Australian Airlines in the Velocity Rewards Program

The Velocity Rewards Program is one of Australia’s most popular frequent flyer and loyalty programs. It was launched in 2005 by Virgin Blue, the country’s second largest airline. Members of Velocity Rewards program can earn points when they utilise services with Velocity partners including airlines, cruises and car rental services. Points earned can be redeemed for flight bookings, hotel accommodation, car rental services, cruises, holiday travel as well as for shopping for everyday items like groceries and fuel with a Velocity linked airline credit card. Three types of memberships are offered by the Velocity Rewards Program, i.e. Red, Silver or Gold members, and the level of membership is determined by the number of status credits earned.

Australian airlines in the program are airlines in the Virgin Airline Group such as Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and V Australia as well as Skywest, an airline not owned by Virgin Blue but has extensive domestic coverage in Western and Northern Australia.

Virgin Blue

Virgin Blue is Australia’s low cost airline and the second largest airline in Australia. It serves 28 towns and cities in Australia with its hub based in Brisbane Airport. Since its inception in 2000, Virgin Blue has expanded its flight coverage extensively. It launched the Pacific Blue airlines in 2004 and increased flight frequency to and from New Zealand and surrounding islands, as well as collaborated with the Government of Samoa to launch Polynesian Blue airlines in 2005 and enhanced flights to and from Samoa and New Zealand. In 2007, Virgin Blue launched V Australia and started international flights to destinations in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and Asia.

Virgin Blue’s Velocity Rewards Program was initiated with the objective to gain customer loyalty and to fight stiff competition presented by Australia’s national carrier, Qantas. In addition to its sister airlines, Virgin Blue has also included international airlines as partners to its Velocity Rewards program, such as Emirates Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Delta.

Pacific Blue Airlines

Pacific Blue is a subsidiary of Virgin Blue. Launched in 2004, it has bases in Christchurch Airport and Auckland Airport, New Zealand. Pacific Blue offers frequent flights between Australia, New Zealand, the Cooks Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. The airline started domestic services in New Zealand in 2007 covering routes between Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.

Polynesian Blue Airlines

Polynesian Blue is a joint venture between Virgin Blue and the Samoan government and is 49 per cent owned by the latter. Since its inception in 2005, it has serviced flights between Samoa, New Zealand Australia, and has been the inter-island airline between Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

V Australia

V Australia is the international airline owned by Virgin Blue and is based in Sydney, Australia. Launched in 2007, V Australia started off with flights between Australia and the United States and by 2009, it has expanded its flight destinations to United Kingdom, Thailand, Johannesburg and Fiji.

SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest is a wholly owned company of Singapore-Incorporated but operates from its base in Perth, Western Australia. Skywest provides frequent domestics flights between key towns in Western Australia and Darwin, Northern Territory, as well as charter flights to Bali. As a code sharing partner of Virgin Blue, flight bookings with Skywest Airlines will enable a member of the Velocity Rewards Program to earn and redeem points.