5 ways to upgrade and earn Velocity Points effectively in 2022
From credit cards to flying with partner airlines, get to your holiday faster with these top ways to earn Velocity Points and upgrade your flight.
Dreaming of a holiday? Now that travel is back, that dream can finally become a reality.
But if you're feeling the pinch or want to upgrade your holiday for less, Velocity Points could be the answer.
Here are our tips on how to upgrade and earn Velocity Points effectively this year.
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1. Earn Velocity Points on your everyday spending
This is one of the easiest ways to earn Velocity Points. Afterall, you're going to spend money anyway so why not be rewarded for it?
The American Express Velocity Platinum Card can get your Velocity Points up quick and fast.
You can earn a hefty 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at retailers.
Plus, new card members can score a whopping 75,000 bonus Velocity Points when they spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within in the first 3 months. See full details here.
There's an annual fee of $375 for the Velocity Platinum Card. This not only gets you that high Velocity Points earn-rate, but comes with a complimentary domestic Virgin Australia flight and 2 complimentary Virgin Australia lounge passes each year.
If that card doesn't sound right for you, the American Express Velocity Escape Card is your next best bet.
It's a no-annual-fee (hooray!) credit card with an earn rate of 0.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases.
Put your groceries, clothing shops, dining and bills on your card and watch your Velocity Points grow.
2. Fly with Velocity's partner network
Velocity might be Virgin Australia's frequent flyer program but you can also earn Velocity Points on loads of other airlines. (Though you will get a higher earn rate if you fly with Virgin Australia.)
Airlines that Virgin Australia is partnered with include Air Canada, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Qatar Airways.
If you're eyeing a destination that Virgin Australia doesn't offer, opt to fly on one of them instead.
You'll earn Velocity Points and Status Credits and could even get that coveted Silver, Gold or Platinum membership tier along with all its flight perks.
3. Family Pooling to get you that rewards flight faster
Pooling your family's Velocity Points together is a nifty little hack that Velocity offers to get one of you onto a Rewards Seat flight faster.
In short, Family Pooling lets you combine your household's earned Velocity Points AND Status Credits and give them to a nominated Velocity member.
Up to 6 family members can be included in a Family Pool, made up of no more than 2 adults and 4 children.
The accumulated Velocity Points can then be used to redeem flights, an upgrade or gain a higher membership level.
Not a Velocity member yet? It's free to join and there is no minimum age required. Sign up here.
4. Redeem Velocity Points on car hire and hotels
Points rich but cash poor? Consider rounding out your holiday using Velocity Points instead of cash.
Velocity is partnered with some of the biggest car hire brands around the world. These include:
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Thrifty
- Dollar Car Rental
- Ace Car Rental
You can pay for your rental in part or in full using Velocity Points.
If you have built up a bundle of Velocity Points over the past few years you could even find yourself upgrading to a luxury vehicle.
As for your stay? Velocity lets you redeem your Velocity Points at over 400,000 hotels worldwide. And, you only need a minimum of 2,000 Velocity Points to start putting them towards a room.
Similar to car hire, you can pay for your stay in part using Points + Pay or in full using Velocity Points. Note that the amount may vary depending on the hotel, when you book and your travel dates.
While your total generally includes taxes and fees, extras such car insurance, vehicle add-ons (for car hires) and items from the mini-bar (for hotel stays) may incur a cost.
You might also have to provide card details for security on the vehicle or room.
5. Put your loyalty into Velocity partners
Travelling isn't the only way to earn Velocity Points.
The program has a stack of on-ground partners too which cover shopping, dining, rideshare, groceries, credit cards and more.
Focus on shopping with them - and accumulating bonuses - and you could literally become a Velocity Points millionaire without ever taking a flight.
A popular way to earn Velocity Points on everyday spends is by linking your Flybuys account to Velocity.
You can then transfer Flybuys points earned from shopping at Kmart, Target, Coles and more to your Velocity account.
Doing this is key to getting your Velocity Points up as you're essentially double-dipping.
You could be earning Velocity Points by transfering Flybuys points ON TOP OF earning them from using your American Express Velocity Points Card. Genius.
Learn more about the American Express Velocity Platinum Card
Compare other Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards here
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