Will you still earn/retain Velocity status beyond 2025?

[SCM]

Just a question, with this again;

at least 225 SC
must be from your VA marketed and/or operated flights

I booked an iteniery with QR through them and all flight numbers QR of course, but it uses VA1 & 2. Since they are operated by VA, would they count for this?

 

[odysseus]

Just a question, with this again;



I booked an iteniery with QR through them and all flight numbers QR of course, but it uses VA1 & 2. Since they are operated by VA, would they count for this?

Based on the wording it does:

Earning Status Credits with Virgin Australia marketed and or operated flights, flown by you.

As detailed above, both upgrading and maintaining Status requires a minimum number of Status Credits to be earned on eligible Virgin Australia marketed and or operated flights flown by you.

These flights include:

• Partner Airline marketed flights that are operated by Virgin Australia​

  
  These flights are sometimes referred to as "Partner Airline codeshare" and are any route that Virgin Australia operated, but have a Partner Airline flight number (e.g., SQ 6435 from Canberra to Brisbane is operated by Virgin Australia).

VELOCITY MEMBERSHIP STATUS Enjoy benefits that are tailored to your Velocity membership level.

As a Platinum, Gold or Silver Velocity member, Velocity member, you will receive all the benefits you expect from a world-class global frequent flyer program, plus a unique range of benefits tailored with our Platinum and Gold Velocity members in mind

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[clifford]

Since they are operated by VA, would they count for this?

"Operated" is an interesting word in this context.

 

[SCM]

"Operated" is an interesting word in this context.

Well when booking these on QR website, it says, "flights operated by Virgin Australia".

I know it's funny, but it is what it is?

 

[straitman]

In what universe is the new status system "simpler"?

View attachment 477808

For an individual who flies VA exclusively it is about as simple and cheap as it gets. Be organised and buy your flights when there is a double SC promo and maintaining Platinum costs only $4800 and a bunch of that can be from pooling.

It only starts to get complicated when you go beyond VA's immediate area of operations.

 

[PERLHR]

For an individual who flies VA exclusively it is about as simple and cheap as it gets. Be organised and buy your flights when there is a double SC promo and maintaining Platinum cost only $4800 and a bunch of that can be from pooling.

It only starts to get complicated when you go beyond VA's immediate area of operations.

Two assumptions here....one that VA will offer double SC at a time that suits all...plus tell how you reach the 4800 spend cost? Can only assume that's east coast flying? Pooling is still.good agreed...albeit not as good as it was.

 

[straitman]

Two assumptions here....one that VA will offer double SC at a time that suits all...plus tell how you reach the 4800 spend cost? Can only assume that's east coast flying? Pooling is still.good agreed...albeit not as good as it was.

What I quoted is of course the extreme. Like everything else in life timing is important. The $4800 assumes all flights were booked using double SC. ie $6 per SC.

Without sitting and working it all through I would suggest that I have retained Platinum for under $6000.

 

[Bolthead]

Two assumptions here....one that VA will offer double SC at a time that suits all...plus tell how you reach the 4800 spend cost? Can only assume that's east coast flying? Pooling is still.good agreed...albeit not as good as it was.

In our case pooling doesn't help us as both my wife and I have been able to maintain WP for many years. Now we don't bother to pool at all as we have to first focus on achieving the 50% level (400 points) I think in time we either will have to be happy with SG or one of us try to manintain WP. Sure DSC may help however because all our flying is for liesure we don't plan that far ahead. (or have already booked)

 

[Falcs]

For an individual who flies VA exclusively it is about as simple and cheap as it gets. Be organised and buy your flights when there is a double SC promo and maintaining Platinum costs only $4800 and a bunch of that can be from pooling.

Personally I find it easier to think "Syd-Mel Choice" = 15SC rather than "How much was my ticket again" ?

 

[Flyerwin]

Just hit WP with VA for first time.

Went straight to status match with IHG Plat (since I have Hilton Gold via Amex Plat).

Anything else I should be doing?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just hit WP with VA for first time.

Went straight to status match with IHG Plat (since I have Hilton Gold via Amex Plat).

Anything else I should be doing?

Choose your car partner?

I went with europcar only because it gave a free secondary driver, which saved me some money on the hires we did.

 

[Flyerwin]

Choose your car partner?

Yeah I was thinking of doing that - already got status with Hertz and Avis via Amex Plat. For some reason I can't login to Europcar and can't register a new account, so will do that once that error is fixed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah I was thinking of doing that - already got status with Hertz and Avis via Amex Plat. For some reason I can't login to Europcar and can't register a new account, so will do that once that error is fixed.

I had the same issue like two years ago? Couldn’t sign up. At the time, there were like two Europcar sites, one euro and one aussie (or something). Could never sign up on one, so signed up on the other. All good and the account status was matched no problem.

 

[Flyerwin]

I had the same issue like two years ago? Couldn’t sign up. At the time, there were like two Europcar sites, one euro and one aussie (or something). Could never sign up on one, so signed up on the other. All good and the account status was matched no problem.

Protip right there - .com.au didn't work but .com registration worked - sorted.

 

[HS-TQE]

Interesting thread posted by the AFF admin. They've done the maths on QFF vs VFF, taking into consideration the sizes (i.e smaller VA International Partner network) and that you can't book VA trips originating overseas as it's primarily a Australian/Domestic Airline.

Thread 'Article: Is Qantas or Velocity Status Harder to Earn?'

Oct 27, 2025

Following the recent changes to the Velocity program, is it now harder to earn Velocity status than Qantas status? We did the maths to find out:

Is Qantas or Velocity Status Harder to Earn in 2025?

Our analysis shows that it costs an average flyer around 2-3x more money to earn status with Qantas than with Virgin Australia Velocity. But there's a catch.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

• AFF Editor
• Replies: 71
• Forum: Open Discussion

• 
• 
• 

 

[MH_fan]

If you don't fly internationally, VFF is acceptable. But if you do fly internationally (more than once or twice a year), QFF gives you more bang for your buck!

 

[drron]

So will miss retaining gold by 38 SCs. VA will still be my major program due to availability to snag SQ and QR seats which I can't do with QFF.

 

[PERLHR]

So will miss retaining gold by 38 SCs. VA will still be my major program due to availability to snag SQ and QR seats which I can't do with QFF.

38 points only....that's a shame. Nothing you can do to get them via a quick trip?

 

[henrus]

So will miss retaining gold by 38 SCs. VA will still be my major program due to availability to snag SQ and QR seats which I can't do with QFF.

I mean that's the thing about the current program, 38SCs on a VA status run is $456 (excluding lite fares). If flying VA Y or partners a bit in the next 12 months could be worth it plus the soft landing to silver (couple of lounge passes) in a years time. Currently a VA lounge membership (that doesn't include partner lounge access/priority services) is $450 a year.

As per the AFF article from a few days ago the program lacks gamification something QFF still has and even the head of flying blue (Air France/KLM's loyalty program) went on the record this year and said "It's important to let customers feel they can find gamification opportunities".

 

[Scarlett]

VFF WP formally retained as at end of last month, so that’ll see me through much of 2026.

As for next year I have about 500SCs of personal VA travel already known, so another retain could still be on the cards. The current double SCs offer has helped. If they’d let me access the triple SCs I may have even booked a SH J trip as a status run, as it’d help for lifetime status.