Tuesday 8 April 2025: Velocity Frequent Flyer is giving Aussie travellers even more reason to fly, with a suite of exclusive new perks launching on Virgin Australia’s long-haul international flights (VA1–29). Whether it’s chasing summer in Europe or exploring new corners of the world, Velocity is making the journey smoother and more rewarding than ever.
After tripling the number of available Reward Seats for Velocity members on flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne to Doha for travel until February 2026, Velocity is raising the bar yet again, dialling up the benefits for members flying on Virgin Australia’s long-haul services to the Qatari capital.
Leading the charge is an Australian airline-first perk - a USD$20 “Dine on Us” voucher to spend at select restaurants and cafés at Hamad International Airport, recently named the World’s Best Airport at the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Linking the voucher is easy: each member (including children) just need to add their Velocity Frequent Flyer number to their booking before check-in to enjoy a bite between flights².
Other great benefits available across all Velocity membership tiers, include:
- Business Upgrades⁵: From 1 July 2025, all Velocity members can request upgrades using their Points from Economy Flex fares to Business Class on Virgin Australia long-haul flights (VA1-VA29) up to 24 hours before departure, giving members greater flexibility to enjoy the world-class Qsuite experience on their long-haul flight. Gold and Platinum members can use their Points to upgrade to Business class on both Flex and Choice fares.
- Advance Seat Selection⁴: Gold and Platinum members can access complimentary Advance Seat Selection for themselves and up to eight guests on the same booking, including on Preferred and Extra Legroom seats. Red and Silver members receive discounted rates (10% for Red, 20% for Silver) when purchasing seat selection for Economy Choice and Economy Reward Seat fares.
- Family Pooling⁶: Velocity’s exclusive Family Pooling benefit allows members to combine Points and Status Credits with up to five other family members living at the same address, fast-tracking their way to rewards. A family of four holding Red status flying from Sydney to Paris via Doha on return Economy Flex fares with Qatar Airways could earn 86,000+ Points and 1,120+ Status Credits.
- Gold and Platinum Velocity members will also receive further benefits when travelling on Virgin Australia flights from Australia to Doha, such as:
- Lounge Access³: Velocity Gold and Platinum members receive complimentary access to Qatar Airways owned and operated lounges, as well as third party partner lounges.
- Additional Checked Baggage Allowance⁷: More baggage allowance when flying on a flight with a Virgin Australia (VA) or Qatar Airways (QR) number, depending on fare type and route.
- Priority Baggage, Check-in and Boarding⁸: Fast-track your airport experience with priority baggage handling, check-in and boarding, including access to Business Class counters when flying on Qatar Airways-operated services.
With one of the widest Economy seats in the industry, the award-winning Qsuite Business Class, and seamless connectivity through complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi powered by advanced satellite technology, there’s never been a better time to book a Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways flight to Doha and take advantage of the incredible benefits available to Velocity members.
Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach said the new benefits are designed to make travel more rewarding and seamless for Velocity members and give them more reason to fly Virgin Australia on their long haul international trips.
"We know our members value great rewards when they fly and our expanded benefits on these new services to Doha deliver exactly that - more upgrade options, more perks, and a better travel experience,” Rohrlach said.
“From complimentary in-flight Wifi to Business class upgrades with Points and a $20USD dining voucher, we’re delivering on our promise to offer members value to recognise their loyalty and choosing to fly with us.
"As a loyalty program, we continuously seek new ways to reward members for their dedication and commitment. The exceptional loyalty benefits on Virgin Australia’s new long-haul international services highlight our strong focus on delivering meaningful and personalised rewards.”
Virgin Australia’s new long-haul international flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to Doha launch from June 2025, with Melbourne to follow in December 2025. For more information and to book visit virginaustralia.com
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
Virgin Australia’s long haul international services operated by Qatar Airways departing from Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne to Doha are flight numbers VA1 to VA29.
ABOUT VELOCITY FREQUENT FLYER
Virgin Australia’s loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer, boast more than 13 million members who can use their Points to redeem flights to over 600 destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and the airline’s extensive list of international partner carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and more. The program is also partnered with everyday spend partners such as Flybuys (Coles, Coles Express, Bunnings), Myer, DiDi, giving members more choice than ever before when earning and redeeming Points.
ABOUT VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
Founded in the Year 2000 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Australia is now one of the largest Australian airlines operating an extensive domestic network as well as short-haul international services, charter and cargo operations. The Group employs more than 8,000 people and has been a competitor in the Australian aviation landscape for 25 years. Virgin Australia is incredibly focused on providing wonderful travel experiences through award-winning service, optionality to fly the way you want to, and value with competitive airfare pricing. Three seating choices are offered when flying with Virgin Australia: Business Class, Economy X (extra legroom Economy) and Economy.
ABOUT QATAR AIRWAYS
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘World's Best Business Class’, ‘World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the 'World’s Best Airline Website' by World Travel Tech Awards. Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
¹Reward Seat Redemption
Compared to the existing Reward Seat availability on Qatar Airways flights between Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha between June and February 2026, available to book by Velocity members as at January 2025. Reward Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Full Reward Seat terms and conditions at velocityfrequentflyer.com.
