The beginner’s guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer status and benefits

Holding Velocity Frequent Flyer status is the key to unlocking a raft of premium perks with Virgin Australia, especially on its domestic network. You’ll also get extra benefits when flying with partner airlines like Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and United.

This guide outlines the tiers of Velocity status, the benefits available at each level, and how to keep your status going year after year. You may also be interested in our beginner’s guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer status and benefits.

Want to learn more about Status Credits? Check out our video below:

How do I earn Velocity Frequent Flyer status?

The answer is simple: earn Status Credits. With enough Status Credits, you’ll be able to gradually ascend the membership tiers, from base-level Red to top-tier Platinum. Or from later this year, even to Platinum Plus, a new Velocity level.

Status Credits can be earned through three main ways:

1. Flying on Virgin Australia and partner airlines. This earns the most and is required to earn higher status levels.
2. Meeting the requirements of a credit card such as the American Express Velocity Platinum card. Bonus Status Credits can be a useful yearly boost.
3. Shopping at Coles with Flybuys. This is ideal for topping up your Status Credits balance over the long term.

With all three methods combined, many find it easier to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer status than the corresponding Qantas Frequent Flyer status. However, this may change once the upcoming changes to Velocity status have been implemented.

American Express Velocity Platinum

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• Sign-up Bonus: 100,000 bonus Velocity Points*
• Rewards Earn Rate: 1.25 Velocity Points earned per $1 on all eligible spend except for government bodies˜. 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on selected Virgin Australia purchases˜. 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 on Government spend˜. 
• Annual Fee: $440 p.a.
• Offer expires: 30 April 2025

The American Express Velocity Platinum Card has 100,000 bonus Velocity Points* on offer for new American Express Card Members who apply by 30 April 2025 and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of approval. Includes several perks such as Virgin Australia Lounge Access^ every time you fly domestically with Virgin Australia, 2 VA Guest Lounge Passes⁼ each year and a Complimentary Domestic Return Virgin Australia Flightˢ. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. New American Express Card Members Only.

Using the Velocity Points Tables

The Virgin Australia and partner airlines tables are a useful guide when checking how many SCs each flight can earn — we recommend bookmarking the link for future reference.

Simply use the provided mileage calculator to work out the distance you’ll be travelling and then find out what fare class your ticket is to see how many Status Credits you’ll get for each leg.

For example, Perth-Melbourne-Gold Coast return on Virgin Australia, travelling on a Choice fare, currently earns:

• 30 Status Credits from Perth to Melbourne
• 20 Status Credits from Melbourne to Gold Coast
• And double that on the return for a total of 100 Status Credits

That said, the earning of Status Credits will change from 2 April 2025. On that date, Status Credits on domestic flights will instead be directly based on your fare type and the cost of the ticket. With Lite fares, you’ll earn one SC per $24 spent. On all other paid Economy and Business fares, the earn rate is one SC per $12 spent.

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Understanding the Status Credits cycle

Status Credits are earned on a rolling 12-month cycle, unlike Qantas which utilises a fixed anniversary date. A rolling cycle means you just need to earn enough Status Credits in any 12-month period to move up, rather than doing it within a fixed date period.

Once you have achieved status, you then have 12 months from that day to maintain your status or move up to the next level. Every time you reach a new tier, the 12-month counter resets.

What are Virgin Australia eligible sectors?

In addition to Status Credits, you also currently need to meet the ‘eligible sector’ flights requirement every membership year:

• 2 flights for Silver
• 4 flights for Gold
• 8 flights for Platinum

Eligible sectors are simply paid (not reward) flights that carry a Virgin Australia (VA) flight number. Every new flight counts as an eligible sector, so Perth-Melbourne-Hobart return trip will net you four eligible sectors, assuming they are all booked under a VA flight number.

However, the concept of Eligible Sectors is being retired. From 1 October 2025, Eligible Sectors will no longer be required.

What are the Velocity Frequent Flyer status membership tiers?

There are currently four membership tiers in Velocity Frequent Flyer. There’s the entry-level Red, then Silver, Gold and Platinum. From later this year, there’ll also be a new Platinum Plus tier.

The higher your status, the better the perks you get. This includes higher points upgrade priority, more bonus points from flying, faster phone service, and even complimentary upgrades for Platinum members.

Velocity Red

To achieve: 0 SCs
To maintain: 0 SCs

This is the entry level for all Velocity members, and a necessity if you want to earn Velocity Points and redeem them for flights or upgrades.

Velocity Silver

To achieve: 250 SCs + 2 eligible sectors
To maintain: 200 SCs + 2 eligible sectors
From 1 October 2025: Eligible sectors not required, but at least 50% of the SC requirement must be fulfilled from Virgin Australia marketed flights flown by the member.

• Two complimentary passes to a domestic Virgin Australia Lounge.
• Use of Business Class check-in counters for international Virgin Australia flights.
• One extra bag on Virgin Australia flights in Economy (23kg).
• 50% points bonus on Virgin Australia flights (except Lite fares).
• 10% bonus points on Etihad (ends 1 June 2025) and 50% bonus points on ANA, Qatar Airways and United.
• Priority telephone service.
• Priority upgrade waitlisting above Red members.
• Priority check-in on selected partner airlines, with some also providing additional checked baggage.

View the full list of benefits here.

