Card Offers Refreshed Amex Velocity Platinum Credit Card: 60,000 bonus Velocity Points (expires 21/1/25)

Get unlimited Virgin Australia Lounge access, a free annual return domestic flight + more...​

Learn more and apply for this card:

American Express® Velocity Platinum Card

Get a free annual return Virgin Australia flight and a high Velocity points earning rate with the Amex Velocity Platinum credit card.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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What are the main benefits of this card?

1. Get a free annual return Virgin Australia domestic flight
2. Enjoy complimentary lounge access whenever you fly Virgin Australia, plus two annual lounge guest passes
3. Signup bonus: 60,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply by 21 January 2025 and spend at least $3,000 within 3 months of approval
4. Earn 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 on eligible purchases, uncapped, plus an extra point per $1 spent with Virgin Australia
5. Up to 100 bonus status credits per year when you spend $50,000 on your card
6. Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance

Why we like the American Express Explorer credit card

The American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card is one of the highest Velocity Points-earning cards in the Australian market.

Not only this, but you receive a complimentary annual return Virgin Australia flight and unlimited Virgin Australia Lounge access whenever you fly Virgin within Australia! You also get two single-entry Virgin Australia Lounge passes each year to share with friends or family travelling with you. These benefits more than offset the $440 annual fee, which is less than the cost of an outright Virgin Australia Lounge membership.

This card can also help you to achieve a higher Virgin Australia status tier, by rewarding you with up to 100 bonus Velocity status credits each year. You'll get 50 bonus status credits when you spend $25,000 on your card within a year, and another 50 if you spend $50,000.

Read our card guide for full details, terms & conditions:

American Express® Velocity Platinum Card

Get a free annual return Virgin Australia flight and a high Velocity points earning rate with the Amex Velocity Platinum credit card.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.

 

[Happy Dude]

Spoke to someone on the chat and they shared the below changes were coming on October 23rd

• Annual fee increase for the Velocity Platinum Card from $375.00 to $440.00.
• A new benefit to access Virgin Australia Lounges each time they fly with Virgin Australia domestically. (Requires enrolment and a purchase with the Card.)
• 50 Velocity Status Credits after $25,000.00 in purchases and another 50 Velocity Status Credits after spend reaches $50,000.00.
• Removal of Centurion Lounge

Welcome @Gummy Venus De Milo (excellent nom de plume!)

VA lounge access will be a winner, assuming it applies to rewards too). The other changes are a bit meh.

How does the 50 + 50 SCs work? Does spending on supps count towards those totals too? I'm also wondering if there's any types of spend that doesn't count towards the $25k/$50k totals, eg gov, rates etc.

I assume the SCs will count towards the 50% non-flying earn total under the new changes.

 

[MattA]

How does the 50 + 50 SCs work? Does spending on supps count towards those totals too? I'm also wondering if there's any types of spend that doesn't count towards the $25k/$50k totals, eg gov, rates etc.

Assuming it's the same as the current benefit (100SC after $50k spend each year) then yes, supplementals do count -- just hit this on Mrs MattA's card and the 100SCs came through immediately on hitting the $50k spend; it must have been across all cards as the primary card alone wouldn't have met the threshold. We didn't have a huge amount of gov/rates spend but pretty sure these were included in the spend threshold.

 

[Happy Dude]

Assuming it's the same as the current benefit (100SC after $50k spend each year) then yes, supplementals do count -- just hit this on Mrs MattA's card and the 100SCs came through immediately on hitting the $50k spend; it must have been across all cards as the primary card alone wouldn't have met the threshold. We didn't have a huge amount of gov/rates spend but pretty sure these were included in the spend threshold.

Cool. Thanks man.

 

[andyrb]

Spoke to someone on the chat and they shared the below changes were coming on October 23rd

It's Oct 23 and no sign of any update on the Amex website. Spoke to someone on chat and they said they've no idea when the card will be relaunched.

 

[Gummy Venus De Milo]

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Amex page and surprised nothings up there. It’s still technically the 23rd so let’s see out the rest of the day

 

[sage3421]

Apparently the announcement has been delayed until the 30th now.

