Your Virgin Australia Velocity points are about to lose their value
By David Flynn, December 27 2018
Singapore Airlines will cut the 'exchange rate' for converting Virgin Australia Velocity frequent flyer points into its own KrisFlyer miles, in a move which reduces the transfer value of Velocity points and weakens a key component of the reward scheme.
As of 1 January 2019, transferring Velocity points to KrisFlyer miles will take place at a rate of 1.55:1, compared to the current ratio of 1.35:1.
The devaluation means that come the new year, 100,000 Velocity points will be converted into 64,516 KrisFlyer miles rather than 74,074 KrisFlyer miles under the current rate.
Singapore Airlines, which holds a near-20% stake in Virgin Australia, says "the change in conversion rate reflects the differing reward program currencies within which each airline program operates and transacts."
The same reduced rate also applies to swapping KrisFlyer miles for Velocity points. "Receive 1 Velocity Point for every 1.35 KrisFlyer miles converted before 1 January 2019; after 1 January 2019, you will receive 1 Velocity Point for every 1.55 KrisFlyer miles converted," according to the KrisFlyer website.
A blow to Velocity's value proposition
The points-swap partnership was launched to much fanfare in 2014 and was said to mark the first time that two airlines had arranged for a direct transfer of points between their frequent flyer schemes.
Being able to convert Velocity points to KrisFlyer miles was widely considered to be one of the most appealing features of Virgin Australia's frequent flyer scheme. It opened the door on points-based award bookings and flight upgrades not only with Singapore Airlines but right across the Star Alliance with premium partners such as ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss and Thai Airways.
Likewise, it allowed business travellers flying with several different Star Alliance airlines to funnel their points into their Velocity account by firstly crediting each Star Alliance trip to KrisFlyer and then sweeping the combined points balance across to Velocity.
Savvy frequent flyers planning to swing their Virgin Australia points across to Singapore Airlines should consider doing so before the end of 2018 in order to maximise their KrisFlyer haul.
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
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
As Kevin Sorbo once said... DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Jul 2018
Total posts 19
I’m assuming you’ll still be able to book Singapore Airlines flights with velocity points via the VA website though?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jul 2012
Total posts 118
Likely, although I will not be surprised to see a devaluation of redemption rates soon.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Sep 2011
Total posts 77
Has there been a credit card review specifically on accumulating KrisFlyer points recently? My NAB Velocity card is about to expire anyway
15 Mar 2017
Total posts 15
So.. velocity points are less valuable to KrisFlyer miles. So why is the coversion factor from KrisFlyer to velocity still worse... seems like spin. More like SQ sick of people moving their velocity points for SQ upgrades
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 9
"And shall we stoop to insult? No! No!"
How much will Velocity elites be asked to bear? It seems this days that loyalty isn't really going both ways.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jul 2012
Total posts 118
Oh my god! So much drama!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
what does status have to do with anything??? Many people earn SQ/VA points through credit card churning to get the sign on bonuses. QF award availability for international flying is terrible and not everyone has status and their service is equally as bad. VA award availability for international is equally as bad, whereas SQ availability is way better, hence why the reduced value for conversion to SQ is a big deal for velocity and KF members.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2017
Total posts 113
So you choose what is best for you (and for many, that remains VA despite this change). That's the free market. Dimi is right - the sky is not falling in and Velocity elites are not being asked to undergo compulsory root canal surgery.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
27 Sep 2017
Total posts 31
Not at all. I am actually surprised that Singapore Airlines didn't buy into Velocity business, given how much more benefit that this would bring to SQ as a brand. More so, why not have a single FF program (i.e. Krisflyer) for both airlines?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 128
Unless you’re flying on a non-VA points earning flight this is disappointing.
22 Jan 2018
Total posts 98
Soon, they’ll be selling their 20% stake as well! Sign of things to come...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 348
Will this announcement may potentially increase the chances that SQ may possibly join HNA and EY in the rumour mill of selling their VA stake?
