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Virgin Australia is currently offering a status match to federal government employees with Qantas Frequent Flyer status. Until 31 July, Virgin will match your Qantas status allowing you to sample the perks of Velocity Frequent Flyer status for twelve months at no cost.
The Virgin Australia status match is available to all travellers accessing the Whole of Australian Government travel arrangements. This includes federal government employees and those working for departments, entities and organisations representing the Australian government. Unfortunately, state government employees do not appear to be eligible for this promotion.
To apply for a Virgin Australia status match, simply send an email to [email protected] from your government email address. In the subject line, write “GOVT – Status Match” and include your Velocity Frequent Flyer number. You’ll also need to scan your Qantas Frequent Flyer card, which should clearly show your status and an expiry date, and attach it to the email.
If you’re eligible, your status upgrade will be processed within 10 business days. But in our members’ experience, the turnaround time can be much faster than this. The status will be valid for 12 months. To renew your Virgin Australia status beyond the 12 months, you’ll need to earn the usual required status credits and fly a minimum number of Virgin Australia segments. But Virgin Australia does employ “soft landings”. This means that if you got a Platinum status match and didn’t fly enough in the next year to renew it, you would only drop down to Gold Velocity status next year.
AFF members have already been successful in obtaining a Virgin Australia status match as part of this promotion.
I emailed them Wed or Thu last week. I sent it around around 4:30pm and got a positive response the next day. I have heard of same-day response if email is sent in the morning.
Edit: I also had done it once before in 2013/14. Matched QF Plat to VA Plat back then. Ditto this time.
Virgin Australia last ran a similar Velocity status match promotion for federal government employees in 2014.
If you’re looking to switch your loyalty in the opposite direction – using your Velocity status to attain Qantas status – don’t forget that Qantas offers a status challenge.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Federal Government Status Match 2018