²Dine on us
Velocity Frequent Flyer members or Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will each receive a USD$20 food and beverage voucher (Voucher) to redeem for food or drinks (excluding alcohol) at one of over 50 food outlets at Hamad International Airport, Doha when travelling on Virgin Australia’s services between Australia and Doha (VA1-29). Each passenger travelling on these services (including children) need to add their individual Velocity or Privilege Club membership number to their booking, prior to departure of their flight to or from Australia, in order to link this Voucher to their boarding pass. Members are not able to claim this Voucher any other way. To redeem this Voucher, the member must present their boarding pass at one of the selected food outlets at the point of transaction. Only one Voucher can be used per transaction. Vouchers cannot be combined with other members’ Vouchers. If a member’s transaction exceeds the value of the Voucher, the member must pay the remaining balance by cash or card. Vouchers cannot be used at the following outlets: Starbucks, Joe the Juice, Lavita, W Hotel Café and Louis Vuitton Lounge. To view the full list of eligible outlets visit the Velocity Frequent Flyer website here. This Voucher is non-refundable, single use only and cannot be used in parts nor exchanged for cash.
³Lounge access
Qatar Airways Business Class passengers (all except Qatar Business LITE passengers) can access the Al Mourjan Business Lounge “The Garden” in Doha. Business Class (Lite) and Economy Class passengers can purchase Al Mourjan Business Lounge access subject to availability. Velocity Platinum and Gold members travelling on a flight operated by Qatar Airways (including Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar Airways with a VA flight number between Australia and Doha) who are not travelling on an eligible Business Class fare, have access to other Qatar Airways owned and operated and 3rd party partner lounges. For more information, please visit the Qatar Airways partner page on the Velocity website.
⁴Advanced seat selection
Discounts will only be available for the Red or Silver Velocity member on a booking (not including other passengers). Your Velocity membership number must be entered into your booking (or quoted to Contact Centre staff) prior to purchasing advance seat selection. The amount payable for advance seat selection will be quoted to you at the time of purchase, and will be inclusive of any discounts. Any discount available will be based on your Velocity membership level at the time you purchase advance seat selection. Gold and Platinum members will be eligible for complimentary advance seat selection (standard, preferred or extra leg room) for themselves and up to 8 accompanying guests on the same booking (excluding group bookings). Any advance seat selection is subject to terms and conditions.
⁵Upgrade to Business using Points
From 1 July 2025, Red and Silver Velocity members can use Points to upgrade from Economy Flex fares to Business class on Virgin Australia‘s flights between Australia and Doha, operated by Qatar Airways (VA1-VA29). Gold and Platinum Velocity members can use Points to upgrade from Economy Flex and Choice fares to Business class on Virgin Australia‘s flights between Australia and Doha, operated by Qatar Airways (VA1-VA29). Subject to seat availability. Requests can be made up to 24 hours before departure. Additional terms and conditions apply.
⁶Family Pooling
A Family Pool can consist of up to 6 family members (including the beneficiary) that are living at the same address, including a maximum of 2 adults over the age of 18 and then up to 4 children under 18. Note that if there are already two adults in a Family Pool and a child in the Family Pool turns 18, then that member would be classed as a third adult and would then be automatically removed from the Family Pool. The number of Points earned is dependent on Velocity members’ Status.
⁷Additional Checked Baggage allowance
For travel to/from the Americas: Gold members will receive one piece of additional checked baggage of up to 23kg when travelling in Economy Class or up to 32kg when travelling in Business Class on Qatar Airways operated flights (with a VA or QR number). Platinum members will receive two pieces of additional checked baggage of up to 23kg when travelling in Economy Class or up to 32kg when travelling in Business Class on Qatar Airways operated flights (with a VA or QR flight number).
For travel to/from Africa: If you have booked a Qatar Airways operated flight with a VA flight number, Gold members will receive an additional checked baggage allowance of up to 20kg when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class. Platinum members will receive an additional checked baggage allowance of up to 25kg when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class.
If you have booked a Qatar Airways operated flight with a QR flight number, Gold members will receive one piece of additional checked baggage of up to 23kg when travelling in Economy Class or up to 32kg when travelling in Business Class. Platinum members will receive two pieces of additional checked baggage of up to 23kg when travelling in Economy Class or up to 32kg when travelling in Business Class.
For travel to/from other international destinations: Gold members will receive an additional checked baggage allowance of up to 20kg when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class on Qatar Airways operated flights (with a VA or QR flight number). Platinum members will receive an additional checked baggage allowance of up to 25kg when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class on Qatar Airways operated flights (with a VA or QR flight number
⁸Priority Baggage and check-in
Please ensure you download the Velocity Frequent Flyer App as a valid virtual or physical membership card needs to be presented to attain benefits. To earn Points you must be a Velocity member. This offer, Velocity membership and Points earned are subject to the Velocity Membership Terms and Conditions as amended from time to time.
