Every May and November, Virgin Australia typically runs a promotion offering a bonus if you transfer points into its Velocity Frequent Flyer program from a credit card partner.

Like clockwork, the offer is back in November 2023 – but it looks a bit different to past promos.

Let’s start with the good news.

Firstly, instead of the usual 15% bonus points offered in the past, this time you can earn a 20% bonus on any points you transfer into Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Secondly, this promo is running for three months instead of the usual one month. So, you can earn 20% extra on any points you transfer to Velocity between 1 November 2023 and 31 January 2024.

Thirdly, it seems all Australian bank reward programs that partner with Velocity Frequent Flyer are participating in this offer. This includes CommBank Awards, which doesn’t always take part.

So, what’s the catch?

To take advantage of this offer, you would either need to:

• Turn on Auto Transfer to automatically sweep all of your credit card points into Velocity Frequent Flyer, or
• Manually transfer points to Velocity at least once per month during each of the next three months (November 2023, December 2023 and January 2024)

If you do either of those things, you’ll receive a 20% bonus on top of any points that arrive in your Velocity account during the promo period by 29 February 2024.

That does mean you’ll need to wait a few months before receiving the bonus points. During previous promotions, the bonus Velocity points would arrive much quicker.

You can read the full offer terms & conditions on the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.

Should you turn on Auto Transfer?

The option to auto-transfer points into Velocity is available to members of the following bank-operated reward programs:

• ANZ Rewards
• ANZ Business Rewards
• Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards
• BankSA Amplify Rewards
• NAB Rewards
• St.George Amplify Rewards

If you turn on Velocity auto-redemption, your entire existing balance of credit card reward points will automatically be converted into Velocity points. Then, on an ongoing basis, any new points earned on your credit card will also sweep directly into your Velocity account at the end of each month.

The problem with this is that once you transfer points into any particular frequent flyer program, you can’t reverse this. You’re then “stuck” with Velocity points, rather than flexible bank reward points that you have the option to transfer to a range of different airlines.

If you primarily earn points on your credit card so that you can transfer them to Velocity Frequent Flyer, then this may work well for you. Besides, many Australian frequent flyers find Velocity a useful program.

But in order to maintain the flexibility that comes with credit card points, we’d suggest manually transferring points as you need them into Velocity.

The 20% bonus is a good offer. To take advantage of it, all you really need to do is make at least one manual transfer into Velocity – of any amount that your bank will allow – during November, December and January. There’s no need to convert your entire credit card reward program balance into Velocity points (unless, of course, you want to).

There is no need to register to earn 20% bonus Velocity points. You can make as many transfers as you like during the promotional period.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.