Qantas Frequent Flyer Program vs Virgin Australia Velocity Rewards

Membership fees

Qantas Frequent Flyer: $99.50 (but it's easy to join for free)

Virgin Velocity: Free

Winner: Draw

While Qantas charges a $99.50 joining fee, there's no reason to pay it - we've rounded up all the different ways you can join for nothing. So this one is a dead heat in practice.

Earning points from flights

Qantas Frequent Flyer: Based on distance, minimum 800 Qantas Points

Virgin Velocity: 5 Velocity Points per $1 spent (dropping to 4 in April 2025)

Winner: Qantas

Qantas wins out here for two reasons: it covers more destinations, and it has a more generous earning structure. Velocity's "earn based on what you spend" means it's harder to take advantage of flight sales - and that will get worse in 2025 when the rate drops.

Earning points from credit cards

Qantas Frequent Flyer: 16 Australian banking card partners

Virgin Velocity: 12 Australian banking card partners

Winner: Qantas

There are lots of good credit cards that earn Velocity Points, but there are more credit cards that earn Qantas Points, which gives you more ways to score bonus points signup deals.

Earning points from supermarket shopping

Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1,000 Qantas Points/2,000 Everyday Rewards points

Virgin Velocity: 1,000 Velocity Points/2,000 Flybuys points

Winner: Draw

There's nothing separating the airlines here. Qantas lets you convert Woolworths Everyday Rewards Points, Velocity lets you convert Coles Flybuys, and the rates are identical. Both supermarkets also regularly run bonus points offers.

"I started with Velocity points as I frequently fly from SYD to LAX and Virgin's service was better than other US airlines. After COVID, Virgin Australia stopped servicing flights to LAX and many other international destinations (using partner airlines instead), so it became apparent I'd get better value from Qantas. I also shop at Woolies as that is the only market near me and it makes sense to pair your grocery with your airline points (Coles with Virgin, Woolies with Qantas). I don't like that Qantas has a lot of other fees beyond the points when you book flights – for instance a recent trip to the US that I paid for with points still cost me $600 in fees for two flights. Also, if you book with Qantas points and the flight is operated by a US-run airline, you will only get one checked bag and there is no way to avoid paying the US$100 bag fee for a second one (both ways). I like Virgin flights domestically and frankly prefer the airline overall to Qantas, but because my options are slightly limited, Qantas rewards ends up being a better program for me."

Taylor Blackburn

Money expert

Earning points elsewhere

Winner: Draw

Both airlines have partnerships that let you earn points when shopping at partner retailers, booking hotel rooms, booking travel, renting cars or paying for insurance. You might be swayed if there's a particular brand you prefer with one airline.

Redeeming points for flights

Qantas Frequent Flyer: Classic Rewards, Points Plus Pay, upgrades

Virgin Velocity: Rewards Seat, Points Plus Pay, upgrades

Winner: Qantas

Getting a rewards seat can be tough, especially if you want Business or First. Finder research shows just 16% of Australians use our points for flights.

Qantas has the edge here because it flies to more destinations, both domestically and internationally, has more airline partners, and offers a wider range of seat classes. Getting a good seat will still require patience and luck.

Redeeming points for other benefits

Qantas Frequent Flyer: What Qantas Points are worth

Virgin Velocity: What Velocity Points are worth

Winner: Draw

If you're not spending points on flights or upgrades, you'll get less value. But there's no major difference in that value between Qantas and Velocity.

Points expiry

Qantas Frequent Flyer: Points expire if there's no activity for 18 months

Virgin Velocity: Points expire if there's no activity for 24 months

Winner: Velocity

With both programs, you can make sure your points don't expire even if you're not flying by earning points through your credit card or through supermarket transfers. However, Virgin definitely has a more generous policy here.

Sharing points

Qantas Frequent Flyer: Family Transfer

Virgin Velocity: Family Pooling

Winner: Velocity

Both Qantas and Virgin let you use your points to book flights for a family member. But Virgin takes the crown here because it lets you earn status from trips booked for other family members - a useful perk if you sometimes travel with your kids.

The final winner: Qantas Frequent Flyer

Scale matters. Qantas' larger fleet and wider range of destinations ultimately means that there are more ways to get stuff from points, which is reflected in the categories above. But it's a competitive race.

Your preference also matters. If you like flying with Virgin better (or have to for work), if you're a loyal Coles shopper, or if the credit card deal you prefer is for Velocity, it's still a solid scheme. My approach? Stay a member of both but focus your earning strategy each year on just one.

Written by

Angus Kidman

Editor-at-large

Angus Kidman is the international editor-at-large at Finder. He's an award-winning journalist who has reported on technology, travel, finance and other topics for over 30 years. Angus appears regularly on Sunrise, Today, The Project, Seven News and other TV and radio shows. See full bio

Angus's expertise

Angus has written 202 Finder guides across topics including:

• Frequent flyer
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