Looking to earn uncapped Velocity Points on everyday credit card transactions? Then take a look at the co-brand Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards available from American Express. For individuals, Amex offers the Velocity Escape Plus Card and the Amex Velocity Platinum Card. But what’s the difference between ‘Escape Plus’ and ‘Platinum’?

For starters, know that the Amex Velocity Platinum Card isn’t the same thing as having Velocity Platinum status. The latter is a frequent flyer tier, while the Amex Velocity Platinum Card is an Australian credit card that confers its own set of travel benefits. With two Cards to choose from – at different annual costs, and with different inclusions – here’s an overview of both Cards.

Amex Velocity Escape Plus vs Amex Velocity Platinum: earning points

Both the Amex Velocity Escape Plus Card and the Amex Velocity Platinum Card provide Velocity Points. These are credited straight into the primary Card Member’s Velocity account once per month. When you’re chasing Velocity Points specifically, it’s a convenient way to go. That’s because you’ll never need to manually transfer points into your Velocity account – the bank does this for you behind the scenes.

There’s no overall limit to the number of Velocity Points that can be earned via the Amex Velocity Escape Plus and Velocity Platinum Cards. The only distinction is that on the Velocity Escape Plus Card, the earning rate changes after 12,000 Velocity Points have been accrued through the Card in the same calendar year. Still, even as you continue to spend, you’d continue earning Velocity Points.

Here are the earning rates for both Cards, with a look on how the earning rates compare.

Card / Spending categorySpend at Virgin AustraliaEveryday transactionsGovernment bodies in Australia
Amex Velocity Escape Plus1.75 Velocity Points per $11 Velocity Point per $1 up to 12,000 total Points per year*; 0.75/$1 thereafter.0.5 Velocity Points per $1
Amex Velocity Platinum2.25 Velocity Points per $11.25 Velocity Points per $10.5 Velocity Points per $1
Everyday transactions encompass everything other than spend at Virgin Australia and government bodies in Australia.

For the Velocity Escape Plus Card, keep in mind that the annual threshold of 12,000 Velocity Points includes Velocity Points earned from all spend categories. This includes from everyday transactions, government bodies in Australia, as well as on purchases directly with Virgin Australia. This tally is calculated based on calendar year.

Travel perks of Amex Velocity Escape Plus vs Amex Velocity Platinum, including lounge access

Beyond earning Velocity Points, the Amex Velocity Escape Plus and Amex Velocity Platinum Cards have various travel perks attached. Here’s how they stack up.

Key benefitAmex Velocity Escape PlusAmex Velocity Platinum
Airport lounge accessN/AUnlimited Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge access when flying VA (no additional guest included). Enrolment required.
Plus, two single use VA Guest Lounge Passes per year, for use when flying with a companion.
Flight inclusionsReceive a $50 Virgin Australia Statement Credit once per calendar year (2025 and 2026). Enrolment required.Take a Complimentary Annual Domestic Flight every year. This covers a return domestic trip on a variety of routes.
Bonus Status CreditsN/ASpend $25,000 on the Card per Amex Membership year and receive 50 Status Credits. Plus, receive a further 50 Status Credits if your total Card spend reaches $50,000 in the same year.
Travel insuranceMedical Emergency Expenses Cover
Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover
Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money and Documents Cover
Personal Liability
(Must book return trip with the Card to be eligible on that trip).		Medical Emergency Expenses Cover
Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover
Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money and Documents Cover
Travel Inconvenience Cover
Selected cover for COVID-19
(Must book return trip with the Card to be eligible on that trip).

When it comes to the Virgin Australia Statement Credit on the Velocity Escape Plus Card, you’ll need to save this offer to the Card before spending at Virgin Australia. Separately, the unlimited lounge access inclusion from the Amex Velocity Platinum Card requires opt-in, and may take up to seven days to activate. You’ll also need to have made a purchase on the card (with any merchant) before this process begins.

Annual fees

As we’d expect to see of cards with points and travel perks attached, the Amex Velocity Escape Plus and Amex Velocity Platinum Cards have annual fees. However, we consider these fees to be quite modest compared to the potential value that could be gained in return.

The Amex Velocity Escape Plus Card has an annual fee of $95. However, consider the annual $50 Virgin Australia Statement Credit. For those making a flight booking with Virgin Australia anyway, that’s $50 towards the $95 annual fee. Factor in the value of travel insurance and the uncapped points that could be accrued, and many could view the net $45 difference as money well spent.

The American Express Velocity Platinum Card attracts a higher annual fee of $440. For that price, Card Members receive the complimentary return domestic trip each year. Some might consider this benefit to be worth around $250 or so, given comparable fare pricing. There’s also unlimited Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge access. For this, Virgin Australia sell standalone annual memberships for $450 with a $99 joining fee on top for new members.

It’s fair to point out, paid lounge memberships allow for one complimentary guest with each visit. Whereas the unlimited lounge privileges conferred through Amex are for the primary Card Member only. That said, the Card includes two guests passes for when you need them. And, given the equivalent value of a return flight along with that lounge access many would find it easy to extract more than $440 per year in value from the Amex Velocity Platinum Card. That’s before considering the Velocity Points earned as well.

Interest charges apply for those who opt to carry a balance from month to month. But savvy points afficionados would aim to pay the closing balance on time and in full each month to maximise interest-free days while avoiding interest charges completely.

Point Hacks pro tip: It’s possible to add up to four additional cardholders per account on both the Amex Velocity Escape Plus Card and the Amex Velocity Platinum Card. For instance, a Card Member could add their partner as a ‘+1’, with all transactions processed from the additional Cards earning Velocity Points into the primary Card Member’s account.

Featured image courtesy of Virgin Australia.

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Amex Velocity Escape Plus vs Amex Velocity Platinum: Which Card suits your travel style? was last modified: April 24th, 2025 by Point Hacks