Half the battle with frequent flyer points is finding the seats you want for your trip and using your points for your ideal travel goal. In this introductory guide – updated for 2023 – we look at how to search for and book Virgin Australia reward seats. If you don’t quite have enough points yet, be sure to check out our best Velocity card bonus offers.
We also explore handy tips and tricks on using your Velocity Points effectively, including how to search for reward seat availability quickly, and what fees or charges may apply.
How to book a reward seat with Velocity Points [step-by-step]
For those who have a simple one-way or return itinerary, and already know what they want to book, here are the quick steps to get you on your way.
- Head to the Virgin Australia website and log in to your frequent flyer account.
- Enter all your travel details, including origin and destination. Select ‘Use Velocity Points’.
- Continue with adding your travel dates and the number of guests travelling. Click ‘Let’s fly’.
- On the results page, look for flights that show ‘Velocity reward seats’.
- Choose your desired flight and cabins that show ‘Reward’.
- Check out as usual to reserve those reward seats. We recommend you use the minimum Velocity Points amount and pay the taxes via cash for the best value. However, you’re also able to pay the taxes with points as well.
You’ll usually receive your itinerary quickly after making payment. If you do need to make a change or cancel your reward seat, you might be able to do it online. Otherwise, call Velocity Frequent Flyer for assistance.
- Reward seats that you book with points and cash: these can only be cancelled by contacting Velocity Frequent Flyer or filling out this Travel Cancellation form.
- Reward seats that you book wholly with points: you can cancel the booking directly through the ‘Manage Booking’ page.
How to plan a reward seat booking with Velocity Points
It’s simpler to plan a trip with Velocity Points than with Qantas Points, for example, because Velocity is inherently a smaller program with fewer airline partners. But the concept of reward seats is still the same.
1. Work out the distance you’ll travel
Start by using the Velocity Mileage Calculator to work out the distance between your origin and destination. If your route isn’t displayed, perhaps use Great Circle Mapper as an alternative.
2. Find out how many Velocity Points the reward will cost
Next, hit up the Reward Seat tables to see how many Velocity Points you need for a flight of that distance. For example, the Perth-Launceston route is 1,844 miles, according to Great Circle Mapper. That means that reward seats on this flight are 17,800 points in Economy or 35,500 points in Business Class, plus taxes.
| One-way miles | Economy reward | Business reward |
| 1-600 | 7,800 points + taxes | 15,500 points + taxes |
| 601-1,200 | 11,800 points + taxes | 23,500 points + taxes |
| 1,201-2,400 | 17,800 points + taxes | 35,500 points + taxes |
| 2,401-3,600 | 22,300 points + taxes | 49,500 points + taxes |
Taxes and charges apply to all reward seat bookings. Some airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways have an additional carrier charge applied as well. See the partner airline reward seat table here.
3. Search for those reward seats
Once you’ve collected enough points, it’s time to start booking! Follow our earlier step-by-step guide to begin the search for reward seats. If you find the seats you want right away, that’s all well and good. But what if you’re struggling to find reward seats?
There are a few strategies you can use to search for reward seats more efficiently. For example, Qatar Airways seats can be searched for on AA.com, which also offers a handy calendar view. For most other partner airlines, searching through their own frequent flyer program can be easier – this includes Aeroplan (Air Canada and Etihad), KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines) and MileagePlus (United).
Once you find saver-level reward seats on that other partner website, double back to the Virgin Australia website to see if those same seats can be booked with Velocity Points.
Gold or Platinum? Request guaranteed reward seats
Can’t find the reward seats that you’re looking for? If you’re a Velocity Gold or Platinum member, then you can request for some Economy seats to be opened up. But notably, you can only request this at least 180 days in advance, so it won’t work for last-minute trips. It also only covers up to 4 travellers, including yourself.
If you’re booking anytime up to 6 months before a trip, just call up Velocity and ask them to look into this for you. You’ll need to provide the date you wish to travel. But bear in mind, Velocity might offer you reward seats on alternate flights, which might not be on the same day as you request.
Frequently asked questions
Virgin Australia‘s booking calendar opens from 330 days before departure. You’ll have a decent shot at nabbing reward seats if you search far in advance.
A card payment fee may apply if you choose to pay the taxes and surcharges with a card. As of May 2023, the fee is 0.55% for debit cards and 0.97% for credit cards. If you book over the phone, a separate fee may also apply. This is currently $40 or 5,200 points per person, per booking.
With reward seat bookings, you have to pay any airport and government taxes that apply, such as security screening and airport movement charges. Virgin Australia and some other airlines will also levy a separate carrier charge. This starts from $11 per flight on domestic routes and can be much higher for international routes.
It will cost you $35 or 4,500 points per person to cancel a domestic booking. For international, it’s 7,500 points or $60 per person. These fees may be waived due to COVID-19 disruptions.
No, you can’t upgrade a reward seat booking further.
Generally, no. Sometimes, Velocity will run promotions where points and/or Status Credits may be offered on reward seat bookings for a limited time.
Yes, reward seats are considered a fully-inclusive fare with seat selection and baggage included.