Velocity Gold

To achieve: 500 SCs + 4 eligible sectors
To maintain: 400 SCs + 4 eligible sectors
From 1 October 2025: Eligible sectors not required, but at least 50% of the SC requirement must be fulfilled from Virgin Australia marketed flights flown by the member.
Lifetime status: From 1 October, earn Velocity Gold for life (‘Forever Gold’) with 12,000 cumulative Status Credits. These will be calculated from 1 February 2013. Of that total, a minimum of 9,000 Status Credits must have been earned on Virgin Australia marketed flights, flown by the member.

In addition to most of the Silver perks above, you also get:

• Unlimited Virgin Australia and eligible partner lounge access + one guest, including Sydney and Brisbane Premium Entry.
• Domestic lounge access after your flight, subject to space.
• Priority check-in, baggage, security and boarding, where available.
• Reciprocal benefits on participating partner airlines, including United, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
• Fly Ahead on an earlier Virgin Australia domestic flight free of charge (except Lite fares).
• Complimentary once-off Gold status with Hilton or IHG.
• Complimentary once-off Europcar Privilege or Hertz Five Star status.
• 75% bonus points on Virgin Australia flights (except Lite fares).
• 25% bonus points on Etihad (ends 1 June 2025) and 75% bonus points on ANA, Qatar Airways and United.

View the full list of benefits here. On Virgin Australia flights, the extra baggage allowance is identical to Silver.

Velocity Platinum

To achieve: 1,000 SCs + 8 eligible sectors
To maintain: 800 SCs + 8 eligible sectors
From 1 October 2025: Eligible sectors not required, but at least 50% of the SC requirement must be fulfilled from Virgin Australia marketed flights flown by the member.

In addition to most of the Gold perks above, you also get:

• Four complimentary upgrades a year from Economy Flex to Business Class on domestic and short-haul international flights.
• Complimentary Economy X seating (extra legroom seats) on domestic and short-haul international flights. This includes other guests on the same booking as you.
• Ability to bring up to three guests to all Virgin Australia domestic lounges.
• Boosted baggage allowance with Virgin Australia (3x 23kg in Economy or 3x 32kg in Business)
• Occasionally, access to better international partner lounges. For instance, the Etihad First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi (until 1 June 2025), and the Qatar Airways Platinum Lounge in Doha.
• Waitlisted points upgrades may clear from five days before departure.
• Up to four guaranteed Economy reward seats to any Virgin Australia domestic or international destination, if booked at least six months beforehand (including peak periods).
• Complimentary once-off Platinum/Diamond status with IHG or Hilton.
• Complimentary once-off Privilege Elite/President’s Circle with Europcar or Hertz.
• Gift companion Gold/Platinum status when you maintain Platinum and earn another 500/1000 SCs.
• 100% bonus points on Virgin Australia flights (except Lite fares).
• 50% bonus points on Etihad (ends 1 June 2025) and 100% bonus points on ANA, Qatar Airways and United.

Velocity Platinum Plus

To achieve and maintain (once launched): 2,000 SCs, of which 1,500 SCs must be from Virgin Australia marketed flights flown by the member.

The full roster of benefits is still being put together, but Virgin Australia has shared a few highlights so far:

• Gift Platinum status to a friend or family member when you earn or maintain Platinum Plus status.
• Fly Later – like Fly Ahead, but when you’d like to push a flight back rather than travel sooner.
• Checked baggage allowance of 5x 32kg on eligible Virgin Australia flights.
• A dedicated Platinum Plus telephone team.
• ‘Access to exclusive events and offers,’ says Virgin Australia.

What’s the best Velocity status level to aim for?

In most frequent flyer programs, Gold is usually the mid-tier status that is seen as the ‘sweet spot’ for many travellers. Velocity is no exception.

This level is when a whole suite of premium perks kick in. These include priority check-in, baggage, boarding and screening; as well as unlocking access to Virgin Australia and partner lounges worldwide – even when travelling in Economy Class.

Within Velocity, Gold status is earned from only half the flying required of Platinum, while offering the same overall core benefits.

What are the other perks of Velocity status?

‘Parental Pause’ for new parents

This is a handy feature for parents who have or are expecting a child and would like to put their membership on hold.

You will get a six-month break where you do not need to earn any Status Credits, and then your current status will be renewed for another 12 months.

Family Pooling of points and Status Credits

Family Pooling is an excellent and unique program feature where eligible members in a household can pool all their points and Status Credits into one account to get that person up the status ladder quicker.

Each family pool can have two adults (including the beneficiary) and four children, so a family of six could potentially all pool to one person and hit Gold or Platinum in little time.

Summing up

Velocity Frequent Flyer status is currently a very solid offering for those who travel a lot on Virgin Australia and its partner airlines.

While its lounge network is not as large or refined as Qantas and its oneworld partners, Velocity provides practical perks to Gold and Platinum members that are not seen with Qantas. This includes ‘Fly Ahead’ for Gold and Platinum members and complimentary upgrades for Platinum members.

It’s also currently easier to earn Velocity status overall. Tier thresholds are lower, fares are generally cheaper, and Family Pooling can reduce the amount of flying needed by half – or even more.

Still, we wouldn’t recommend spending extra time and money just to obtain status. It’s best suited to those who are travelling constantly for work or leisure anyway and could maybe tweak a few things to maximise their Status Credits.

Remember, once you have status with one airline, you have your foot in the door and can status match to other airlines and alliances.

Frequently asked questions

Supplementary images courtesy Velocity Frequent Flyer. Additional reporting by Chris Chamberlin.