Sure, you could redeem your Velocity Points for a $119 foot spa. But what if you used them to live out every AFL fan’s dream instead?
With a small Velocity Point balance and some clever timing, I flew to Sydney, Adelaide and back to Melbourne for a weekend of classic rivalries and packed stadiums.
It was all part of a challenge here at Point Hacks: test two very different ways to spend 25,000 points. One of our team took the foot spa. I took the footy (and made our poor video producer Tobias come along too). Watch the video below to see which redemption came out on top or read on to learn how we booked this footy-lovers dream.
How we booked this trip with Velocity Points
With Gather Round selling out quickly (and reward seats disappearing just as fast), we decided to create our own version: a DIY ‘Travel Round’ powered by Velocity Points. By skipping the hype and planning our own weekend of matches, we could still see big games across Australia without paying cash for expensive peak-season fares.
Round 20 turned out to be the perfect match for us: four games, three cities, two state rivalries, and one very excited employee (me).
Velocity domestic rewards are priced by distance (zones) and demand. Lower demand flights will typically cost fewer points but availability is limited and can change quickly.
| One-way miles (zone) | Example route | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–600 (1) | Sydney ↔ Melbourne | 5,900–12,900 | 15,500 |
| 601–1,200 (2) | Melbourne ↔ Sunshine Coast | 8,900–18,900 | 23,500 |
| 1,201–2,400 (3) | Brisbane ↔ Perth | 13,500–26,900 | 35,500 |
When we began planning this trip, all flights were available at the cheapest pricing, coming in at a fairly generous 20,700 Velocity points per person for the three flights. By the time I was ready to book, 2 of the 3 flights had jumped up in price, coming in at a total of 27,700 Velocity Points.
Tobias, who is not an AFL fan, was seemingly not quite as eager to lock in his flights. Just a few days after my purchase, two of the flights had moved up in price resulting in 32,700 Velocity Points at checkout. Thankfully, fees and taxes don’t increase with demand. Both of our trips also cost $132.20 in cash.
Our final schedule
| Game day | Route (Flight) | Velocity Points paid – Josh | Velocity Points paid – Tobias | Fees and taxes | Event Attended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday night | Already in Melbourne | – | – | – | Hawthorn v Carlton (MCG) |
| Friday night | Melbourne → Sydney | 5,900 | 7,900 | $43.33 | Swans v Giants (ENGIE Stadium) |
| Saturday night | Sydney → Adelaide | 11,900 | 14,900 | $44.03 | Crows v Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) |
| Sunday afternoon | Adelaide → Melbourne | 9,900 | 9,900 | $44.84 | Richmond v Collingwood (MCG) |
As we had learnt from this trip, when booking domestic flights with Velocity Points, it can really pay to lock in your flights as soon as possible. Virgin Australia releases reward seats 330 days out, so keep that date in mind before booking a trip with points.
Our AFL travel itinerary: 4 games, 3 flights
Game 1: Melbourne, MCG
Hawthorn (85) V Carlton (61)
The first of our 4-game extravaganza began in Melbourne, at the modern world’s answer to Rome’s Colosseum, the mighty MCG.
Game 2: Sydney, ENGIE Stadium
GWS Giants (102) vs Sydney Swans (58)
Friday, we took a short hop to the Harbour City to watch the first of two state rivalries on this trip, with the Giants hosting the Swans at Olympic Park. I was pleasantly surprised to be seated in Virgin Australia’s extra-legroom Economy X row. I later discovered Virgin are slowly removing the extra legroom from row 5 across their fleet and therefore don’t reflect it in their seat maps when booking. A flight with extra legroom for just 5,900 Velocity Points? This trip was already kicking goals.
Game 3: Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Crows (133) vs Port Adelaide (35)
Being the hottest ticket in town, even torrential rain couldn’t wash out the atmosphere at Adelaide Oval, with more than 46,000 fans watching the ladder-leading Crows dismantle the rudderless Power.
Game 4: Melbourne, MCG
Richmond (57) vs Collingwood (93)
Back in Melbourne for the final leg: Richmond v Collingwood in front of nearly 60,000 fans. Closing out four games, three cities, and one unforgettable weekend, all under 28,000 Velocity Points per person.
How to earn Velocity Points
With the final cost coming in quite low, there are several avenues to quickly top up your Velocity account and fly to the footy.
1. A credit card sign-up bonus can often earn 100,000 frequent flyer points in one go and provide ongoing value per dollar spent.
2. Everyday earn with Flybuys can go a long way. Not only can you earn points on everyday groceries at Coles, but you’ll also earn points at Kmart, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target and other major retailers. Each Flybuys point you earn can be transferred to Velocity Points at a rate of 2:1.
3. Every single time you open a car door. 7-Eleven, riding with Didi or hiring from Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Dollar and Thrifty all offer ways to earn Velocity Points on spend.
American Express Velocity Platinum
Summing up
This weekend reminded us why we collect points at all. Not for things, but for stories. The roar at the ‘G, a packed Adelaide Oval in the rain, an easy hop to Sydney and back. All for under 28,000 Velocity Points and a modest cash co-pay.
The takeaway? Book early, and keep your balance growing through everyday earn. Whether it’s a footy marathon or a family escape, points buy options and options turn into great memories. If you’re ready to plan your own, our Velocity booking guide and quick-earning tips will get you there.
Video and additional reporting by Tobias Venus.
Photography by Josh Weckert and Tobias Venus, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense.
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