Virgin Australia: Velocity points flight redemptions valid again

With Virgin Australia in administration, one of the first things they did was essentially freeze redemptions and transfer of Velocity points, while they sorted out a sale of the airline.

That has now – bar the agreement of the creditors – been done, and so, Velocity Points have returned to being a valid currency for redeeming flight redemptions and upgrades.

These are available now for 152 domestic routes that Virgin is running, with some exceptions. Expect them to chop and change according to border closures too. Hello Victoria!

You can also use points to upgrade to business, and you can now use those upgrade vouchers as well.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

This is good news for all Velocity members, especially those who didn’t get to transfer their points to KrisFlyer , before Velocity nixed that option.

Velocity members are not out of the woodwork yet. Expect some changes brought about by the new Virgin Australia owners, Bain Capital once the sale is confirmed by creditors, and the resulting dust has settled.

It could go either way. Reforms may see the program strengthened (lets all hope!), or changed and effectively devalued. Let’s hope it is the former, given that Velocity members are likely to lose their access to Virgin Lounges, as these are widely rumoured to be going under the new owners, and the new ‘mid-market’ strategy.

Expect any reforms to be a bit of a Curate’s egg – good in parts.