8 Best Ways to Redeem Virgin Australia Points for Max Value

You may not have heard of Virgin Australia since they have limited flights to the U.S., but members can actually earn and redeem miles for travel all over the world thanks to some strategic partnerships!

Here, I’ll outline some great redemption options available for this lesser-known program that might surprise you.

One major caveat: you must have an address within Australia or Oceania to open a frequent flyer account with Virgin Australia. As such, these redemption options will only be useful to a subset of readers.

Using Virgin Australia Velocity Points With Airline Partners

Virgin Australia Velocity Points might not be the easiest to come by as an American, but you may be surprised to find out that it is possible to transfer another major points currency to Virgin Australia Velocity.

Booking awards with Virgin Australia can be very easy or require a phone call, depending on which partners you are trying to book flights with.

Awards involving travel on Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and some codeshare flights operated by Etihad Airways can be booked online.

For all other flights, you will have to call the Virgin Australia Velocity customer service center at 1-855-253-8021.

Hotel Partner Credit Cards

Other hotel loyalty programs partner with Virgin Australia as well. The transfer rates are as follows:

• 3,000 Marriott points = 1,000 Velocity Points
• 10,000 Hilton Honors points = 1,500 Velocity points
• 10,000 IHG One Rewards points = 2,000 Velocity points
• 10,000 Choice Privileges points = 3,000 Velocity points

The following credit cards will aid you in earning more points in each of these loyalty programs:

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG Premier Business card is the perfect option for business travelers who regularly stay at IHG hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

IHG Rewards and Chase have teamed up to offer the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, a compelling option for those who travel often for their business and stay at IHG hotels.

In this review, we will cover all of the benefits of the card, including earning rates, perks, fees, and more to help you determine whether the card is a good fit for your travel goals.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x total points per $1 spent on IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5x points per $1 spent on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status, plus the ability to spend your way to Diamond Elite status
• Fourth night free on award stays
• Free anniversary night certificate, plus the ability to earn a second free night after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
• Up to $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Purchase protection
• 20% discount on IHG point purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive 4-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier Business card member
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Business Credit Cards
• Hotel Credit Cards

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
• 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

• Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
• Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Hotel Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Cards

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

More Reads

• Comparing American Express Hilton Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Hilton Honors Loyalists

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)All information about The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/17/2024.

170,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$2,550

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
• 6x points per $1 U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
• 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Annual fee of $150.

Card Highlights

• Limited Time Offer: Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/17/2024.
• Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 4X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on U.S. online retail purchases.
• Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Hotel Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

More Reads

• Benefits of the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card
• How to Find the Hilton Surpass 150k (Or Even 130k + 1 Free Night) Welcome Bonus Offer
• Comparing American Express Hilton Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access

List of Virgin Australia Partners

You can use Virgin Australia Velocity points to book with the following partners:

*It’s important to note that all award bookings on Etihad airways incur a partner booking fee of $50 in economy, $205 in business, and $300 in first class.

Using Your Virgin Australia Velocity Points

Virgin Australia Velocity offers award redemptions using a distance-based award chart, and prices vary slightly depending on which partner you are choosing to make a redemption with.

Below is the redemption chart for flights on Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, and United Airlines.

Surcharges are added to each flight for awards on Virgin Australia:

Hot Tip: Interested in seeing what Virgin Australia’s Premium Economy is like on the Boeing 777? Read all about Lukas’ experience and see for yourself.

The following chart is applicable for redemptions on Etihad Airways, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and South African Airways.

Again, please note that the partner fee (shown in USD) for redemptions on Etihad Airways varies by distance flown.

The 8 Best Ways To Use Your Virgin Australia Velocity Points

Virgin Australia’s Velocity frequent flyer program operates a distance-based award chart with plenty of “sweet spot” redemptions.

Awards involving travel on Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and some codeshare flights operated by Etihad Airways can be booked online.

For all other flights, you will have to call the Virgin Australia Velocity customer service center at 1-855-253-8021.

If you’re unsure how to put your Virgin Australia Velocity points to best use, here are some of the best ways to use your Virgin Australia miles for maximum value.

1. Fly Business Class From Sydney to Fiji on Virgin Australia (35,500 Velocity Points Each Way)

Virgin Australia normally operates a 737-800 between Sydney and Nadi (Fiji) featuring recliner style business class seats. However, between June and October, you can snag a fully flat bed seat on the A330-200 for just 35,500 points each way.

Consistent with the Virgin brand, these business class seats are sleek and modern, providing style and comfort in a herringbone configuration.

If the seats aren’t already comfortable enough, guests will be treated to a full turndown service, complete with a foam mattress topper for added comfort.

Hot Tip: Visit a lounge while waiting for your flight to Fiji. Having The Platinum Card^® from American Express gives you access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide through Priority Pass.

2. Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Between New York (JFK) and London (LHR) (49,500 Velocity Points Each Way)

Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class product is a great choice for a transatlantic hop out of New York. At under 3,500 miles, a one-way Upper Class ticket to London costs just 49,500 Velocity points in each direction.

