Ask most Australians what loyalty program they use and they'll say Qantas without thinking. But the savvy frequent flyers know a secret: Velocity often wins for domestic travel, status perks, and partner redemptions. With Singapore Airlines as a partner (meaning Singapore Suites is within reach of Velocity Points), this program punches well above its weight. Here's the full breakdown.
What Is Velocity Frequent Flyer?
Velocity is the loyalty program of Virgin Australia. With around 10 million members, it's Australia's second-largest airline loyalty scheme. Despite Virgin Australia's bankruptcy in 2020 (and subsequent restructure under Bain Capital), Velocity has emerged stronger — and a partnership with Singapore Airlines is arguably the crown jewel of the program, giving members access to some of the best airline products in the world.
How Does It Work for Australians?
- Join free at velocityfrequentflyer.com
- Earn points on Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and SkyTeam partners
- Credit card earn: ANZ, Bank of Melbourne, St George, BankSA, HSBC
- Retail partners: Velocity has partnered with Coles (via flybuys), iSelect, and others
- Redeem for Classic and Any Seat awards on Virgin Australia domestic + Singapore Airlines
- Status tiers: Red (base) → Silver → Gold → Platinum
Pricing & Point Values
- Sydney–Melbourne economy Classic award: 7,700 points one-way (excellent value)
- Sydney–London via Singapore (Business Class): 96,200 points one-way on Singapore Airlines (vs QFF 72,000 — but significantly better availability)
- Singapore Airlines First Class SYD–SIN: 86,700 points one-way (one of the best redemptions on earth)
- Value per point: ~AUD 0.6–2.5 cents depending on redemption
| ✅ What We Love | ❌ What Could Be Better |
|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines partnership = access to world-class premium cabins | Smaller credit card earn network than Qantas |
| Domestic award availability is often better than Qantas | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Gold status upgrades on VA domestic flights are genuinely attainable | International redemption network is smaller than oneworld |
| Lounge access from Gold status onward (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) | Coles/flybuys earn rate is lower than Woolworths/QFF |
| No fuel surcharges on most Singapore Airlines partner awards | Program has less prestige than Qantas among general public |
Velocity vs Alternatives
vs Qantas Frequent Flyer: Qantas wins on credit card diversity and retail partners. Velocity wins on Singapore Airlines access and domestic award availability.
vs Asia Miles: Asia Miles is a better alternative for Cathay/oneworld flights. Velocity is better for Singapore Airlines access.
The Smart Move: Many Australians run both Velocity and QFF. Use Velocity for SYD–MEL–BNE domestic flying and Singapore Airlines upgrades; use QFF for international flights on Qantas metal and oneworld partners.
Verdict — Is Velocity Worth It for Australian Travellers?
Absolutely — especially if Singapore Airlines is in your future. If you ever plan to fly Singapore Airlines (and Australians do — it's consistently rated the world's best airline), collecting Velocity Points is the most achievable way to do it in premium class. Pair your Velocity membership with a bank credit card that earns transferable points (like AMEX or ANZ) and start building toward that Singapore Suites seat.
Join Velocity Frequent Flyer Free →Velocity Status Tiers and What They Deliver
Velocity has four status tiers: Red (base, no status), Silver (25 Status Credits), Gold (50 Status Credits), and Platinum (100 Status Credits). The thresholds are measured per membership year. Silver status provides priority check-in and boarding on Virgin Australia flights plus 50% bonus Velocity Points earn. Gold unlocks lounge access at Virgin Australia lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth plus complimentary upgrades when available and 75% bonus earn. Platinum provides all Gold benefits plus confirmed upgrades (not just waitlisted) and a dedicated contact number. For Australians who fly Virgin domestically 8-12 times per year on mid-range fares, Gold status is achievable and genuinely valuable -- the lounge access alone saves significant time and the upgrades are more reliably delivered than Qantas equivalent status at the same level.
The Velocity-Singapore Airlines Partnership
Velocity's partnership with Singapore Airlines (SQ) is one of the programme's most valuable features. Velocity Points transfer to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer at a 1.55:1 rate (1.55 Velocity Points buys 1 KrisFlyer Mile) and KrisFlyer miles can be redeemed for Singapore Airlines flights including SQ's world-class Suites and business class products. The reverse is also available: KrisFlyer Miles transfer to Velocity at 1:1.35. For Australians who accumulate Velocity Points via credit card spending and want to redeem for long-haul luxury travel, the KrisFlyer conversion pathway unlocks Singapore Airlines' premium cabins -- among the best in the world -- at redemption rates that represent genuinely outstanding value.
Velocity vs Qantas: Which Programme is Better for Australians?
The honest answer is that most Australians should participate in both rather than choosing one exclusively. The practical framework: earn Qantas Points through Woolworths Everyday Rewards (mandatory for regular Woolworths shoppers since Everyday Rewards integrates with both programmes), earn Velocity Points through Virgin credit card spending and Virgin flights. Use Qantas Points for international business class (the programme's best redemption by far). Use Velocity Points for domestic Virgin upgrades and Asia-Pacific partner redemptions through Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. The competition between the two programmes has historically driven better earn rates, sign-up bonuses and redemption value than either would provide as a monopoly. Loyalty programme diversification -- not concentrating everything with one programme -- also protects against devaluations that either programme may announce with limited notice.
The Velocity Points sweet spot that most Australians underutilise: domestic upgrades. When flying Virgin Australia domestically, a business class upgrade using Velocity Points on the day of departure ('Points Upgrade' on the Virgin app, available when unsold business class seats exist at departure) costs approximately 4,000-8,000 points per leg. On a Sydney-Perth route, the upgrade from economy to business (larger seat, better meal, Priority boarding) for 6,000 points is exceptional value -- the cash upgrade price for the same seat is typically AUD $150-300. Velocity Frequent Flyer rewards consistent earners who redeem deliberately -- the programme's genuine value is unlocked through the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer partnership for premium international travel redemptions and through the domestic upgrade pathway for regular Virgin Australia flyers. Velocity Frequent Flyer's genuine value emerges through the combination of everyday earning via Woolworths and credit cards, and strategic redemption through the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer partnership -- the programme rewards members who engage with both dimensions consistently.