Where Velocity Points Actually Go: How Business Leaders Use Those Points to Upgrade Trips, Reward Teams And Celebrate Wins
Your business's Virgin Australia Business Flyer (VABF) points can be spent four main ways: Pay with Velocity Points on flights, one-off or recurring transfers to an employee's Velocity account, Business Class upgrades and Reward Seats, and lifestyle redemptions such as the Velocity Store. For most SMEs, upgrades and reward flights for staff deliver the most value per Velocity Point. Let's get into the details.
Your business's Virgin Australia Business Flyer (VABF) points can be spent four main ways: Pay with Velocity Points on flights, one-off or recurring transfers to an employee's Velocity account, Business Class upgrades and Reward Seats, and lifestyle redemptions such as the Velocity Store. For most SMEs, upgrades and reward flights for staff deliver the most value per Velocity Point. Let's get into the details.
Why SMEs love velocity points (the business case)
In April we showed how Virgin Australia Business Flyer (VABF) quietly starts paying you back once your team is flying. This is the follow-up: what you can actually do with that balance.
VABF is free to join with an ABN. Your business earns Velocity Points on eligible flights, and your travellers keep earning their own Points and Status Credits. The business earns rate rises with annual Virgin Australia flight spend:
| VABF TIER | ANNUAL ELIGIBLE FLIGHT SPEND | BUSINESS EARN RATE PER $1 | TIER REWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0–$9,999 | 1 point | Two Pilot Gold memberships if you spend $2,000 in your first three months |
| Tier 2 | $10,000–$49,999 | 1.5 points | 20,000 bonus points or 5 lounge passes, plus one 12-month Velocity Gold membership |
| Tier 3 | $50,000+ | 2 points | 50,000 bonus points or 10 lounge passes or 2 Business Class upgrades, plus two 12-month Velocity Gold memberships |
The value gap between redemptions is large. Rewards That Fly's Velocity Frequent Flyer Guide 2026 puts Virgin Australia domestic Business Reward Seats at about 2–3.7 cents per point in its live captures. It rates the Velocity Store and other cash-like redemptions at about 0.5–0.6 cents, which it describes as convenience rather than maximum value.
Upgrade your trip – the high-value business upgrade
The scenario
Illustrative example
Picture the founder of a Sydney digital agency who flies about 40 sectors a year, mostly Sydney–Melbourne and Sydney–Brisbane, with the occasional Perth trip. They book Economy Flex for flexibility. Before the next Perth pitch, they use Velocity Points to sit up front, arrive rested and work the whole way.
At an assumed average fare of $300 (our assumption, not a published figure), that is $12,000 of spend. At Tier 2 this earns the business about 18,000 points, and the traveller earns personal Velocity Points on top.
How it works
- Check the fare. UpgradeMe Points works on existing Economy Flex or Economy Choice bookings. Economy Lite and Reward Seats are not eligible.
- Move the points. An account administrator transfers Velocity Points from the business account to the traveller's Velocity account via the Rewards Portal.
- Request the upgrade. For domestic and short-haul flights, request online up to four hours before departure, through the Membership Contact Centre up to two hours before (a fee may apply), or at domestic check-in up to 40 minutes before.
- Wait for confirmation. Waitlisted upgrades are confirmed between five days and four hours before departure. Velocity Points are deducted only once the upgrade is confirmed.
Approximate Velocity Points required per person flying economy one-way:
| ROUTE TYPE | ZONE 1 | ZONE 2 | ZONE 3 | ZONE 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 10,000 | 17,500 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| ROUTE TYPE | ZONE 1 | ZONE 2 | ZONE 3 | ZONE 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | 8,000 | 12,000 | 16,000 | 24,000 |
Velocity Points are shown by distance zone. Source: https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/flying-status/use-points-for-flights
Why this wins for SMEs
- It signals that you value your people. An upgrade on a long, early or late flight is a visible thank-you that costs no extra cash.
- People arrive ready to work. Lounge access and a better seat make a practical difference on a long trip.
- It is flexible recognition. At Tier 3 you can choose two Business Class upgrades as your tier reward and allocate them to staff.
