Virgin’s unexpected “status run” promo
This bonus serve of status credits is designed to help Velocity members retain their tier perks.
By David Flynn, February 23 2026
Virgin Australia’s shift to a spend-based model for earning Velocity status has made it harder for frequent flyers to earn and retain Silver, Gold and Platinum status.
A new promotion launched today could be the fix – and the airline believes it will encourage “status run” flights as travellers seek to lock in their status for another year.
Return flights booked and flown between January 12 and March 31 will be eligible to earn anywhere from 45 to 125 bonus status credits, on top of the usual haul.
And yes, that's January 12 of this year – the unique retroactive promotion covers flights made within the last six weeks, as well as the next six weeks.
This is the same offer previously made to members of the Virgin Business Flyer program, but it’s now available to all Velocity members.
Emails detailing the offer, with the necessary click-to-activate link, will hit the inbox of Velocity members today; the promotion is already live in the Velocity app.
One key criteria is the need for a minimum of two return flights to be booked and flown by March 31.
- Two flights earns 45 bonus status credits
- Three flights earns 65 bonus status credits
- Four flights earns 85 bonus status credits
- Five flights earns 105 bonus status credits
- Six flights earns 125 bonus status credits
Those extra status credits will prove a boon when ladled on top of the standard earning rates of 1 Status Credit per $12 spent on Choice, Flex, and Business fares, and 1 Status Credit per $24 on Economy Lite fares.
And even the lowest-yielding Economy Lite fares qualify for these bonus status credits.
For example, the Lite fare for a Sydney-Melbourne return flight in the middle of March lists at $296, which equates to just 12 status credits.
Two of those flights would usually deliver 24 status credits, but under this promotion, the total haul catapults to 69 status credits.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to accelerate their status,” says Velocity CEO Nick Rohrlach.
“With fares starting from as low as $109 one way for travel from today until the end of March, the offer proves just how much value we continually bring to the market while making the offer a perfect way for members to do a last minute ‘status run’.”
However, Virgin’s long-haul international flights on Qatar Airways jets are not included in the promotion, nor are those of other codeshare partner airlines such as Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 869
Nice gesture, I suppose, probably too late for many?
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1095
I'm trying to work this out, I've already got flights booked, with business flyer earning the same promo so will I earn an extra bonus amount as well?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Apr 2025
Total posts 5
Updating to a dollar based earn will see many people drop this year, Qantas did not follow suite and it looks like Virgin need to play catchup to keep their loyal members.
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 75
A Jam Promo Curve Ball, I hope they also do a Double Status credit offer to follow?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 869
No chance of that, VA2 is trying hard to shed VFF members. The weird thing is, in the UK Virgin Atlantic is giving BA and absolute spray for changing its loyalty program to the same model now used by VA2. VS is actively chasing BA loyalty club members to embrace their loyalty program based on miles flown.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1095
Before Covid, Brother B was telling me airlines were actively trying to get rid of double status credit offers and he is a QF loyalist.
16 Oct 2012
Total posts 64
I don’t like the new dollar based status credit earning. Also not a fan of these flight based status credit bonuses… the more you spend on you fare the less rewarding the status bonus becomes. Much prefer the simpler double status credit alternative.
25 Feb 2026
Total posts 1
I bought a return Gold Coast to Melbourne business class flights for March - I only need I return flight do I not to get the extra bonus status?
08 May 2020
Total posts 91
Having too many status points which don't count has been disappointing, Flights with SQ and getting bonus Status with Virgin Velocity Amex card have been a waste and count for nothing. Just made up with a domestic Flight to keep Gold. 20 yrs of a Loyal Virgin Flyer is closing in to collapse with the new system as I simply cannot book SQ flights with Virgin as it is not economical.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 869
You're not alone, I share your . . . 'angst' and frustration. I'm re-positioning my flight plans around SQ's KrisFlyer program and the Star Alliance network (involving ANA and Turkish Airlines). Once I get there, VA2 can compete with the rest of the pack (or not).
28 Sep 2022
Total posts 31
Two return flights, so not One return flight meaning two actual flights?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 869
No SCM, a return flight (e.g. BNE-SYD and then SYD-BNE) would count as 2 flights under this program, and 2 return flights would count at 4. The only uncertainty in my mind is what would a return flight comprising 2 sectors each way (e.g. BNE-SYD-MEL and then MEL-SYD-BNE) mean?
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