Virgin Australia ‘Explore Gold’ Offer via Flybuys

Access Virgin Australia Lounges with Velocity Explore Gold
Access Virgin Australia Lounges with Velocity Explore Gold. Photo: Virgin Australia.

Flybuys is once again offering selected members three months of complimentary Virgin Australia Gold status! As part of the ‘Explore Gold’ offer, Flybuys members are also able to extend their status for a further year by earning just 80 Velocity status credits in 3 months.

The Virgin Australia Explore Gold offer was sent yesterday to selected Flybuys members with linked Virgin Australia Velocity accounts. To activate the Explore Gold offer, eligible Flybuys members would need to transfer 10,000 Flybuys points to Velocity Frequent Flyer by 26 September 2018. This offer is limited to the first 10,000 people to transfer the required amount of points. So, don’t delay if you received an Explore Gold invitation and are considering using it!

This is not the first time Flybuys has offered trial Virgin Australia Gold status to its members. But it is the first time members have been required to transfer Flybuys points to Velocity in order to activate the offer.

If you did not receive an Explore Gold invitation this time, make sure you’ve linked your Flybuys card with your Velocity Frequent Flyer account to be eligible for future promotions.

How Velocity Explore Gold works

As a Virgin Australia Explore Gold member, you’ll receive the benefits of Velocity Gold status for 3 months. These benefits can be used when flying with Virgin Australia or any of its partner airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways. You will receive a physical membership card, but you should also be able to access your status benefits without the card by adding your Velocity number to your booking.

A few specific benefits of Velocity Gold status are not available during the trial Explore Gold period. For example, you won’t be able to use the Hilton Honors or IHG Rewards status match until you’re a full Gold member. But most of the key benefits, including airport lounge access, are available during the three-month trial.

How to extend Velocity Gold status for a year

To extend your Virgin Australia Gold status for another year, you’ll just need to earn 80 Velocity status credits and take at least one eligible Virgin Australia flight within 3 months.

This is a relatively easy target to achieve. As an example, this can easily be achieved with a one-way Business Class flight across the Tasman, or between the east coast and Perth. Two return Economy trips between Melbourne and Brisbane on Elevate fares – or just one round-trip on a Freedom fare – would also be enough to earn 80 status credits. Don’t forget that you can also use Virgin family pooling to earn status credits for flights flown by family members.

For more ideas on earning Velocity status credits, see our guide to the best Virgin Australia status runs.

Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: 3 months Gold for 10k flybuys w/ 80SC to extend (targeted offer)

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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