Need a few more Virgin Australia status credits to reach the next tier with Velocity Frequent Flyer? The easiest way to upgrade to Velocity Silver, Gold or Platinum status is to take a status run.
As of 2 April 2025, Velocity Frequent Flyer now awards status credits for Virgin Australia flights based on the cost of your ticket. You’ll earn 1 status credit per $12 on Choice, Flex and Business fares, or 1 status credit per $24 for Economy Lite tickets. This includes VA marketed codeshare flights operated by other airlines.
Unfortunately, this change limits the opportunities to get outsized value with status runs on Virgin Australia flights. But you do still have some options…
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Changes to Velocity status from 1 October 2025
In addition to awarding status credits based on spend for Virgin Australia flights, there are two more changes coming up later in the year which will also impact how you earn Velocity status:
- Partner airline flights flown on/after 1 October 2025 will earn status credits at a reduced rate, but still based on charts which take into account the fare class and distance flown.
- From 1 October 2025, Velocity will also add a requirement that at least 50% of the status credits needed to earn or retain a tier must come from VA marketed flights that you have personally flown (i.e. not from family pooling).
You can check the number of status credits you’ll earn for partner airline flights on the Velocity Frequent Flyer website.
After these changes come into effect, most flights will unfortunately earn fewer status credits than they did previously. Since you’ll earn Velocity status credits based on your spend, this removes a lot of the “gamification”. But there could still be some lucrative sweet spots with partner airlines.
Earning status credits without flying
From October 2025, at least 50% of the status credits you need to earn or maintain your Velocity status tier must be from Virgin Australia marketed flights. But up to 50% can be from flights booked through partner airlines, Flybuys, family pooling and even certain credit cards like the Virgin Money High Flyer or Amex Velocity Platinum cards.
Earn bonus status credits and get a free annual return flight…
- Card Name
- American Express Velocity Platinum
- Earn
- 1.25
- Signup Bonus
-
100,000 bonus Velocity Points*
Apply by 30th Apr 2025
- Annual Fee
- $440 p.a.
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on everyday purchases
Velocity Frequent Flyer’s family pooling scheme lets you combine the status credits earned by the rest of your family into your own personal account. This could be useful if you travel as a family.
Our top Velocity Frequent Flyer status run picks
Looking for some Velocity Frequent Flyer status run inspiration? Here is our selection of the best Virgin Australia status runs for earning Velocity status credits under the current version of the program as of 2 April 2025…
1. Tips for status runs using Virgin Australia flights
Just short a few status credits and don’t want to fly overseas to get them? You can of course still earn status credits when booking Virgin Australia flights. But there’s no particular benefit to booking a certain route over another one, as you’ll earn pretty much the same amount of status credits per dollar spent.
Of course, it’s worth buying an Economy Choice, Flex or Business fare as you’ll earn status credits at twice the rate of Economy Lite.
Also note that the amount of status credits earned is rounded up to the nearest $12 or $24. For example, if you buy an Economy Choice ticket that costs $167, you’ll earn 14 status credits. But if you buy one that costs $169, you would earn 15 status credits. So, finding a ticket that costs slightly more than a multiple of $12 could get you an extra status credit without spending a full $12.
With all of this in mind, if there is a specific amount of status credits you need to earn, you might as well multiply this amount by 12 to work out the ideal ticket price for earning the amount you need. Then, find a flight that costs as close to this amount as possible.
The same earning system applies to VA-marketed codeshare flights operated by partner airlines including Air New Zealand.
Under the new system, the only real loophole to earn extra status credits on Virgin Australia flights without spending more would be to take advantage of double or triple status credit promotions (when Virgin is running these).
There is an exception for Virgin Australia flights to/from Doha, which earn at the same rate as Qatar Airways flights.
Different earn rates also apply to Virgin Australia domestic flights booked as part of an international partner airline itinerary.
2. Domestic First Class on United Airlines
Thanks to its partnership with Virgin Australia, you can earn Velocity status credits on United Airlines flights.
A “sweet spot” here is domestic First Class flights, particularly on connecting itineraries, which are often well-priced.
Until 1 October 2025, United Airlines Business & First Class flights earn Velocity status credits at the following rates, based on the distance flown:
- Up to 750 miles: 40 status credits
- 751 to 1,500 miles: 60 status credits
- 1,501 to 3,000 miles: 80 status credits
When flying on/after 1 October 2025, you’ll earn status credits at the following rates for United Business & First Class flights:
- Up to 500 miles: 30 status credits
- 501 to 1,500 miles: 50 status credits
- 1,501 to 2,500 miles: 70 status credits
- 2,501 to 3,500 miles: 90 status credits
Some US domestic routes are over 2,500 miles, such as San Francisco-Miami.
3. Singapore Airlines Premium Economy to the USA
Singapore Airlines has reasonably competitive pricing on its Premium Economy fares from Australia to destinations in the USA including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York (via Singapore). But the Premium Economy pricing from Asian departure points like Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok to the USA can be especially good (often under $2,000 return). Note that the intra-Asia connector flight will generally book into Economy Class.
A return Kuala Lumpur-Singapore-San Francisco flight in Singapore Airlines Premium Economy would earn you 320 status credits if flown by 30 September 2025. After this date, the same round-trip itinerary would earn 270 Velocity status credits.
4. Hawaiian Airlines Inter-Island First Class
The remaining status run options featured in this article are on partner airlines. From 1 October 2025, you’ll be able to use these options to earn up to 50% of the required status credits to earn or upgrade to a higher Velocity status tier.
One current option is with Hawaiian Airlines, but only for flights taken until 30 June 2025. After this date, Virgin Australia will end its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines First Class fares within the Hawaiian islands are relatively inexpensive, and you’ll earn 40 status credits per sector!
The flights are short so don’t expect a meal on board. But you will get a larger seat, complimentary baggage allowance and lounge access. The difference in price between Coach and First Class is minimal, so it’s often worth paying a little more for the extra status credits.
5. Etihad Airways Business Class from Manila to Europe
Etihad’s Business Class fares from Manila in The Philippines to certain European destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Geneva, Dublin and Athens are often very well priced at around $2,500 return. On a Business Class return trip from Manila to Barcelona (via Abu Dhabi), for example, you would earn 480 status credits.
If you’re looking for a cheap way to get to Europe in Business Class, consider booking a positioning flight to Manila.
For example, you could book a ticket to The Philippines using Velocity points to fly Singapore Airlines, or Qantas points to fly Qantas. From there, you could fly Etihad for a fraction of the price that you’d pay booking a Business Class ticket all the way from Australia to Europe!
Please note that Etihad will no longer be a Velocity partner from 1 June 2025. You will no longer be able to earn Velocity points or status credits when flying Etihad Airways from this date.