Once these are sold are they done and gone or will they open up a few more down the track.
A check of the United website shows reward flights available from both LAX and SFO direct to LHR on the same day.
Thanks for this great article – I use and recommend your site all the time. Wondering if you have an option for me. I am trying to get over to Vegas for a 50th next year in May.. I have over a million points in Virgin at the moment but as reward seats are all exhausted, a seat in “The Business” is costing 650,000. I also have Platinum Status do you know if I pay for a full Freedom Economy fair can I then upgrade with points to business for a cheaper alternative or does that only apply if there are reward seats available.
This is clearly the ‘Any Seat’ pricing. Given you are a Platinum, if you do purchase a Freedom Economy (or Premium Economy Saver), then you are able to upgrade. Make sure to check the Premium Economy pricing too, as sometimes there is a very small difference in cost, and in those scenarios, it is best to purchase Premium Economy Saver, as you lock in Premium Economy and get the higher points and status credits attached.
But the upgrade inventory is based on award seat inventory (ie Z class). Velocity is known to only release Business awards (and upgrades) only a few days before departure date on most of their long-haul routes.
I believe the way that the Velocity website is set up, it doesn’t allow for award search functionality from all origin points outside of Australia. Example, you can’t search from Paris, but you can from Los Angeles one-way.
If you book a one way international flight paying cash you normally end up paying the full return price anyway.
Suggestions? I have been trying to book BNE to LAX but the cheapest I can find is 180,000 points per way economy 330 days outs and no reward seats
Thank you for posting this article – this is very helpful.
I have been trying to book business class tickets using my points; Melbourne – Singapore on Virgin’s website. However every time I do a search, it seems that there are no business class options, just economy. Around 35000 points (one way) + $80. Is this normal that Virgin doesn’t offer Business tickets for flights operated by Singapore airlines? Would you recommend I book economy then apply for an upgrade using my points? Is this even possible?
Same problem when looking for flights to Manchester – no business class options by flights operated by Ethiad or Singapore airlines.
Thanks for your help / comments.
Cheers,
Cedric
We have flown return to the US as a family several times in years gone by using points to secure business class seats. As you said we have previously, on the dot of 330 days out, logged in and secure one way and done the same some weeks later to secure the return leg.
This year, has been different. Virgin did not release any seats 330 days out and still have not released any some 3 weeks later. We check twice a daily. Do you know what’s changed with Virgin? Do they release the seats to gold or platinum members first?
We called Virgin Velocity Customer Service and asked if the rules have changed and they were cagey and not forth coming with information. They said they “didn’t know if anything has changed”. Which clearly it has.
After spending years building our Velocity Points we are not sure about continuing with Virgin’s system as clearly the goal posts have moved and they are not telling their members.
Anyway I hope you have found something out.
Kind regards,
Lili
I haven’t looked for availability from LAX-Australia on VA in a while, but decided to this morning. Searching Velocity, Delta and Expert flyer I don’t see one open seat. Nada. VA use to open seats up 1-10 days out, but nothing as of now. I’m guessing this is a function of 1) Sumer in Australia 2) Demand for the new business class on VA – or a combination of the both.
Have we entered a new period were any award ticket on VA from America to Australia or back is going to be very difficult or impossible to redeem?
any way to search via Delta, select a VA flight and use VA points (or transfer them to Delta)?
Looking at VA direct website is 2/3 times more points than Delta is suggesting. (90,000 vs 280,000 for SYD-LAX return)
Am I comparing apples with oranges on total points?
Yes, this is how you can look for availability to use Velocity points – can’t transfer them to Delta though, but Delta’s results for Virgin Australia flights should match what Velocity is offering as well.
SYD-LAX return in Business is 95,500 Velocity points one way in Business Class for a Reward Seat, not an Any Seat. Need to ensure you are looking for the cheapest reward seats on Virgin Australia within their website.
Would it make any sense to transfer the points over to Krisflyer (We have about 450,000 between us)? Or just move to Qantas and use the points? What a way to treat your loyal customer base!!! x(
Cheers
Is there something special about reward flights to Hawaii?
I have Virgin America points. Looking at flying SYD-ZQN, if I see Economy Reward on the VA website avail, will I be able to book that flight with my Virgin America points?
I am new to this and determined to get myself and husband a free business class flight. I had a question, how am I supposed what each destinations average points should be? The only thing on their website is zones which gives very vague rough ideas. For example, Brisbane to Cook Islands Return Business Class, is the standard points pricing at 99,000 points return or is it usually lower? How can I find this information out when working out what destination to go and when to book?
Thanks 🙂
I have tried multiple different routes and cannot find a single rewards seat!
Is there an easy way to find cheap flights on points.
I have searched around Dec 16 and the points are significantly higher than the base points requirements, is there any website/way to easily find cheap points options without just inputting numerous different date combinations.
Is there a way to tell /do you know what Virgin Australia’s ‘Business Rewards’ translates to on a Delta flight?
Virgin Australia’s Velocity phone support team does not know.
Thank you.
Tom