Virgin Australia's new smartphone app is rolling out to the Apple iPhone and – for the first time – Google Android app stores tonight, with the airline promising to build on the revamped app with "a rapid roll out of new functionality."
Virgin plans to combine the current Inflight Entertainment app and Flight Specials app into this single app, and while some features of the previous app have been given the chop, Virgin pledges "we will soon re-introduce a better version of this functionality."
So what will you see on your smartphone's screen? Virgin Australia's briefing notes highlight the use of "smart logic to display information relevant to the flight for each passenger".
This evening's soft launch will reveal a completely redesigned app which aims to cover the entire travel experience including check-in for domestic and international flights, accessing domestic boarding passes (which can of course be saved to each platform's digital wallet), checking your Velocity Points balance and status credits and calling up a digital version of your Velocity membership card.
There'll also be push notifications for check-in and boarding and a live update of gate changes.
Upcoming features include "one-touch check-in"; seat maps for managing seat assignment (and purchasing an upgrade from economy to Economy X); tapping into the Inflight Entertainment system via onboard WiFi; flight specials and flight alerts; airport maps and lounge information; and estimated walking time to your flight's departure gate.
Download the new Virgin Australia app from Apple's iTunes App Store or the Google Play store.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
Finally. They're catching up to Qantas as they have been so very far behind for so long. Now Virgin just need to improve the website and everyone will be happy.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 325
Its pleasing to see VA investing!
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
Having a decent app with a good user experience is mandatory for any consumer facing business.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jun 2015
Total posts 13
Geeze Michelle has a lot of points
18 Jan 2017
Total posts 51
Based on the status credits you would also assume she would be platinum instead of gold.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Oct 2016
Total posts 37
I wonder if Michelle knows how to share?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 3
Family Pooling?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
Tried finding it a few times earlier this evening but it wasn't there. Now it's live.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
In addition, after having a quick look at the app. It's basic, but will do for a start which they I expect they'll work on further to improve.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
The Qantas app doesn't allow for searching and booking flights natively either—it just provides a wrapper for the mobile website, but without needing the customer to re-authenticate, which is still the better user experience despite not truly being native to the app.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
Another example of Virgin making an improvement but not quite getting there.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2014
Total posts 213
13:25pm? Hmm..
12 Aug 2014
Total posts 17
It doesn't seem to be able to find and/or add any of my upcoming bookings to the app. Despite the former app's incredible clunkiness, it could at least do that.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Apr 2013
Total posts 143
Definitely an improvement over the old app. Well overdue.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2012
Total posts 177
The way they have developed the APP over the past few months has been quite good with their dev team appearing to have listened to what we wanted as FFs. Over time the added services will hopefully prove useful for everyone.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Unless I'm missing it somehow there is no way to check your points/status credits postings for flights. In the old app you could see your activity in the past weeks but in this you only see a total with no drill through ability. Personally QF app is far ahead of this.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
08 May 2014
Total posts 48
I was invited to Beta test the app about 2 months ago.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 187
They could have made it a little easier to find in the app store.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
I've finally used this. Frankly, it's has less features, is less usable, and generally not as good as the old one. I quite liked the old one, tbh.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia unveils all-new iPhone, Android app