Virgin Australia unlocks Singapore Airlines premium economy rewards

Get ready to get more from your Virgin Australia Velocity Points on Singapore Airlines.

By David Flynn, July 5 2022
Virgin Australia unlocks Singapore Airlines premium economy rewards
Executive Traveller exclusive

Virgin Australia frequent flyers can once again use their Velocity points to book premium economy seats on Singapore Airlines’ flights, with the airlines restarting the option for the popular ‘better than economy’ class as of noon today, Tuesday July 5.

Velocity unlocked business class and economy Reward Seats in March, with premium economy now almost completing the picture, says Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach.

This means Velocity members can now redeem their Points for Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy seats on Singapore Airlines’ expansive network of destinations all around the world,” Rohrlach says.

Singapore Airlines offers premium economy on its Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and long-range Airbus A350 flights out of Australia and onwards to all corners of the globe.

Similarly to Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines is known for their fantastic service, and through our deep and much-loved partnership, members and customers have access to the most one-stop connections between Australia and Singapore out of any other airline loyalty program.” 

Up next, although there’s no date set as yet, is first class – although as Rohrlach admitted to Executive Traveller last month, “obviously (Singapore Airlines) doesn’t offer as much first class to all of Australia.”

And as of July 19 2022, Velocity members will be able to transfer their Velocity Points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles again, opening up a range of added travel options on not only Singapore Airlines but its worldwide network of Star Alliance partners.

If you’re among Virgin’s frequent flyers who have been steadily stockpiling their Velocity Points over the past two years, here’s how many Velocity Points it will cost you to hop a Singapore Airlines flight one-way between Australia and Singapore:

From Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane:

  • 35,000 Velocity Points in SQ economy
  • 52,500 Velocity Points in SQ premium economy
  • 65,000 Velocity Points in SQ business class
  • 95,000 Velocity points in SQ first class

From Adelaide or Perth:

  • 28,000 Velocity Points in SQ economy
  • 42,000 Velocity Points in SQ premium economy
  • 53,000 Velocity Points in SQ business class
  • 78,000 Velocity points in SQ first class

Looking to go all the way to London, Paris, Rome or other Singapore Airlines’ destinations across the UK or Europe? Here’s the tally for a one-way trip from Australia.

  • 75,000 Velocity Points in SQ economy
  • 112,500 Velocity Points in SQ premium economy
  • 139,000 Velocity Points in SQ business class
  • 203,000 Velocity points in SQ first class

Additional reporting by Chris Ashton

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

30 Jan 2018

Total posts 7

Hi All,

Might be a silly question but how can you book an international flight to Singapore if the international flights available currently on the Virgin website are limited to Asia pacific and NZ. 

20 Oct 2015

Total posts 243

You use your VA Velocity Points to book a ticket with Singapore Airlines, this article from a few years ago explains how: https://www.executivetraveller.com/how-to-book-singapore-airlines-flights-using-virgin-velocity-points

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

20 Nov 2017

Total posts 113

Ddante - you have to turn on "Use Velocity Points" on the VA booking screen, then that immediately opens up all the international destinations.

You show a picture of Business class BUT I can only see economy seats available

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2553

As explained in the article, all premium cabins (including business class) will shortly follow the initial economy-only availability.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

30 Jan 2018

Total posts 7

Where are you looking? What website? Please

08 Jul 2014

Total posts 12

Hi David, 

Have you heard anything further regarding when redemptions in SQ W & J class might be available?

Etihad - Etihad Guest

03 Mar 2019

Total posts 1

Just checked in May and no J fares available ex SYD, and Y fares are 52K 

Etihad - Etihad Guest

21 Jul 2019

Total posts 185

Thank goodness the redemption rates from the east coast are still the same as they were pre-covid. For some reason, I've been having that sinking feeling for long time now that the rates would be dramatically increased.

Singapore Airlines is a great option to travel overseas, I thought about booking the QF double status offer and making several overseas booking but than I realised SingaporeAir answer the phone very promptly and are very customer focused so I scrapped that idea with QF and will use my 1 million Kris points.

QF

11 Jul 2014

Total posts 984

Booking 355 days out on the VA website, same as the SQ site would be a good option please Jayne.

06 Jun 2017

Total posts 2

Excellent. Booked Two J class with SQ ADL SIN for May holiday. 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

16 Jul 2018

Total posts 19

Booked a J class fare on Velocity points from Singapore to Munich for June.  Happy days. 

Be interesting if Virgin would also have the option to transfer to Avios currency as well? Frequent Flyer points is technically a currency similar to bitcoin.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

30 Jan 2018

Total posts 7

Does anyone know of a company that assists with redeeming points for flights? I knew of points bank but they seem to be not around anymore.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

03 Jun 2014

Total posts 16

Singapore Airlines on VA Website can be booked using points for both Y and J class. I had a booking done via VA website for July to Bangkok but when the cash price dropped significantly I cancelled my points booking and booked with SQ as at this time cant pay for bookings on VA other than with points. Make sure you click the tab that says points so you can try to book using your points

11 Aug 2020

Total posts 2

 Any idea how to book Star Alliance flights by Krisflyer points? SQ website shows almost 0 availability on any Star Alliance partners.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

10 Jan 2019

Total posts 7

I also wish to know this. 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

16 Apr 2016

Total posts 18

I can't understand the quoted points rates in this article.

For reward flight MEL-SIN-LHR one way

"139,000 Velocity Points in SQ business class"

But if I transfer Velocity points to KrisFlyer points then book the flight on SQ website I will need 130,500 Krisflyer for Saver reward post 5th of July, or if prior to 5th July this would be 116,000

At the exchange rate of 1.55:1 I'll need 202,275 Velocity points to transfer post 5th July or 180,000 pre 5th July

Choosing a random future date March 2023 I can see VA availability for MEL-SYD-SIN-LHR one-way business requires 176,900 Velocity points

How was the value of 139,000 Velocity points calculated ?

13 Dec 2019

Total posts 15

Anyone know if the reverse will be true? SQ stopped transfer of miles to VA during 2020. Since SQ miles all expire after 3 years I want to transfer my points expiring in early 2023.

13 Dec 2019

Total posts 15

Any one heard anything about possibility of SQ allowing the transfer of kris flyer miles to VA once again? I have so many I want to stop expiring and transfer to VA

01 Jul 2022

Total posts 2

Do you have points needed from Darwin and Cairns to Singapore?  SQ is now flying five times a week between Cairns and Changi, and I think a similar frequency to/from Darwin.


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