• Marriott Bonvoy: 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 Velocity Point
• Hilton Honors: 10,000 Hilton Honors points = 1,500 Velocity Points
• IHG One Rewards: 10,000 IHG One Rewards points = 2,000 Velocity Points
• Shangri-La Circle: 1 Shangri-La Circle point = 1 Velocity Point

Exploring the great outdoors around Australia? Book with G’day Parks and pocket two Velocity Points per $1. Or, sign up for G’day Rewards, the loyalty program of the G’day Parks and Discovery Parks network, and receive a whopping four Velocity Points per $1 on bookings. There are over 280 accommodation options across Australia, including caravan parks and resorts.

3. Tours, attractions and activities

As the name suggests, Experience Oz is your ticket to a huge selection of tours, attractions, activities and more across Australia and New Zealand. Pocket three Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible bookings made on the Virgin Australia and Experience Oz partner website. Simply enter your Velocity number at the checkout.

4. Car hire and parking

Velocity Frequent Flyer partners with Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Dollar and Thrifty, giving you the opportunity to earn points with car hire around the world. Rates start from three Velocity Points per $1 spent within Australia and New Zealand. If you are a Velocity Silver, Gold or Platinum holder, you will receive a boost to your earn rate as per below:

• Velocity Red members: 3 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Silver members: 4.5 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Gold members: 5.25 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Platinum members: 6 Velocity Points per $1

Most overseas rentals (outside of Australia and New Zealand) offer a flat amount of points per rental. Again, the earn rate is dependent on Velocity Frequent Flyer status, as below:

• Velocity Red members: 800 Velocity Points
• Velocity Silver members: 1,200 Velocity Points
• Velocity Gold members: 1,400 Velocity Points
• Velocity Platinum members: 1,600 Velocity Points

If you’d rather park your own vehicle at an airport in Australia or New Zealand, then Looking4Parking is the site for you. Once again, earn rates start from three Velocity Points per $1, and you’ll earn more depending on your status:

• Velocity Red members: 3 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Silver members: 50% bonus points
• Velocity Gold members: 75% bonus points
• Velocity Platinum members: 100% bonus points

5. Cruises

If you prefer to travel by sea, you can also earn Velocity Points from cruises. Simply book your next cruise via Cruisepilot to earn at least three Velocity Points per $1 spent. Sail on the world’s most renowned cruises, including P&O, Royal Caribbean and Captain Cook.

You’ll also earn bonus points depending on your Velocity Frequent Flyer status:

• Velocity Red members: 3 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Silver members: 50% bonus of the base Velocity Points
• Velocity Gold members: 75% bonus of the base Velocity Points
• Velocity Platinum members: 100% bonus of the base Velocity Points

6. Book a luxurious getaway with Luxury Escapes

Fancy the finer things in life? When you book a tour, cruise or experience through Luxury Escapes, you’ll earn one Velocity Point per $1 spent on eligible bookings.

7. Ride around with DiDi

DiDi is a ridesharing app that allows you to earn one Velocity Point per $1 spent on all rides within Australia. Points are credited directly to your Velocity Frequent Flyer or Virgin Australia Business Flyer account – you just need to link your account(s) before you ride.

Banking and financial

8. Spend with a credit card that earns Velocity Points

Having a Velocity Points-earning credit card is one of the fastest ways to accumulate Velocity Points from your daily spending. Certain credit cards, like the American Express Velocity Platinum, award 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on practically any everyday expenses, including most places listed in this guide!

If the retailer or service provider you purchase from also offers bonus Velocity Points, then you can essentially double-dip: earn points from the partner directly, plus earn points for the transaction on your card.

9. Transfer your points from flexible programs

Velocity Frequent Flyer has a broad range of transfer partners: these are programs where you earn points in a proprietary ‘currency’ (such as American Express Membership Rewards), and then later choose when to transfer them to Velocity at a specified rate. Read more about flexible points programs.

