This is the perfect time to top up your Velocity status credits to meet that tier qualification with some Christmas season travel. You only have until the end of October to book, that’s six days ’til Monday 30 October. But you have to book for travel until 31 December, so you only have two months to catch those flights. This is the third and almost certainly final double-status credit deal Virgin/Velocity will offer this year.
For frequent flyers, maintaining a certain status level in an airline’s loyalty program is essential. It comes with a range of benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding, and bonus points. Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program offers four status tiers – Red, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each with its own set of requirements in terms of status credits and eligible sectors.
The current promotion allows members of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program to earn double status credits on flights flown on Virgin metal with a VA flight number. This means that flights on partner airlines like All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air Canada, Qatar, Singapore, or United Airlines will not qualify. To take advantage of this offer, you must be a member of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program and register for the promotion on the program’s website.
Earning status credits depends on the fare class and distance flown. For example, a Business class flight between Melbourne and Sydney would normally earn you 55 status credits. With the double-status credit promotion, that number doubles to 110. The number of flights needed to reach a certain status level varies depending on the tier. To reach Silver, you need 250 status credits and 2 eligible sectors, while Gold requires 500 status credits and 4 eligible sectors. To achieve Platinum, you must earn 1,000 status credits and have 8 eligible sectors.
Earning status with Velocity/Virgin is generally considered easier than with Qantas, the national carrier of Australia. Virgin flights tend to offer more status credits on cheaper flights, and the qualifying levels are lower. However, the benefits offered by Virgin may be perceived as less valuable compared to Qantas. For example, lounge access can be a mixed blessing due to overcrowding, but some argue that Virgin’s lounges offer better food, albeit with more limited drink options.
In conclusion, if you are a member of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, now is the perfect time to top up your status credits and reach a higher tier qualification. The double-status credit promotion offered by Virgin Australia is only available for a limited time, so make sure to book your flights by the end of October and travel by the end of December. Whether you value the benefits offered by Virgin’s loyalty program over those of Qantas is subjective, but earning status with Virgin is generally considered easier and more cost-effective. Happy flying!