You’ll enjoy a fully lie-flat bed, delicious meals, and access to the exclusive Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK before the flight.

All Upper Class passengers are entitled to one spa treatment; you can choose a haircut, massage, hand and foot treatment, or facial.

It might be even better to fly this itinerary in the reverse direction, since the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow is often said to be one of the best business class lounges out there!

3. Fly Virgin Australia on Short-Haul Flights Within Australia (Starting at 7,800 Velocity Points)

If you’re already traveling Down Under, why not hop on a flight and see another city? With Virgin Australia Velocity points, it can be as cheap as 7,800 points each way in economy class (that’s the price of a one-way flight between Sydney and Melbourne).

You can even spring for business class and redeem 15,500 points instead…but for a roughly 1.5-hour flight, you should be just fine in economy!

Since flights can be quite expensive within Australia, it’s possible to get great value out of your miles even for economy class flights.

Hot Tip: Grab a Global Entry account before making your journey home from Rome to enjoy quickly passing through customs when you return to the U.S. You can get the $100 fee reimbursed through numerous cards, like The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

4. Convert Points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles and Fly Singapore Suites

Virgin Australia Velocity members are able to transfer their miles to Singapore KrisFlyer at a 1.35:1 ratio. While that ratio may not seem favorable, it’s much better when the 15% Singapore KrisFlyer redemption discount is factored in.

One of the best ways to redeem Singapore KrisFlyer Miles is for a Singapore Suites A380 award between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA). This award costs just 74,783 KrisFlyer miles or 100,956 Virgin Australia Velocity points.

Additionally, Singapore KrisFlyer generally releases more award space to their own members, so by transferring your Velocity Points to KrisFlyer you will be increasing your chances of finding your award seats.

Another positive of transferring your points to KrisFlyer is the ability to add a stopover to your itinerary. Singapore Airlines offers the ability to book a stopover at no additional cost on a round-trip ticket and $100 on a one-way ticket.

Need Help Booking? Read our guide on how to book Singapore Suites using points.

5. Upgrade to Virgin Australia Business Class (Starts at 4,900 Velocity Points)

Virgin Australia’s Velocity members traveling on a paid fare can use points to upgrade from economy to business class. On flights within Australia, upgrades start at 4,900 points for Freedom fares traveling a distance of 600 miles or less.

Unfortunately, international flight upgrades are quite steep, restricted to certain fare classes, and only available to Velocity Gold and Platinum members.

Still, redeeming 4,900 points for a short-haul flight booked on a cheap fare can be a great way to upgrade your travel experience.

Hot Tip: Don’t pay extra foreign transaction fees during your trip outside of the U.S. Take a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, like Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card.

6. Book Business Class on Singapore Airlines (Starting at 53,000 Velocity Points)

Singapore Airlines first class can only be booked by transferring Velocity Points to Singapore’s KrisFlyer program, but booking economy and business class seats is possible directly through Virgin Australia.

You can fly from the West Coast of Australia to Singapore for 53,000 Velocity points each way in business class or 35,000 points in economy.

A longer flight (like the Australian East Coast to London or New York) would set you back 75,000 miles in economy or 139,000 in business.

Booking directly through Virgin Australia instead of transferring to Singapore does offer lower fuel surcharges.

Need Help Booking? Read our guide on how to book Singapore business class using points.

7. Wait for Virgin Australia’s 15% Discount

Virgin Australia offers a 15% discount on an approximately twice-yearly basis. This is hands down the best time to book any Virgin Australia award, as it offers you savings on the above-mentioned awards AND others that generally aren’t as good of a deal.

Hot Tip: Easily search for Virgin Australia award space by utilizing Delta’s search engine. Remember that to access all of the prices listed in this article, you will need to go back to Virgin Australia to book with the information you found on Delta’s site.

8. Fly to Christmas Island From Perth (17,800 Velocity Points)

Christmas Island is generally a very expensive place to travel to, but by making use of Virgin Australia’s distance-based chart it is possible to get there for relatively few miles.

The flight from Perth to Christmas Island is 1,618 miles, meaning it can be booked for 17,800 Velocity points in economy or 35,500 Velocity points in business class.

It is not uncommon for these flights to cost over $1,000 in economy class, so if you want to visit the exotic destination of Christmas Island, save that cash and book with Velocity points instead!

Final Thoughts

Thanks to their numerous airline partners (many of which can be booked online), Velocity members have tons of options when it comes to redeeming points.

The distance-based award chart can be great for short-haul flights and sweet-spot redemptions on partner airlines.

However, be careful: the distance-based award chart can also result in less favorable redemption rates on long-haul flights.

It’s important that you do your research and compare Virgin Australia’s redemption rates with those of their partner airlines when you are ready to book your next trip.

Now that you know our best ways to use Virgin Australia miles, I hope you enjoy redeeming them!

The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, click here.