Velocity Giving Complimentary Status Extensions

Virgin Australia is giving some lucky Velocity Frequent Flyer members complimentary status extensions, even though they didn’t meet the requirements to renew their status under the new program rules.

Numerous AFF members with Virgin Australia Velocity status have received emails in recent weeks, advising that they’re getting an unexpected 12-month status extension.

Here’s what some of them said:

Well, a pleasant surprise in my inbox today with VFF extending my Silver status for another year even though I was about 20 SC’s short. I was fully expecting to complete the sad slide from Platinum to Red at the end of this month. On top of the program changes, life circumstances changed a lot over the last 24 months, as did tactics with family pooling to support my partner to retain Gold as a minimum.

TMP on the AFF forum

Another nice email here – maintained Plat despite being 150 SC short…

Brizz on the AFF forum

Likewise, maintaining Platinum with 109 SC required before end January and no forward bookings. The email stated that the extension was based on my travel record over the past 12 months.

Rebus on the AFF forum

Velocity does sometimes bump up frequent flyers who are very close to upgrading to a higher status tier. This is a bit different, as it’s applying to status renewals. Velocity is also doing it for people are a further than just a few status credits away from the target.

Who is Virgin targeting with these status extensions?

The wording of the emails from Velocity indicates that these are targeted extensions, rather than something being offered to everyone. Velocity is doing this for people who were only a bit short of renewing their status under their own steam.

That said, someone on 650 status credits is still a fair way off the 800 usually needed to renew Platinum. So, it’s not exactly clear how close you would need to be.

This is what the emails from Velocity say:

Today, we’re recognising our most loyal Velocity members who have flown frequently with Virgin Australia over the past year, but will fall just short of maintaining their current Status. To recognise your loyalty, we wanted to let you know that your Platinum Status will be extended for an additional 12 months after your Review Date*. This offer is exclusive to you and a reward to your loyalty to Virgin Australia.

People who’ve received a status extension say that this happened either in the weeks before their review date, or shortly thereafter.

Since these are personalised, targeted offers, there’s no guarantee you’ll get one. But if you’re only a bit short of renewing your current Velocity status, I’d say the chances are much higher than if you’ve barely flown over the past 12 months.

Velocity changed its status qualification rules in 2025

Velocity Frequent Flyer announced major program changes in 2024, which took effect in 2025. They’ve been broadly unpopular with frequent flyers.

The new status qualification thresholds are more complicated, because at least 50% of the required status credits must come from Virgin Australia flights flown by the member. This effectively caps the status credits you can earn from family pooling, Flybuys, credit cards or partner airlines.

The new spend-based status credit earn rates also mean that many members need to spend more than before to retain their status.

Is Virgin losing too many once-loyal customers?

Virgin Australia hasn’t been shy about the fact that the new program is designed to make status harder to earn. They say the new rules allow them to better reward the customers who spend the most with the airline, while also addressing overcrowding in its airport lounges.

But many frequent flyers believe the program changes went too far, and they’ve stopped trying to earn or renew Velocity status as a result. If too many people feel this way, Virgin Australia could soon find that the number of people who hold status with the airline drops off a cliff.

A lack of engagement with Velocity’s most recent double status credit promotion could have been one early warning sign.