Is Velocity now Australia’s most flexible frequent flyer currency?

There are many ways to measure the ‘strength’ of any currency, be it coin of the realm or airline points – but as it stands, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Points have been steadily muscling up to Schwarzenegger-esque proportions while also enjoying yoga-like flexibility.

Velocity Points can now be spent (and earned) across all three of the world’s airline alliances, following Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the SkyTeam alliance.

Star Alliance still remains the dominant partner, of course – with the likes of ANA, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines – alongside independent carriers Etihad Airways and Hawaiian Airlines, although Hawaiian is expected to join Oneworld on the back of the multi-billion dollar takeover by Alaska Airlines.

Then there’s the ability to convert Velocity points into KrisFlyer mies, at an ‘exchange rate’ of 1.55 points per mile.

This not only opens up additional seats on Singapore Airlines – especially in business class and first class – but lets you  tap into the broader Star Alliance network of over 20 airlines to book points-based seats on the likes of Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, Thai, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

(That’s on top of Velocity redemption options through Virgin’s existing partnerships with Air Canada and United, for example.)

Finally, the Virgin Australia + Qatar Airways partnership which provides Velocity members with a foothold into Oneworld.

On their own, Velocity Points can be used to book Qatar Airways flights – and typically with access to more premium seats, and earlier, than what’s available to Qantas frequent flyers – along with scores of British Airways routes through their expanded joint business platform.

And theres something else: by putting your Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership number against your Virgin Australia flight booking, you’ll earn Avios rather than Velocity Points – and those Avios can then be used directly on the websites of Qatar Airways and British Airways and enable bookings across all Oneworld airlines.