For what I believe is the first time; Virgin Australia is offering a boost when you buy velocity points from them. The boost is 20% for all the points you purchase; however there is a minimum purchase of 1,000 points. This deal will be ending on 29 June 2019.
Points can be purchased at a rate of $18 per 500 at the minimum but the price per point goes down as you buy more. Buying the minimum amount for the boost, will cost $36 and will get you 1,200 points; which is a rate of 3 cents per point. This is a little expensive and likely not worth it unless you know you can secure some great redemptions. The maximum bonus can be attained by forking out $5,850 for 300,000 points; which gives us a rate of 1.95 cents per point. This is much better value even though you have to get a larger amount of points. This would allow you to make some great value redemptions. However it also puts you more at risk in the case of the Velocity program being devalued.
What can you use 300,000 velocity points for?
A little difficult to find some redemptions falling close to 300,000 points and harder still to find some availability. However here are some examples we found:
- Sydney to London Heathrow in business class for 255,000 points. That’s flying in Virgin Australia’s revered ‘The Business’ from Sydney to Los Angeles. Then for the next leg from Los Angeles to Heathrow is in Virgin Atlantic business class.
- You can also do the same trip to London from Sydney in Etihad First class for 203,000 points one-way. Although this is only one way you can experience the awesome Etihad first class and lounges, possibly before they go out of business.
- You could also redeem for 19 one way business class flights between Sydney and Brisbane or Melbourne for 294,500 points.
Perhaps more reasonably, what can you use 100,000 Velocity points for?
- For 93,000 points you can travel on 6 one-way business class tickets, between Sydney and Brisbane or Melbourne. Particularly good if flights are expensive when you are looking at booking.
- You could also transfer your points to Singapore Airlines (with a penalty) to try and find a good redemption. Using their monthly spontaneous escapes deals, you can find some great deals.
This deal is definitely worth it you are just needing few extra points for a planned redemption. It could also be worth it if you buy the maximum amount and hold out for some great value flights. However you must be comfortable with risk that the Velocity program might get devalued. This could be quite likely considering a lot of other airlines have recently been devaluing their programs.
Remember the deal ends on 29 June 2019, so go here now if you think you can benefit from this boost.
If you haven’t joined Virgin Australia’s Velocity rewards program you can sign up here, it’s free. If you sign up using this link you will get a bonus 2,000 velocity points when you earn 50 points; and we will also get 1,000 points.