VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Launch of new reward seats search tool

Earning points is easy. Finding a decent reward seat, especially in business class, is where things usually fall apart. Virgin Australia is promising to fix that, with a new calendar-based Reward Seat search tool rolling out across its website and app. The airline is calling a ‘step change’ in how customers search and book flights. I possibly beats Qantas, since Virgin’s tool integrates with their booking engine. That allows you to book the fare once you find it, instead of having to move to a separate search and purchase engine as with Qantas

A actual calendar view

At the centre of the update is a new Points Calendar, designed to give travellers a clearer, more flexible way to search.

Instead of plugging in a single date, you’ll now see a two-month view that brings together reward seats, cash fares and Points + Pay options. This now shows every available way to book a flight, across a wider range of dates, so you can make an optimal choice.

Virgin says this removes one of the biggest pain points in the booking process. You no longer need to search day-by-day, and replaces it with a more transparent, side-by-side comparison of options.

By widening the search and showing more options upfront, Virgin is encouraging flexible booking behaviour by its loyal flyers. It makes it easier to identify off-peak flights, and uncover premium cabin availability. That way, you can quickly weigh up whether using points represents good value compared to paying cash.

Just as importantly, this new tool sits directly within the booking flow, meaning once you find a suitable flight, you’re only a click or two away from locking it in.

Partner airlines coming next

At launch, the feature focuses on Virgin Australia’s own flights. That’s unlike the new Qantas tool that, at launch, covered OneWorld and partner airlines.

However, Virgin Australia has confirmed that partner airlines will be progressively added although it might take a year. Airlines to be included are Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air Canada and United Airlines.

The real value of this tool will come once those long-haul partners are fully integrated . It will open up more meaningful redemption opportunities to Europe, Asia and North America.

Virgin vs Qantas — who wears it better?

This announcement comes just weeks after Qantas introduced its own Flight Reward Finder, which allows members to browse Classic Reward seats across a wide network of partner airlines.

Qantas’ tool is strong for discovery, particularly when searching broadly by region. But it sits outside the booking process, meaning you still need to jump back into the main booking engine to secure a seat.

Virgin’s approach is more integrated. By combining discovery and booking in a single workflow, it removes friction at the critical moment, when a traveller is ready to commit. The difference may be subtle, but one that could make a real impact in practice.

2PAXfly Takeout

Virgin says the new Points Calendar will be rolled out progressively across its website and app, with full availability expected by mid-year. Partner airline integration will also happen in stages. Sounds to me like they have launched this quickly and a little half-baked as a response to the Qantas tool.

The real test will be how quickly partner airlines are added, and whether availability keeps pace with demand.

If this works as promised, it could out-tech Qantas in the reward fare search function race. For all of us hoarding our points, that might be a big advantage.