10. Take out pet insurance

Once you’ve settled down with a furry friend, you should consider whether an insurance policy would suit both your needs. Medibank Pet Insurance occasionally offers bonus Velocity Points when you purchase a new pet insurance policy.

Shop, wine and dine

11. Shop at the Velocity e-Store

Need to buy something online through Apple, eBay, David Jones or one of many other well-known retailers? Don’t forget to stop by the Velocity e-Store first, where a simple click will enable you to earn Velocity Points on your online purchases. You could collect up to eight points per dollar with special offers!

12. Fill up your cellar with wine

There are two ways to top-up your Velocity Points with wine, beers and spirits purchases: through Virgin Wines and the Velocity Wine Store. Both earn you at least two Velocity Points per $1 spent. Though they’re slightly different: Virgin Wines is more of a subscription for cases, and the Velocity Wine Store is more of a standard online store.

Both often have great deals that bundle 5,000 Velocity Points and more with select cases.

13. Transfer points from Flybuys

Flybuys is one of Australia’s biggest loyalty programs, with points earned from major retailers like Coles, Kmart, Bunnings Warehouse, Officeworks, Liquorland and more. Flybuys points convert to Velocity Points at a 2:1 rate. There are also regular Flybuys promotions where you can earn a stash of bonus points, making it easier to save up for that next flight reward.

If you shop at Coles regularly, you might want to consider a paid subscription program like Coles Plus or Coles Plus Saver, which offers 2x Flybuys points on eligible purchases.

14. Complete your home with furniture and more

Velocity Frequent Flyer’s partnerships allow you to earn points with your next home revamp. Need a new mattress or pillow? Snooze has you covered with one Velocity Point per $1, online and in-store.

Or, design the space of your dreams with Freedom Kitchens and Wardrobes, which similarly rewards you with one Velocity Point per $1 spent.

Everyday Essentials

15. Fill up with fuel from 7-Eleven

With the My 7-Eleven app, you’ll pocket Velocity Points on fuel and in-store purchases at 7-Eleven retailers across Australia. There are often excellent bonus point offers on tasty snacks and meal deals, too – it’s a win-win.

Here’s the Velocity Points earn rate with 7-Eleven:

• Premium fuel: 2 Velocity Points per litre
• Regular fuel: 1 Velocity Point per litre
• In-store purchases: 2 Velocity Points per $1 (exclusions apply)

16. Subscribe to a car with Flexicar

As an alternative to car ownership, Flexicar promises to simplify your transport needs while earning you points along the way. That’s at least two Velocity Points per $1 spent, so longer bookings will net you bigger rewards. New members will also get 500 points on the first booking.

Plus, if you’re a Velocity Silver, Gold or Platinum member, you’ll earn more points on Flexicar bookings:

• Velocity Red members: 2 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Silver members: 3 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Gold members: 3.5 Velocity Points per $1
• Velocity Platinum members: 4 Velocity Points per $1

17. Earn points for recycling

This is more of a top-up than a main earning method, but your eligible bottles and cans could be worth points with Envirobank! Every container you recycle is worth 15 Crunch credits, which converts to five Velocity Points. 

18. Complete surveys with e-Rewards

Got some spare time and want to share your thoughts? Complete surveys with e-Rewards to earn ‘Opinion Points’, which you can later convert to Velocity Points. You can transfer 2,000 Opinion Points to 500 Velocity Points. Plus, if you complete a survey within 90 days of joining, you’ll also pocket 750 Velocity Points.

Summing up

Velocity has a wide range of partners, so there are many ways to earn bonus Velocity Points on the ground from shopping, car hire, fuel purchases and more. Remember to use a Velocity Points-earning credit card to double-dip on points while you’re at it, too.

Do you have a preferred way to earn Velocity Points from your everyday purchases? Let us know in the comments below.

Also read: The best ways to use Velocity Points

This article was originally written by Evin Tan Khiew.

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