Virgin Australia, BP let you earn frequent flyer points on petrol
By Chris C., April 22 2015
Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer members can now earn two points per litre when buying fuel at BP service stations.
The points-for-petrol partnership is intended to help equalise retail opportunities for Velocity members, against Qantas' dominant alliance with Woolworths and Caltex.
Grabbing a cold drink or some snacks for the road? Each dollar spent on in-store shopping will earn an additional two Velocity Points, up to $100.
Just present your Velocity membership card when paying at the cash register to rake in those points.
Of course, using a Velocity-affiliated credit card such as the Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card can add an extra 1.25 Velocity points per dollar spent into the bargain.
Not all BP outlets are part of the scheme, however, so check this map of participating servos before you make a beeline for the bowser.
The points-for-petrol hook-up is part of Virgin’s push to boost the appeal and membership of its frequent flyer program against that of Qantas, which already allows members to earn points at the pump with Caltex/Woolworths via the Everyday Rewards scheme.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
Great - another card to carry in the wallet... loyalty cards are becoming a nightmare in the wallet on top of bank cards.
Time for airlines to use Passbook or add versions of their card in the smartphone instead.
Who and how can we lobby this idea?
18 Apr 2012
Total posts 33
why don't you use an app like Stocard??
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
already do use them. Depends on how it's being implemented in the petrol station. They might want the physical card to swipe or sight the actual physical card before giving any free points.
I use GoGet cars and they partner with BP for the fuel card also Caltex. Could perhaps earn Velocity points when I have to top up the rental car?
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
If I pick up a couple more cards I think it'll be time to start carrying two slim wallets (one on each side) instead of one fat one.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
Yea - I love the Bellroy wallets which really forces one to rethink what to bring along with the wallet.
With all sorts of business wants their own loyalty cards, it's time that all of them to move to phone apps or use Passbook.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
I'm the same, I use a tiny wallet with no fold. Restricts me to about 10 cards, a couple of business cards and maybe a pineapple. The business card and any ancillary loyalty cards got the chop. Just the essentials!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Sep 2013
Total posts 187
I use a business card holder for my cards and DL, and strip out all the unnecessary cards when we go O/S. As cash is not the big deal these days, I just carry about $100 in my other pocket inside my handkerchief, and hope for the best.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 698
Sagidec If you want Virgin Australia Velocity points, you'll already have a Velocity Rewards card (so no extra cards required). As the article says "it'll be as simple as presenting your Velocity membership card when paying at the [BP] cash register". It's not like the Qantas/Woolworths hook-up, where you require a Woolworths loyalty card to scoop up the Qantas points (thus having to carry another card).
As I always get my fuel at BP, I'm pretty happy to score extra points for what I would do anyway (and no need for an additional card to score them).
14 Apr 2015
Total posts 3
Being a member does not mean you carry your Virgin card around with you all day. Many people will take their frequent flyer member cards with them when they travel, which means it does not occupy valuable wallet real estate 24x7.
I have mine in my travel wallet which goes with me when I travel, but not when I drive around the city!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
18 Oct 2012
Total posts 1
I hope it applies to the Air BP side of BP as I use my own aircraft as I would a car
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
You must get odd looks in the Woolies carpark.
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 119
Way to go Virgin, pick the most expensive of all servos!
02 Jun 2014
Total posts 2
That's because the retailer is paying for the points.. not Virgin, Virgin are selling them. All servos could do this... they just have to stump up the points.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
Because BP fuel is the best quality...that famous saying of getting what you pay for....
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 119
no it's not
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
You best check their Material Safety Data Sheets for their fuels and compare them to the likes of Shell/Caltex/7 Eleven(lol) then.
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 119
Aint nobody got time for that. believe everything you read to you?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 698
Gives Qantas a good head start, given this delay.
04 Nov 2012
Total posts 213
Excellent news, our Honda Jazz uses $35 a month at our local BP, yes really:)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
pffft cleary you dont drive anywhere so it won't really make any difference to you. I drive just under 3,000km and spend $250 a month on petrol for a yaris at caltex with discount...if i were to switch to BP with no discount then that would easily add $200 a year to my petrol bill.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Oct 2012
Total posts 9
I wonder if I can begin earning Velocity points with the BP gift cards I bought through One Big Switch ...
Though I won't be surprised if it's cash transactions only ...
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Jul 2011
Total posts 3
You might be OK;
"“Excluded Payment Method” means payments using fuel cards, including, BP Plus Cards, Motor Pass Cards, Motor Charge Cards, Fleet Cards, Distributor / Reseller Fuel Cards and any other payment methods as updated from time to time."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
Now it's time that VA partner with Coles and Myers!
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 466
About time.I shall soon hopefullly be back to driving soon and this will be a further incentive to use BP.Does on the Run apply to this too.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Dec 2012
Total posts 53
Annoyingly our local BP at Denistone East/Marsfield in Sydney is not on the map!!
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
13 May 2011
Total posts 27
I received 1.5 SIA FFP for each dollar on Krisflyer AMEX card and 2.FFP on Virgin Card. A search on MotorMouth identified that the BP at Silkstone had the cheapest fuel near Brisbane. There seems to be price war in Ipswich.
https://motormouth.com.au/pricesearch.aspx?Region=Brisbane
However, we still paying a lot more for our fuel than our southern counterparts.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
28 Jul 2013
Total posts 81
Used the Velocity card earlier tonight. $60 petrol = 90 points. You have to swipe ur card thru the EFTPOS terminal. Took 20 seconds to process (might frustrate staff at BP in time taken).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Mar 2014
Total posts 23
Very cool strategy to equalise Qantas... what's the next move?
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
17 Nov 2014
Total posts 102
Tonight, I discovered with Virgin Velocity Card, a family's Opal card budget over a year might be enough to earn you a free plane to Melbourne.
For every $1 of Opal top ups, 2 Velocity points will be earned as a base rate, and if you use Velocity Prepaid Card, you earn extra 0.5 points.
Therefore, a $60 top up per week will almost certain you will be able to earn you a free trip to Melbourne.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
is Opal as crap or even worse than Melbourne's myki?
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 264
How many points will I earn using my Velocity Amex card and swipping my Velocity card too?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 186
1 point per $1 for the Amex card, 1.5 if you swap to the nab version
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 41
Pretty disappointed that you can't earn velocity points when paying with a BP+ card!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
yes but somehow i'm not surprised by this or any of the other restrictions...there is always a catch to these things and it always comes at a additional financial investment. BP is usually 6-10c more per litre compared to local woolworths discount rate. and when I drive 700km a week that costs at least $200 a year extra.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Apr 2015
Total posts 3
There's a slight issue with this.. At my local BP you have to swipe your Velocity Card in the Credit Card Payment machine, which is no big deal, except that it's a swipe machine that has paypass.
If you have a Velocity Card with the Pre-Paid Visa Rev - this also has paypass, so you end up attempting to pay for your fuel with your velocity card and end up getting a few transactions declined in the process
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
This is why I decided to dig up my old velocity card that doesn't have the pre-paid visa function, however my regular fuel stop is at woolsworths, so I haven't had a chance to try it yet.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 466
I have the best of both worlds.A standard Velocity Card and a choice in how I pay which is either debited from the Bank,Cash in hand also helps.
Philippine Airlines - Mabuhay Miles
04 Aug 2015
Total posts 2
Can I still get the points if I pay using my BP fleet card?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 584
no
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia, BP let you earn frequent flyer points on petrol