How the family benefits from the Velocity Frequent Flyer program

We may sign up for frequent flyer memberships on our own, but there are times when these loyalty accounts can help the whole family – and boost rewards in the process. It’s this area of service that sets Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program apart from many others, with a dedicated range of Family Benefits that make it easier for members to include their loved ones.

Velocity provides members with various ways to share perks with family members, whether in the form of sharing and pooling points, booking airfares for one another, or inviting guests to the airport lounge. To ensure you and your family get the most out of your Velocity Points, here are the key family benefits you can enjoy.

The standard range of Velocity Family Benefits

There are four main Family Benefits categories that any Velocity member can use. These are focused on earning and sharing points, but also offer some key features for new parents or parents-to-be. Here’s a breakdown of each feature and how or when you can use them to your (and your family’s) advantage.

1. Family Pooling

Family Pooling lets you combine Velocity Frequent Flyer points and Status Credits with other family members that live at the same home address. You can add up to six family members to a pool – including a nominated beneficiary – with a maximum of two adults and four children under 18 years of age.

Pooled points and Status Credits are then available to a nominated Velocity member within the family, known as the beneficiary. The beneficiary can then use them for any rewards redemption such as flights, or to upgrade to a higher membership level. It’s great for families that travel a lot, as it means everyone can earn points individually, but then share the points for future bookings.

You can set up Family Pooling in a few simple steps:

1. Log in to your Velocity account.
2. Select “Family Pooling” on the left hand side of the screen.
3. Select a pooling option (points or points and Status Credits).
4. Provide the name and membership number of the family member nominated as a beneficiary.
5. Confirm all the details and accept the terms and conditions.
6. Repeat this process for all other family members.

2. Membership pause for parental leave

When you are a Silver, Gold or Platinum Velocity member, you usually have to maintain this status by earning a set amount of Status Credits every year. If you are expecting a new addition to your family, travel could be less frequent for a while. That’s where Membership Pause can be useful – it lets you maintain your current membership level for a six-month period. Then, when the Membership Pause period ends, you will resume your membership at the same level for another 12 months.

Key details for Velocity Membership Pause

When you’re approved for Membership Pause, you can also continue to earn and redeem points and Status Credits. Your existing Status Credits also expire as usual (but your membership level stays the same). A membership pause can be used once for every child under the age of two, and it’s available for both parents of the same child.

These terms give you a great amount of flexibility to choose the right time to pause your membership, whether that’s just before or after pregnancy, or in the first two years of your child’s life. You can set up a membership pause by calling the Membership Centre and requesting it.

Keep in mind that you may also be asked to provide documentation for the child, whether it’s related to pregnancy, recent or future childbirth or adoption of a child.

Velocity recommends any of the following as supporting documentation:

• A doctor’s certificate
• A birth certificate
• An adoption or foster parent registration certificate

It’s a good idea to have these details handy before you call so that you can refer to it as necessary. That way the Membership Pause can be set up as quickly as possible and you can get on with things.

3. Family points transfers

As the name suggests, this feature gives you the option of transferring points from your account to that of another family member. All you have to do is login to your account, select “Points Transfer – Family”, fill out their details, and tick the terms and conditions boxes. You can even send a message with the points if you want. We've highlighted the steps here.

4. Points for pets

Pets are a part of the family for many people, so Velocity has made it possible to earn points for your pets travel and care needs in three different ways:

• Earn points when pets travel with you. If you have a cat or dog travelling with you on a Virgin Australia domestic flight, you earn a minimum of 300 points per pet carrier for each sector you fly in. This option covers up to two carriers at a time, so if you have a couple of fur babies you can get at least an extra 600 points when they travel with you. If you have a Silver, Gold or Platinum membership, you’ll get a bonus 50%, 75% and 100% points respectively. To get these benefits, you have to travel with your pet with your Velocity membership number included on the booking.
• Points for flights booked through JetPets. JetPets provides customised transport options for pets moving locally, interstate and internationally. If you book your pet (cat, dog or otherwise) on a Virgin domestic or international flight through JetPet, you can get three points per $1 spent. This applies even if you’re not travelling with your pet, giving you a bit more flexibility with the travel arrangements – and potentially a lot more points. The cost will vary depending on the pet, timeframe, location and other details, but you can get a quote online to see how many points you’ll earn.
• Pet insurance points. Velocity also offers three points per $1 spent on insurance policies from petinsurance.com.au – the first Australian insurer to offer cover for puppies and indoor cats. The coverage can be personalised to suit your needs for up to three years at a time. To earn Velocity points, just enter your membership number when getting a quote and paying for the policy.

These pet options have set Virgin apart from the competition in Australia when it comes to earning reward points. Plus, it makes it easier to include your pets in the family travel plans, whatever and wherever they may be.

Family Benefits for Gold and Platinum Velocity members

If you are a Gold or Platinum Velocity member, you get access to a number of additional Family Benefits options when it comes to booking flights, lounge access and membership levels.

For Gold and Platinum members

Guaranteed economy Reward Seats for an annual family trip

Velocity will help you find the Economy Rewards Seats you want when booking a family trip for up to four people. This guarantees the rewards seat price, and applies to any destination in Australia for Gold members, as well as hundreds of worldwide destinations for Platinum members. This is a great option if your family wants to travel at a peak time, such as Easter, school holidays or the Christmas period.

• Conditions for guaranteed seating

  Here are the conditions you need to meet to take advantage of guaranteed seats:

  • You must be included as one of the four people in the booking
  • The booking must be made at least six months in advance
  • For domestic flights you have to allow for a three-day booking window for each flight (one day either side of the desired departure and return dates)
  • For international flights (available for Platinum members), you have to allow a seven-day booking window for each flight. The airline and flight will also be chosen at Velocity’s discretion
  • If there is no direct flight available from the desired airport of departure, Velocity may offer alternatives at the airline’s expense
  • You must contact the Membership Centre to make the booking.

It’s also good to know that while the Guaranteed Reward Seats option will expire if it’s not redeemed before the Gold or Platinum Membership review date, the travel dates for flights can be outside of that. So if you were a Gold member when you booked, but don’t earn enough Status Credits to maintain in a few months later, you’ll still get the benefit of your pre-booked, Guaranteed Reward Seats. You can also make bookings while on a Membership Pause for Parental Leave, and while the points used for these bookings have to come out of the Gold or Platinum member’s account, you may be able to use a combination of points-plus-pay if you don’t have enough points for all four Reward Seats.

Family-friendly lounge access

Gold Velocity members can invite one additional guest into the Virgin Australia, and Platinum members can invite up to three additional guests. Both Gold and Platinum members can also be accompanied in the lounge by up to two children under the age of 12. To access a Virgin Australia Lounge, you will have to show your membership card and travel itinerary or boarding pass. You may also need to sign your guest or guests in, or show they are travelling with you. So make sure you have all these details handy when you get to the airport lounge.

For Velocity Platinum members only

Companion memberships

Platinum members can gift a Gold or Platinum membership to a family member or friend using additional Status Credits. To gift a Gold membership, you need to earn an extra 500 Status Credits and for Platinum you need to earn 1,000.

It’s worth noting these credits are only available for gifting a membership once you earn enough to maintain your own Platinum status. Otherwise it’s a great opportunity to share the perks with a loved one when you are a frequent flyer.

With all of these family benefits available through Velocity, you have a greater range of opportunities to earn and use points, book family trips, take care of your pets and get more out of being a frequent flyer member. The program is also updated on a regular basis, so keep an eye out for updates throughout the year to stay on top of all the ways you and your family can reap these rewards.