The fastest way to build a Velocity Frequent Flyer Points balance is through a credit card. Or, more specifically, through a credit card sign-on bonus combined with strategic everyday spending.
This guide covers the full picture of how to accumulate Velocity Points quickly in 2026, from choosing the right card to stacking every available earn channel. For current card offers and earn rates, the Point Hacks Velocity credit card guide is updated regularly with the latest bonus offers.
Why a credit card is the fastest kick-start to your Velocity Points balance
While this is not the only way to earn Velocity Points quickly (and we do explore more non-credit card options later), credit cards beat every other Velocity Points earn method for one simple reason: volume.
A sign-on bonus of 50,000 to 200,000 Velocity Points, available to new cardholders who meet a minimum spend threshold in the first 60 to 90 days, can take a member from zero to a premium cabin redemption in one go. That same balance would take years to accumulate through supermarket earn alone.
At a standard Flybuys earn rate of 1 Flybuys point per $1 at Coles, converting to Velocity at the standard rate of 2 Flybuys points to 1 Velocity Point, a household spending $200 per week at Coles accumulates approximately 5,200 Velocity Points per year from grocery shopping.
A single credit card sign-on bonus of 100,000 Velocity Points represents nearly 20 years of grocery earnings in a single transaction. To be fair, Flybuys often runs points bonuses that can speed things up – so why not combine both options for the best results?
Step 1: Choose a card with a high Velocity earn rate and a strong sign-on bonus
The first decision is the most important. The sign-on bonus determines how many points you start with. The ongoing earn rate determines how many you accumulate across the life of the card.
In the current Australian market, direct-earn Velocity cards offer sign-on bonuses ranging from around 50,000 to 200,000 Velocity Points for new cardholders who meet minimum spend requirements.
The MyCard Prestige Credit Card has offered up to 200,000 Velocity Points. The American Express Velocity Platinum Card offers 50,000 Velocity Points with a $5,000 spend in three months, but has gone as high as 100,000 points previously. The Westpac Altitude Velocity Black has offered up to 150,000 Velocity Points across a two-year earn structure.
On the ongoing earn rate, the American Express Velocity Platinum earns 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 on general spend, which is one of the highest direct-earn rates available on a personal card in Australia.
On $3,000 of monthly spend, that’s 3,750 Velocity Points per month, or 45,000 per year, before any bonus earn stacking. The right card depends on your spending level and how long you intend to keep it.
MyCard Prestige Credit Card
- Bonus points
- This card doesn't offer a signup bonus.
- Annual fee
- $700 p.a.
- Earn
- 3 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on Eligible Transactions made directly with major airlines, hotel chains and restaurants in Australia. Plus 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible transactions made overseas. 2 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on Eligible Transactions made directly with major supermarkets, petrol outlets and national retailers. 1 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on all other eligible transactions
MyCard Prestige Credit Card
- Bonus Points
- This card doesn't offer a signup bonus.
- Annual Fee
- $700 p.a.
- Earn
- 3 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on Eligible Transactions made directly with major airlines, hotel chains and restaurants in Australia. Plus 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible transactions made overseas. 2 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on Eligible Transactions made directly with major supermarkets, petrol outlets and national retailers. 1 MyCard Rewards points per $1 spent on all other eligible transactions
Earn MyCard Reward Points automatically transferred to Velocity Frequent Flyer Points each month with Autoredemption on the MyCard Prestige Credit Card. Enjoy 15 complimentary Priority Pass™ lounge visits per year to over 1,700 lounges worldwide,² plus receive a 4th night free on eligible Luxury Escapes bookings of 4 or more nights (up to $1,000 credit, redeemable up to 4 times a year).³
American Express Velocity Platinum
- Bonus points
- 50,000 bonus Velocity Points¹
- Annual fee
- $440 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Velocity Points earned per $1 on all eligible spend except for government bodies⁵. 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on selected Virgin Australia purchases⁵. 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 on Government spend⁵
American Express Velocity Platinum
- Bonus Points
- 50,000 bonus Velocity Points¹
- Annual Fee
- $440 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Velocity Points earned per $1 on all eligible spend except for government bodies⁵. 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on selected Virgin Australia purchases⁵. 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 on Government spend⁵
Earn 50,000 Velocity Points¹ when you apply online, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Velocity Platinum Card within the first 3 months. New American Express Card Members only.
For a detailed, up-to-date comparison, the Point Hacks Velocity credit card guide covers earn rates and sign-on offers across the entire market.
Step 2: Time your application around the best current bonus offer
Credit card sign-on bonuses are not fixed. Card issuers periodically run elevated bonus offers, sometimes doubling the standard sign-on points for a limited time. Applying during one of these elevated offers can mean tens of thousands of additional Velocity Points from the same card application.
Sometimes, there are external bonuses. For example, Velocity occasionally offers 20,000 to 30,000 bonus points for eligible sign-ups, on top of the credit card sign-on bonus!