 

[ols]

Well, it's the 30th coming up to 2-00pm AEST and nothing happened

 

[Bagpuss]

Yeah it looks like some cough changes nothing in the favour of us, the customer. $440 annual fee it’s excessive for what the little benefits this card has.

As I'm located in Perth $440 annual fee still covers the return flight costs to Sydney or Melbourne, Adelaide maybe not so much.

Plus with insurance it makes it more worthwhile.

The issue with the lounge access is you probably you won't be able to invite a guest.

 

[ols]

It's still crickets in regard to the "refreshed" card.

 

[Gummy Venus De Milo]

I know right, when I ask on chat about dates or details they’re all tight lipped.

The return flight is the perk making it difficult to justify. Not good for last minute planners like myself for domestic travel

 

[Ozymandias]

Looks like it's been updated for current card holders: Velocity Platinum Credit Card Benefits | AMEX Australia

• Flight benefit still available
• Consistent lounge access now available (that's a win in my book - with the changes to VFF I won't be able to maintain my status but will be happy to still have access)
• 2x guest passes are still available
• Confirmed Centurion Lounge is out from 24 April 2025
• 50 SC at $25k and another 50 at $50k also now available

 

[ols]

Looks like it's been updated for current card holders: Velocity Platinum Credit Card Benefits | AMEX Australia

• Flight benefit still available
• Consistent lounge access now available (that's a win in my book - with the changes to VFF I won't be able to maintain my status but will be happy to still have access)
• 2x guest passes are still available
• Confirmed Centurion Lounge is out from 24 April 2025
• 50 SC at $25k and another 50 at $50k also now available

No email announcement from Amex?
Couldn't see annual cost ($440?)

 

[ols]

Still have "returning soon" page up

 

[kerfuffle]

Looks like it's been updated for current card holders: Velocity Platinum Credit Card Benefits | AMEX Australia

• Flight benefit still available
• Consistent lounge access now available (that's a win in my book - with the changes to VFF I won't be able to maintain my status but will be happy to still have access)
• 2x guest passes are still available
• Confirmed Centurion Lounge is out from 24 April 2025
• 50 SC at $25k and another 50 at $50k also now available

I'd be interested now (assuming the earn rate is still the same). I have an Elevate Amex which earns 1 VFF point and a Velocity Escape card. With the Elevate Amex increasing from $49 to $95 or whatever, it might make more sense to consolidate the two Amexes into the Velocity Platinum Amex

Edit: Interesting that they're still flogging Vivid under Access & Offers; thought Amex weren't a sponsor any more?

 

[Ozymandias]

No email announcement from Amex?
Couldn't see annual cost ($440?)

No, the page appears to be mum on the annual fee.

 

[ols]

Looks like it's been updated for current card holders: Velocity Platinum Credit Card Benefits | AMEX Australia

• Consistent lounge access now available (that's a win in my book - with the changes to VFF I won't be able to maintain my status but will be happy to still have access)

Wonder will lounge access be there for additional card holder?
Can't see why not.

 

[kpc]

Wonder will lounge access be there for additional card holder?
Can't see why not.

+1 was going to cancel the card in January...if she and any additional card holders can get into Va lounges, it might be a keeper!

 

[kpc]

Wonder will lounge access be there for additional card holder?
Can't see why not.

Given they are giving you 2 lounge passes per year for family /friends, I suspect Va lounge access will only be for the main card holder only.

Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes

Each Membership year receive 2 complimentary Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes3 to treat friends or family to VA Lounge access, when travelling with you on a domestic Virgin Australia flight.

 

[MattA]

Wonder will lounge access be there for additional card holder?
Can't see why not.

No lounge for additional card holders. If you expand the terms at the bottom of the page it says:

Additional Card Members are not eligible.

 

[gwilli1]

Looks like it's been updated for current card holders: Velocity Platinum Credit Card Benefits | AMEX Australia

• Flight benefit still available
• Consistent lounge access now available (that's a win in my book - with the changes to VFF I won't be able to maintain my status but will be happy to still have access)
• 2x guest passes are still available
• Confirmed Centurion Lounge is out from 24 April 2025
• 50 SC at $25k and another 50 at $50k also now available

No Centurion lounge after 24 April 25 , is a huge loss considering the lack of VA international lounge access