Leaving only ANA and DL as the potential suitors.
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
I don't think the sky is falling here. These kinds of deals tend to be signed for a certain number of years and then they come up for renewal and renegotiation.
Let's be realistic, there are probably far more Velocity members converting to SQ than the other way around, given SQ's bigger scope of redemption partners. When a conversion to SQ takes place, Velocity would be buying miles from SQ, which costs them money. The big boss may have just decided they want a better margin on those transfers or wanted to encourage members to redeem their miles on flights through the Velocity program instead, which could be more profitable. At least they gave a few months notice!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
"encourage members to redeem their miles on flights through the Velocity program instead"
15 Nov 2016
Total posts 18
Agreed. SQ almost always have availability when I want to travel. VA hardly have anything one week or 52 weeks out.
03 May 2017
Total posts 22
02 Jun 2016
Total posts 3
Time to jump this sinking ship. Either VA joins a real alliance or it's game over.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 325
What are the chances of VA now seriously considering an alliance and/or pre hap's adding a new level above PLAT & doing Lifetime Status?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
Unfortunately, it would appear we may have to wait till after Borghetti's departure at least. Another 18 months?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 348
Little to none for VA joining an alliance, even after JB's departure. Even then, SkyTeam is VA's only alliance option available to them.
The ship for VA joining *A has well and truly sailed thanks to the NZ breakup. Any attempts by VA or one of their stakeholders to join *A will just end in a veto by NZ and UA.
I can't see any future owner pandering to NZ's alleged demands for VA to "give up all international flying" and feed their traffic to NZ. If DL is the party to purchase the EY and/or HNA stakes, you can nail the *A coffin shut for VA.
If anything, if VA was to scale back int'l flying to mostly domestic, it would likely be under DL ownership with their only Int'l being NZ and the USA. With that, VA would likely get the nickname of "Delta Air Lines Australia", much like how Virgin Atlantic is nicknamed "Delta Air Lines UK".
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2017
Total posts 77
The only reason I did fly with VA was for the points accrued as a Platinum member and I transferred all points to SQ. This is not good news. I have now instructed our business to move all travel to QF for domestic. VA lounges are a bus shed, they do not value Platinum members, the domestic business class is very average compared to QF. VA are doing nothing to retain high value customers. This was the only key benefit being able to transfer VA points to SQ
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
27 Sep 2017
Total posts 31
It is a shame, since they started to devalue their members. I honestly love VA and would only fly with them domestically, but when you think of having balances as high as 1 million plus in frequent flyer point terms, there is very little justification on continuing to accrue those points without substantial network support. VA have great alliance(s) with other airlines, however those benefits are not far reaching enough to justify staying them over a longer term.
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 18
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
27 Nov 2012
Total posts 45
Sure, the devaluation of points exchange seems a bit draconian to some, but in my case my wife and I use pooling to accumulate points, which helps our aggregate of points, and I cant’t see much difference in our situation.
12 Aug 2017
Total posts 75
I'm happy with both VA and SQ. Both good companies, one for international and one for domestic. Suits me.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Apr 2016
Total posts 17
Has anyone calculated the points and status options of only using a KF membership on SQ code shares on VA metal for domestic flights?
07 Nov 2018
Total posts 9
Xferd today after my last VA points landed. Sadly, looks like the bonus for the spend with 5 partners will happen after Jan. That with a few generous flybuys promos which also havent landed will see me keeping some points in VA. No point rushing to xfer after devaluation. Will keep there for upgrades and awards and xfer only if I am low with SQ.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2014
Total posts 170
I would transfer over everything ... except that SQ points expire while VA do not; and also from Australia to Europe VA also has options of VA/VS via Hong Kong, and Etihad via Abu Dubai, in addition to Singapore. Yes - there is better availability for SQ via Kris Flyer; but swings and roundabouts?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Your Virgin Australia Velocity points are about to lose their value