Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn double status credits on new Virgin Australia domestic flight bookings made by 10 August 2021, for travel until 28 June 2022. However, this latest Velocity double status credits offer excludes Economy Getaway fares. That’s the cheapest category of Economy class fares.
With this offer, it would be possible to earn Virgin Australia Gold status from scratch for well under $1,000 – or earn Platinum status for less than $1,400. Or, if you already have Velocity Gold status, you could renew it for as little as $527 by taking advantage of this promotion!
Double Velocity status credit offer T&Cs
Virgin Australia’s current double status credit offer is running from 2-10 August 2021. You can book an unlimited number of Virgin Australia marketed and operated domestic flights during this period, for travel until 28 June 2022, and all will earn double status credits – except Economy Getaway bookings.
To earn double status credits, you must register for this offer on the Velocity Frequent Flyer website or App before booking.
Bookings made using a travel bank credit or Future Flight credit should still be eligible to earn double status credits.
Virgin Australia status runs
On Virgin Australia, as with most airlines, tickets in the more expensive fare categories earn more status credits. And flights in Business Class earn significantly more status credits.
As Australian Frequent Flyer revealed a few weeks ago, Virgin Australia’s Business Class fares are generally quite cheap now on most routes. In fact, by booking at least 28 days in advance and using a current Virgin Australia discount code, you could book a Business Saver ticket for as little as $182.11 on routes like Brisbane-Rockhampton or Melbourne-Launceston.
A Business Saver fare on routes with a distance of under 750 miles would normally earn 50 status credits each way. With double status credits, that increases to 100 status credits per flight. On a round trip, for example from Rockhampton to Brisbane, that’s 200 status credits at a cost of $1.82/status credit!
But the best earner is a Business Saver ticket from Canberra to Adelaide via Melbourne, or vice versa. By booking at least 28 days in advance and using a promo code, you can get a Business Saver fare for as low as $263.31 one-way. This would earn 200 status credits.
By booking this as a return trip, you could earn 400 Velocity status credits for $526.62. That’s $1.32 per status credit, and quite possibly the cheapest way to renew Velocity Gold status that we’ve ever seen.
As a reminder, this is the number of status credits you would need to earn or renew Virgin Australia status:
Velocity Status | Status Credits to Earn | Status Credits to Renew | Eligible Sectors required |
Silver | 250 | 200 | 2 |
Gold | 500 | 400 | 4 |
Platinum | 1,000 | 800 | 8 |
With 5 one-way trips from Canberra to Adelaide via Melbourne on a Business Saver ticket, you could even qualify for Velocity Platinum status from scratch, spending $1,316.55 on the flights.
Check out our recent guide to the best value Virgin Australia Business airfares for more route suggestions.
Don’t forget that Virgin also offers family pooling so members of the same household can “pool” their status credits into one person’s account.
While there is still a risk of lockdowns or state border restrictions scuppering your travel plans if you book now, bookings for next year should be a relatively safe bet. And if you can’t travel, Virgin Australia will at least let you change your travel dates for free (a fare difference may apply) or cancel your booking for a travel credit.
However, beware that Virgin Australia may not offer you a refund unless you’ve booked a refundable fare. “Business” fares are the only type that are fully refundable with no penalty, while Economy Freedom fares can be refunded for an $80 fee.
Velocity Frequent Flyer’s last bonus status credits offer was in May 2021, when the airline offered 20 bonus status credits on every flight except those booked in the Getaway category.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Double SCs for bookings till 10/8/21 [travel until 28/6/22]