Can occasional flyers really benefit from Virgin points?

If your flying is limited to the occasional holiday or interstate family visit, you might wonder whether a frequent flyer membership is worth bothering with.

The answer is potentially yes, and not necessarily because of the flying. Velocity Frequent Flyer, Virgin Australia’s loyalty program, lets members collect Velocity Points through everyday spending, even when their next holiday is months away.

Where do the Points come from?

Shopping, filling the car, dining out and certain banking products can all provide opportunities to earn Points through participating Velocity partners.

There’s also the Velocity Store, where eligible online purchases can earn Points.

But it’s worth reading the fine print. Earning rates vary, not every purchase qualifies, and spending more just to collect Points rarely makes financial sense.

Velocity explains how you can earn Points here

What about couples and families?

One useful feature is Family Pooling, which allows eligible members of the same household to direct their Points into one nominated account.

For couples who travel together, that could make accumulating enough Points for a flight easier than maintaining separate balances.

Eligibility rules apply, including limits on the number of participating family members.

Can you actually get a flight?

Velocity advertises domestic Economy Reward Seats from 5,900 Velocity Points one-way.

That’s a starting rate, not a promise. Availability depends on the route and travel dates, while taxes, fees and carrier charges still apply.

Members can also redeem Points for other rewards, including shopping options such as Myer. Comparing redemption options is worthwhile, particularly if your travel dates aren’t flexible.

Is there a downside?

Points can expire after inactivity. Most eligible earning or redemption activity extends their expiry date by 24 months, although Family Pooling and certain transfers have different rules.

The good news is that joining costs nothing, and you don’t need a credit card.

Ultimately, occasional flyers shouldn’t expect their weekly shopping to magically fund an overseas holiday. But collecting Points on purchases they’d make anyway could be worthwhile.

For anyone curious about how it works, Velocity explains the different ways members can earn Points here.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fly regularly?
No. Eligible everyday spending can earn Velocity Points between flights.

Are Reward Seats always available?
No. Seats are limited, and availability varies by route and date.

Is membership free?
Yes. There’s no fee to join Velocity Frequent Flyer.