Reward your team – the employee recognition angle
The scenario
Illustrative example
A Melbourne accountancy firm with 35 staff finishes a heavy end-of-financial-year season. Rather than a modest cash bonus, the partners transfer enough Velocity Points to the top performer for a Business Reward Seat to Queenstown or a weekend in Brisbane, and announce it at the team lunch.
How it works
- Pooling. Velocity Points build up in one business account from every employee's eligible travel. Velocity Family Pooling is a different thing: it is limited to family members at the same address.
- Gifting. Account administrators make one-off or scheduled transfers. The recipient must be directly employed or contracted by your business.
- Minimum transfer. 100 Velocity Points.
- Redemption. The employee books a Reward Seat with "Use Points" on the Virgin Australia website. Business Reward Seats on domestic routes cost 15,500 to 49,500 points one-way, depending on distance. Taxes and carrier charges are extra.
Why this wins for SMEs
- It is memorable. Travel is the kind of reward people talk about long after the trip.
- It can be cost-effective, but check FBT first. Velocity Points are earned on spending you were already doing, but fringe benefits tax may apply to flight rewards given to staff. Talk to your accountant before you set up a program.
- It supports duty of care. Rested travellers on better seats, and recovery time after a big trip, are part of good travel wellbeing.
Beyond the skies – lifestyle & gift redemptions
The scenario
Illustrative example
A Brisbane trades business uses a small Velocity Points transfer for each crew leader's work anniversary. One picks a portable BBQ, another an espresso machine, and the office manager buys wine for the Christmas party.
How it works
The Velocity Store combines the former rewards and e-commerce stores. Members can redeem Velocity Points, cash, or Points plus cash across a broad range of brands and categories.
| ITEM | CASH PRICE | VELOCITY POINTS PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| De'Longhi Stilosa espresso machine | $127 | 24,661 |
| Weber Go Anywhere portable BBQ | $150 | 29,127 |
| Apple AirPods 5 | $219 | 42,525 |
Prices are from the Velocity Store as at October 2026.
Why this wins for SMEs
- It is tangible and immediate. Not everyone wants a flight, and a product arrives quickly.
- It keeps small balances working. It suits leftover Velocity Points below a useful upgrade amount.
- Know the trade-off. At roughly half a cent per Velocity Point, the Velocity Store gives about a quarter of the value of a Business Reward Seat. Treat it as a top-up, not your main strategy.
Getting started – how to maximise your Velocity Points
Build your redemption strategy
- Set an earning target tied to a reward, for example: "18,000 business Velocity Points by June funds one Sydney–Perth upgrade for our top performer."
- Plan for the tier thresholds at $10,000 and $50,000 in annual flight spend.
- Book consistently through eligible channels so points are credited to your ABN.
- Prioritise upgrades and Reward Seats. Use the Velocity Store for small leftover balances.
Tips for SME leaders
- Track Velocity Points monthly in the Rewards Portal and report the balance alongside travel spend.
- Put recognition in writing. A one-page policy covering who qualifies, what for and how much keeps rewards fair and simple for FBT.
- Recognise your top travellers with Velocity Gold memberships and lounge passes.
- Allocate tier rewards in time. Lounge passes and upgrades must be allocated within a year.
Conclusion
Virgin Australia Business Flyer Velocity Points earn their keep when someone gets to use them, ideally at the front of the plane. Pick one recognition moment this quarter, move the Velocity Points to the right person, and book it. Your Flight Centre Business Travel account manager can help you plan both the earn and the redemption.
Frequently asked questions
Pay with Velocity Points on flights in the Business Booking Portal, or transfer points to an employee's Velocity account to use on upgrades, Reward Seats, the Velocity Store and more.
Yes. Account administrators can transfer Velocity Points to a Velocity member who is directly employed or contracted by your business.
Domestic upgrades start from 10,000 points per sector (Zone 1), rising to 35,000 for Zone 4 routes. Trans-Tasman and short-haul international upgrades start from 8,000.
Your VABF account already gathers Velocity Points from all eligible staff travel. Velocity Family Pooling is limited to family members at the same address.
Velocity Points generally expire after 24 months without eligible activity. Receiving points from a VABF member resets that clock.
It can be. Ask your accountant before launching a points-based recognition program.