Last chance to book Virgin America flights using Velocity points
By Chris C., September 26 2017
It’s ‘final call’ for Virgin Australia Velocity members hoping to book Virgin America flights using their hard-earned points, as the two airlines get closer to ending their mutual frequent flyer partnership following Alaska Airlines’ takeover of the Stateside carrier.
The last day to book a Virgin America flight with Velocity points is Saturday September 30 2017, for travel until January 15 2018 – so if you’ve been putting off making a reward booking, now is your very last chance to secure it.
On the longest Virgin America routes such as Los Angeles to New York, 49,500 Velocity points can land you a first class ticket (which most Aussies would recognise as business class, below); 36,700 Velocity points fetches a Main Cabin Select seat (extra legroom economy); and 22,300 Velocity points delivers a standard economy ticket, one-way.
Shorter journeys such as Los Angeles to Las Vegas require just 15,500 Velocity points in first class; 11,700 Velocity points in Main Cabin Select; and 7,800 Velocity points for economy.
Virgin America reward flights occasionally appear for booking via the Velocity Frequent Flyer website, but most often require a phone call to Velocity – 13 18 75 between 7:30am and 10:30pm, Sydney time, seven days – to secure a reservation.
If you’re travelling with Virgin America on a paid ticket, you’ll also only earn Velocity frequent flyer points and status credits for flights taken until September 30 2017, with neither awarded after that date.
Virgin America’s own Elevate frequent flyer members won’t be able to earn or spend Elevate miles on Virgin Australia flights after September 30, either, with the Elevate program to be shut down on January 1 2018.
Delta Air Lines remains a partner of Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer, with Velocity members still able to earn and spend Velocity points on Delta flights worldwide, including on the airline's Sydney-Los Angeles flights as availability permits.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1024
Interesting, yesterday I looked at booking paid tickets San Fran to Las Vegas in April 2018 and it was all ok to put in our VA numbers. After April it stated to go to Alaska Airlines Website.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
It'll still let you put the number in as for the next 4 days everyone can still earn points on Virgin America flights but you won't earn points as your flight are past this 30 Sep 2017 deadline.
VA
17 Apr 2014
Total posts 10
Today SQ announced that KrisFlyer members can now earn and burn miles on AS flights. This provides an indirect option for Velocity members on the former VX routes after April.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2015
Total posts 55
Sad to see them leave the VA FF fold - they certainly were a great ride from LAX-JFK/EWR
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2016
Total posts 27
I booked Virgin America flight earlier this year from LAX to Dallas with Virgin Australia using Frequent Flyer points & I have Velocity Gold membership, Virgin American would NOT recognize my Gold Status, even though clearly my ticket had been purchased with FF points, in fact woman behind check-in counter looked at me like I was from 'outer space', only after I complained did she give me 'priority boarding', so forget about Lounge Access or anything else. I got much better reception with American Airlines when I flew from Dallas to Washington DC then to NYC.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Apr 2016
Total posts 21
I don't fly J much, but when I do, I would love this investment to be reciprocated by the simple and cost free effort of putting me in my seat first.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Apr 2016
Total posts 21
wrong thread sorry, should have sent this to the top thread regarding Priority queues......
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