The Ultimate (Unofficial) Beginner’s Guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer A Guide to understanding and obtaining maximum value from Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer program 3 August, 2015 Ultimate (Unofficial) Guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer | 2 Executive Summary When Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program was re-launched in 2011, one of its main aims was to be better than Qantas. In many aspects, Virgin has succeeded. Velocity Frequent Flyer now offers significant benefits – many of which are unique to the program – to Australian frequent flyers. Velocity Frequent Flyer is packed full of potential value if you understand the program and know how best to use it to your advantage. This Beginner’s Guide will explain everything you need to know about the Velocity program in easy-to-understand language. It explores the very best ways to earn and burn points, as well how to take advantage of the program’s best features. For example, did you know that you can use your Velocity points to fly on Star Alliance airlines – even in First Class – by transferring them to Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer program? Or that Velocity members have access to complimentary elite status with a range of hotel and hire car loyalty programs? We’ll also show you how to get the reward seats you want, how to take advantage of Family Pooling, methods of earning Velocity points for free, and even strategies to save money on your next Virgin Australia flight! The Guide points out the best and worst features of the program, without the marketing spin. It will show you how to avoid the pitfalls, and how to take maximum advantage of the many unique benefits offered by the Velocity program. If you fly often, you will be able to climb the status ladder and take advantage of the perks Virgin offers to Silver, Gold and Platinum elite flyers. But even if you don’t fly often, there is still much value in the Velocity program. The Guide looks at the many ways to earn points without flying, and how best to use them. Plus, even if you only take only family holiday each year, you may still be able to enjoy the perks of Gold status! We’ll show you how. This Guide covers everything you need to know, from the basics to advanced and little- known techniques to reap the rewards on offer. Even if you fly Virgin regularly, we are confident that you’ll learn some new tricks. Before you know it, you’ll be living it up in the pointy end of the plane – that’s right, business or first class – on a flight to a destination of your choice! Important Note: The information in this Guide was accurate on the date of publication. Information will almost certainly change over time. © The Australian Frequent Flyer, 2015. All rights reserved. August 2015. Ultimate (Unofficial) Guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer | 3 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction: Why Velocity Frequent Flyer? ............................................................................ 5 Chapter 1: Understanding the basics ....................................................................................... 6 How to join ............................................................................................................................. 6 Points & Status Credits .......................................................................................................... 6 Expiry of points ...................................................................................................................... 7 Family point transfers ............................................................................................................ 7 Transferring points with Singapore Airlines .......................................................................... 7 How to save money on Virgin Australia flights ...................................................................... 8 Avoiding Virgin’s credit card fee ............................................................................................ 8 Virgin’s partner airlines .......................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Earning points and status credits in the air ......................................................... 10 Earning points with Virgin Australia .................................................................................... 10 Earning points with partner airlines .................................................................................... 11 Earning status credits ........................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 3: How to maximise points earn ............................................................................... 13 Flying .................................................................................................................................... 13 Shopping with program partners ......................................................................................... 13 Booking hotels ..................................................................................................................... 15 Velocity eStore ..................................................................................................................... 15 Earning points for free ......................................................................................................... 15 Global Wallet® ..................................................................................................................... 16 Credit cards .......................................................................................................................... 16 A selection of the best currently-available credit cards .................................................. 17 Credit card sign-up bonuses ................................................................................................ 18 Transferring credit card rewards points to Velocity ............................................................ 19 Chapter 4: Getting the best value for your points ................................................................. 20 Which redemptions offer the best value? ........................................................................... 20 Velocity Rewards Store .................................................................................................... 21 Any Seat, Any Airline Redemption ................................................................................... 21 Any Seat (Points + Pay) Redemption ............................................................................... 22 Holidays, Hotels & Hire Cars ............................................................................................ 22 Virgin Australia lounge membership ............................................................................... 22 Reward Seats.................................................................................................................... 23 © The Australian Frequent Flyer, 2015. All rights reserved. August 2015. Ultimate (Unofficial) Guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer | 4 Flight upgrades ................................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 5: Flight redemptions – Everything you need to know ............................................ 25 Reward Seats........................................................................................................................ 25 Which Reward seat redemptions are the best value? .................................................... 27 How to book a Reward Seat............................................................................................. 27 How to search for Velocity reward availability ................................................................ 28 Other tips for finding reward seats .................................................................................. 30 Any Seat (Points + Pay) redemptions ................................................................................... 31 Any Seat, Any Airline redemptions ...................................................................................... 31 Transferring points to KrisFlyer & redeeming with Singapore/Star Alliance ...................... 32 Transferring points to KrisFlyer & redeeming with Virgin Australia .................................... 35 Chapter 6: Flight upgrades – Everything you need to know.................................................. 37 Upgrading with points: Domestic and international short-haul .......................................... 37 Upgrading with points: International long-haul .................................................................. 38 How to check whether an upgrade is available ................................................................... 38 Upgrade auctions ................................................................................................................. 39 Complimentary upgrades for Platinum frequent flyers ...................................................... 39 Transferring points to KrisFlyer & upgrading on Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance .......... 40 Chapter 7: Elite status tiers ..................................................................................................... 41 Tiers and their associated benefits .....................................................................................