A new tier designed for the airline’s most frequent flyers.
This is the fifth tier added by Virgin Australia to its Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program, above the traditional Platinum level. Called Platinum Plus, this status is presented as a “VIP” recognition for travelers who spend the most with the brand.
If, at the end of your qualifying period, you haven’t earned 2,000 credits, you’ll be downgraded to the next lower tier for which you qualify: Platinum, Gold, etc.
The launch of Platinum Plus status is part of a broader overhaul of the program, including the introduction of “Forever Gold” status, a lifetime status for the program’s longest-standing members. These changes coincide with a new method for calculating status credits, based on the amount spent rather than on distance or fare class.
How to earn Velocity Platinum Plus status:
To reach this level, it is no longer enough to earn the 1,000 status credits required for standard Platinum status: you must now accumulate 2,000 status credits over a rolling 365-day period, at least 1,500 of which must come from flights operated or marketed by Virgin Australia itself and actually taken by the member.
Credits earned through “Family Reunification,” business partners, partner airlines, or Velocity credit cards do not count toward this mandatory sub-quota. In other words, it’s not enough to be a heavy point spender, you must be a frequent, direct customer of Virgin Australia. For a typical business traveler, that means annual spending of around 20,000 to 24,000 Australian dollars on Virgin Australia tickets alone.
The concrete benefits of Velocity Platinum Plus status:
The Platinum Plus benefits package includes all Platinum benefits (access to domestic lounges for the member and three guests, free Economy X seats for the member and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation, a guaranteed Economy reward seat once a year if booked six months in advance, and a 100% bonus on points for flights with Virgin Australia and select partners) and adds several exclusive features:
– Four free upgrades to Business Class per qualifying period, redeemable not only on Flex fares (as with Platinum) but also on Choice fares, which significantly expands your options.
– The “Fly Later” feature, the counterpart to the popular “Fly Ahead” option reserved for Platinum members: the ability to reschedule your flight to a later time on the same day at no cost, which is useful in case of unforeseen circumstances or a meeting that runs long.
– “The highest” level of priority service and recognition at every stage of the journey (booking, boarding, upgrades).
– The ability to extend full Platinum status to a traveling companion—a privilege that has been removed from the standard Platinum tier and is now exclusive to Platinum Plus.
– A dedicated priority phone line based in Australia, widely praised by members as the most tangible and appreciated benefit in their day-to-day lives.
– Expanded baggage allowance, up to five pieces of luggage weighing 32 kg each.
– Enhanced points earning on the ground, with 12 points per dollar spent at Hertz and 5 points per dollar on Didi rides.
– Visually, the payment card (physical or digital) displays the “VIP” designation, and the digital boarding pass features a distinctive blue background—an aesthetic treatment identical to that reserved for members of the exclusive “Beyond” program, the invitation-only tier at the very top of the Virgin Australia pyramid, just above Platinum Plus, and one that cannot be attained simply by accumulating credits.
What Platinum Plus does not offer:
It is important to note the limitations of this status. Unlike the Beyond program—Virginia’s equivalent of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge, reserved for a handful of VIPs and key accounts handpicked by management—Platinum Plus does not provide access to the exclusive Beyond lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. As for international partners, the benefits remain largely the same as those of standard Platinum status, with the notable exception of access to the Singapore Airlines Business Class lounge in Singapore.
About the Priority Phone Service:
Many users wholeheartedly praise the Australian priority phone line, which they consider to be the true added value of their membership status.
Platinum Plus members can reach this dedicated team using the same numbers as the standard contact center: 13 18 75 in Australia, 0800 230 875 in New Zealand, or +61 2 8667 5924 internationally, but their calls are handled on a priority basis.
For example, they can use this service to:
– Select a seat in Economy or Business Class before other passengers,
– Request an upgrade using points,
– Request priority baggage check-in (Priority Bag Drop),
or request an earlier flight or same-day flight, at least 60 minutes before the flight’s departure.