The strategy here is simple. Know what the standard offer is, set up an alert or check regularly, and apply when an elevated offer appears. The Point Hacks credit card guide tracks current offers across the market and is the most reliable source for knowing when an elevated bonus is active.
It’s also worth knowing the eligibility rules for sign-on bonuses. Most cards exclude you from the sign-on bonus if you have held the same card or a closely related product in the last 12 to 24 months. Check the eligibility terms before applying to confirm you qualify for the bonus.
Step 3: Direct all eligible spend through your Velocity card consistently
Meeting the minimum spend threshold for the sign-on bonus is the first priority after the card arrives. Put every eligible expense you can through the card in the first 60 to 90 days. That includes groceries, utilities, subscriptions, insurance, petrol, dining, and any other regular expenditure that qualifies as eligible spend under the card’s terms.
Government payments and ATO contributions are typically excluded from eligible spend on most rewards cards. Check the specific definition of eligible spend for your card before assuming a particular category will count toward the minimum spend or toward earning points.
Once the sign-on bonus threshold is met, continue directing consistent spend through the card. Everyday spending that steadily accrues points over months and years will help boost your balance regularly.
Step 4: Use Velocity’s partner earn network on the ground
The Velocity Frequent Flyer program has a wide network of on-ground partners beyond credit cards. Earning through these channels alongside your card earn compounds your total point accumulation without requiring additional spending.
Flybuys-partnered retailers usually earn 1 Flybuys point per $1, converting to Velocity at 2:1. Linking your Flybuys and Velocity accounts means your grocery shopping feeds your Velocity balance. Manually transfer your points when there are transfer bonuses, for best results.
Car hire through Velocity partners, including Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Dollar, and Thrifty, earns Velocity Points at rates starting from 3 points per $1 in Australia and New Zealand. Hotel bookings through Virgin Australia Hotels earn at least 3 Velocity Points per $1.
DiDi, the rideshare app, earns 1 Velocity Point per $1 spent on rides within Australia when you link your accounts before riding. These are just the tip of the iceberg – there are partner opportunities for just about every other category including health insurance, dining and more.
Step 5: Stack earn opportunities through Flybuys and shopping portals
The Velocity e-Store functions as an online shopping portal where clicking through before purchasing at a participating retailer earns bonus Velocity Points on top of your credit card’s standard earn. Major Australian and international retailers participate. The combination of the portal bonus and the card earn rate on the same transaction represents the most efficient points-per-dollar outcome available for online purchases.
The Everyday Rewards program at Woolworths earns Everyday Rewards points that convert to Qantas Points rather than directly to Velocity, but it is worth noting that many Velocity members also earn Qantas Points in a dual-card strategy. Of course, for Velocity Points, Flybuys and Coles is the equivalent.
Flybuys tends to offer better bonuses, such as the popular 10,000 bonus points offer for four weeks of meeting a minimum spend threshold. These can produce thousands of extra Velocity Points from your regular shopping activity each year.
Step 6: Transfer bank rewards points to Velocity strategically
If you hold a flexible bank rewards card alongside your Velocity card, you can transfer accumulated bank points to Velocity when you have a specific redemption in mind or when a transfer bonus is running.
Bank rewards programs that transfer to Velocity include ANZ Rewards, NAB Rewards, Westpac Altitude Rewards, and St. George Amplify Rewards, each with a conversion rate of 2 bank points to 1 Velocity Point. American Express Membership Rewards also transfers to Velocity at the same 2:1 rate.
The value of a transfer bonus is significant. When Velocity or a bank rewards program runs a 10% to 30% transfer bonus, the effective earn rate on your accumulated bank points improves significantly!
Timing a large transfer to coincide with a bonus offer is a legitimate and commonly used strategy among experienced points collectors. Big transfer offers are usually in May and November each year.
How fast can you realistically accumulate enough Velocity Points for a redemption?
The timeline depends entirely on which combination of the above channels you activate. Here is a realistic scenario for a household starting from zero.
Apply for a card offering a 100,000 Velocity Points sign-on bonus with a $5,000 minimum spend in 3 months. Put regular household spend through the card to meet the threshold. At an ongoing earn rate of 1 Velocity Point per $1, you add another 5,000 points from the threshold spend itself. That’s 105,000 Velocity Points within 90 days of the card arriving.
A return economy flight between Sydney and Bali in Virgin Australia’s international reward seat program typically costs 45,000 Velocity Points + fees and taxes. From the starting position above, a return trip for two people is achievable from the sign-on bonus alone, within the first three months of holding the card, before any ongoing earn or Flybuys accumulation is factored in.
Want to fly Business Class? Singapore Airlines Business Class is a popular choice, and that sign-up bonus can get you at least a single one-way Business Reward to Asia. You can also transfer your Velocity Points to KrisFlyer miles at a rate of 1.55 to 1. It only costs 44,500 KrisFlyer miles for a Business Class award from Perth to just about anywhere in South East Asia.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. Consider your own financial situation before applying for any credit product. Point Hacks may receive a commission from card issuers for applications made through this site.
