Virgin Australia is tweaking its frequent flyer scheme for the first time in five years and making it slightly easier for members to book international economy tickets.
Changes to Velocity will take effect from 1 June this year and will require members to raise fewer points in order to redeem flights in economy class for trips of more than 4,801 miles (or 7,700 kilometres).
A drop is also expected in points needed to redeem flights with partner airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, airberlin and South African Airways, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
For example, a Singapore Airlines flight from Sydney to Singapore could require around 17,000 less points than the current reward seats table.
While economy points go down, premium economy and business class seats will rise on Virgin, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America and some Air New Zealand flights. The increase will taken effect on services for every distance and will require as much as 1,500 extra points for a Sydney-LA business class ticket.
There’s also going to be a slight jump in Velocity points needed to redeem flights with Etihad to Abu Dhabi, a change Virgin attributed to the cost of purchasing seats on Etihad.
One final change will see memberships with no activity expire in two years – down from the current allowance of three years.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said Virgin has undergone significant changes since first introducing the current reward seats points and the slight adjustments represent the carrier’s move to a full service airline.
During the first half of the 2015/16 financial year, Velocity made some $70.8 million in earnings before interest and tax, up 56.6 percent on the same period the prior year.
The new award table will take effect from 1 June this year.