Earn up to 4x frequent flyer points with Virgin Australia, Etihad

By Chris C., July 9 2015
Earn up to 4x frequent flyer points with Virgin Australia, Etihad

Virgin Australia and Etihad are serving up a stack of extra frequent flyer points to Velocity Frequent Flyer and Etihad Guest members bound for Abu Dhabi and beyond.

It's double or triple points for Velocity cardholders, with up to 4x the usual miles with Etihad Guest. Here's what's on the table.

Virgin Australia: double, triple Velocity points

Virgin Australia's deal serves up double points to economy travellers and triple points to guests in business class and first class (as offered) on flights VA29/30 to and from Abu Dhabi, and also on any Etihad-operated flight to any destination.

To pick up your bonus Velocity points, follow these simple steps:

  1. Register for the promotion on the Velocity website by July 27 2015
  2. Fly to Abu Dhabi with Virgin Australia or to any destination with Etihad between August 3 and November 30 2015

Existing bookings are also eligible for the offer, although Australian domestic flights booked under an EY flight number, Virgin Australia flights to other destinations and Etihad Regional services are excluded from the promotion.

The bonus is also calculated on the number of points that a base-level member would earn, rather than on the total haul for Silver, Gold and Platinum members, who already receive a status bonus.

Etihad: double, triple, quadruple Etihad Guest miles

Etihad Guest's offer provides for triple miles in business class and quadruple miles in first class when flying with Etihad, Airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia and Jet Airways on an EY flight number, and also on domestic flights operated by these airlines when connecting to an international flight bearing an EY flight number.

There's also a second deal which you'll need to register for separately, delivering double miles when flying to Abu Dhabi with Virgin Australia in economy and premium economy, and triple miles in business class on the same flights.

Here's what you need to do:

  1. Register with your Etihad Guest number on this promotion page by July 20 2015
  2. Also register for the Virgin Australia promotion by July 27 2015
  3. Fly between July 5 and September 15 2015 on Etihad, Airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia and Jet Airways, and/or
  4. Fly to Abu Dhabi with Virgin Australia between August 3 and November 30 2015

Passengers with existing bookings can again take part in this deal, although no bonus miles are being offered for travel in economy: except with Virgin Australia.

As with the similar Velocity offer, Etihad's bonus is calculated on the standard frequent flyer earning rate – as would apply to entry-level members – not on any extra miles already awarded to Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Platinum cardholders in recognition of their frequent flyer tier.

The promotion also doesn't apply to tier segments or tier miles: the latter Etihad's version on 'status credits' which are used to calculate your membership level in the program.

Also read: Etihad Guest: the unofficial guide for Aussie frequent flyers

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Virgin Atlantic Airways - Flying Club

11 Apr 2011

Total posts 30

Bugger! I'd just recently booked to fly over to EDI with VA/EY on 29 December..

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

I'm curious, I've got a return flght to LHR in October via Abu Dhabi booked on a VA ticket with VA flight numbers operated by EY.

Just wondering if I'm qualified for the promotion.

01 Nov 2012

Total posts 6

Hi Cssaus

"Existing bookings are also eligible for the offer" 

go to velocity and register yourself and make sure your number is on the booking. i would also send them and email to double check to make sure things are in writing. 

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

The only reference to "Existing bookings are also eligible for the offer"  that I see is in thiis article, looking at the actual VA registration page itself I couldn't see where it says this.

Having registered for the offer, I have sent off an email to Velocity with my travel details seeking confirmation.

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

29 Jan 2011

Total posts 157

Got a reply back from VA who did confirm that my existing booking was eligible for the bonus points:)

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

16 Sep 2014

Total posts 7

Chris

Travelling on an EY operated flight number.

The info above at Point 3 states  "Fly between July 5 and September 15 2015 on Etihad, Airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia and Jet Airways"

However on the Velocity FF website, it states "Simply register online by 27 July 2015 and travel between 3 August and 30 November 2015 on flights operated by Virgin Australia to or from Abu Dhabi, or any eligible Etihad Airways operated flights with an EY flight number.

As I'm on an Etihad Airways flight with EY flight number, departing  22nd August, & returning 3 October,  Just wondering which info is correct. 

 If yours is I won't be eligible for the return journey as it will be after 15th September,  If Velocity's website dates are correct...I will get the bonus points.

Any way to confirm which it is ??

I think you will find they are two separate offers. One is for Etihad equity partners and the other is tied to Virgin Australia.

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2447

Correct – if your aim is to earn Velocity points, you need to look at the Velocity Frequent Flyer offer, not the Etihad Guest offers, which are for a different loyalty program.


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