Virgin Australia business class upgrades: all you need to know
Using Velocity points to upgrade your seat to the first two rows is an excellent way to improve your journey.
By Staff Writers, April 12 2024
Whether you normally book Choice or Flex economy class fares for your Virgin Australia travel, a great way to put your Velocity points to good use is by using them for a business class upgrade.
Upgrades to business class are available on most Virgin Australia flights featuring Boeing 737 aircraft (which make up the bulk of the fleet), and there are three avenues to do so:
- UpgradeMe Points (using Velocity Points to upgrade from an economy fare)
- UpgradeMe Premiuum Bid (making a cash bid on unsold business class seats)
- UpgradeMe Platinum Credits (a perk reserved for Velocity Platinum members)
Some fares require more points than others – it all depends on availability and often the type of fare you’re upgrading from.
Virgin Australia has a simple economy fare structure, with just two levels able to be upgraded.
But, with only eight business class seats available per flight, it pays to be quick in requesting your upgrade to avoid being stuck further back.
Here’s what you need to know to turn those spare points into a business class seat on your next domestic or international trip with Virgin Australia.
Upgrades on Virgin Australia: The basics
When it comes to Virgin business class upgrades, there are two types of economy fare you should be familiar with:
- Choice economy fares are the cheapest upgradable fare, seeing as Lite fares cannot be upgraded, and as such, they are sold on all Virgin Australia domestic and international flights.
- Flex fares are the highest economy class fare, also available on all Virgin Australia flights. These are sold at a higher price but offer the most flexibility (hence the name).
Upgrades are only available when travelling on Virgin Australia, not any of Virgin’s partner airlines – including Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Qatar Airways, to name a few – even if you're booked on a codeshare service with a Virgin Australia (VA) flight number.
Here are the three ways you can upgrade to Virgin Australia business class:
Upgrades on Virgin Australia: UpgradeMe Points
Virgin Australia’s UpgradeMe Points – the equivalent of Qantas’ Classic Upgrade Rewards – allow Velocity frequent flyers booked in an eligible fare class to use Velocity points to upgrade on domestic and international flights.
Upgrades with Velocity points can be requested up to:
- four hours before departure via the Virgin Australia website
- two hours over the phone (13 18 75)
- 30 minutes before the flight at domestic check-in
- 60 minutes before the flight at international check-in
As for the number of points required, this is based on distance flown, with the Virgin Australia website providing a handy table:
Based on the above, a business class upgrade from Sydney to Melbourne will cost you 4,900 Velocity points on a Flex fare, but 10,000 on a Choice ticket.
Taking a longer trip to a Virgin international destination? There's a table for that too:
For a trip from Sydney to Queenstown, you’ll be up for 16,000 Velocity points to upgrade from an economy Choice fare versus just 9,900 points from a Flex economy ticket.
Upgrades on Virgin Australia: UpgradeMe Platinum
With Virgin Australia UpgradeMe Platinum, Velocity Platinum members receive four complimentary upgrade credits each year which can turn a Flex fare into a business class seat at no charge.
These upgrades can also be redeemed for accompanying guests – such as friends or family members – travelling on the same flight, as long as there are seats available.
They’re valid anywhere on the Virgin Australia domestic – excluding flights to Christmas Island and Cocos Island – and short-range international network, and are put to best use on those longer flights between Perth and the east coast. Internationally, you could upgrade to destinations like New Zealand, Fiji and Indonesia (Bali). Don’t have enough points or upgrade credits to relax at the pointy end? There’s one last hope – UpgradeMe Premium Bid. Whether flying domestically or internationally, Virgin Australia UpgradeMe Premium Bid allows economy travellers to make a cash bid to upgrade to a business class seat – as long as they are booked on an economy Flex or Choice fare. To see what an upgrade could cost on your next booking, visit the UpgradeMe Premium Bid page on the Velocity website. Here, you can enter how much you’d be willing to pay for a business class seat and lock that figure in – along with your credit card details – up to four hours before the flight departs. You may also cancel or modify your offer during this ‘bidding period.’ By four hours before wheels-up, the airline will assess your bid and choose to either accept or decline your offer. If your offer has been approved, an email will be sent to notify you and your credit card automatically charged with your bid amount. If not, or if your card payment is declined, you’ll keep your original seat at no further charge. All things considered, Virgin Australia’s domestic upgrade policy is particularly generous. In addition to scoring upgrades for yourself, you can also use your points to bump-up colleagues, friends and family members, whether they're travelling with you or on their lonesome. So sit back in your extra-wide leather seat, grab a drink and a hot meal and enjoy your freshly upgraded business flight.
Business class on Virgin Australia's Boeing 737 MAX.Upgrades on Virgin Australia: UpgradeMe Premium Bid
You'll know if your bid is successful around four hours prior to the flight.
Upgrades on Virgin Australia: Final notes
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1004
I'll wait for the new CEO to make a comment.....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Nov 2017
Total posts 6
Can anyone advise on how VA prioritises upgrade bids? For example, looking at an upcoming flight SYD-DPS, I have the option of waitlisting a business class upgrade request for 24,000 points, or bidding for an upgrade starts at about AU$505. 1) What is better value for money and 2) Which of the two would get greatest priority?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Given that neither of those 2 options will give you any additional Status Credits, I'd focus on getting the best seat in Economy-X and smash the credit card with the premium drinks on the card. And, when presenting your boarding pass I'd discretely let the cabin crew know that you're happy to pay for any additional drinks that don't appear on the menu card.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
One small detail missing from an otherwise thorough analysis. Whether upgrading using points or cash bid, flyers are entitled to feel that they're giving something of value in return for an upgraded sector in Business. (That's clearly not the case when using the Platinum 'freebies'). What I regard as a 'sting in the tail', or short-sightedness with this program - is that in no instance does the successful upgrade also get you the additional status credits between the initially purchased airfare (choice/flex) and for a business class airfare secured using valuable points or cash.
And if the upgrade acquired with points or cash (together the initially purchased fare) was still at an obvious discount from a purchased business fare, I wouldn't complain. But do the math, you'll be surprised as the lack of difference (rarely as much as you think).
I don't mention this to condemn Virgin's plan, far from it, I remain of the view that VA's loyalty program offers the best back for my buck here amongst the 3 airlines. My mention is merely to forewarn so that disappointment is avoided. Haveagreatweekend everybody.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1004
Maybe we should give the new CEO a marketing plan B-T!!!!!
But my mates always say "Don't Do Freebies"
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
😆🤣😂😁 - computer says "No freebies".
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Nov 2012
Total posts 124
I agree with boeing-tragic but the one part of this whole equation that the article only briefly alludes to is that Business seats, points or paid, are few and far between since the cabin only has 8 seats. I’ve only ever seen empty seats in J on really off peak short haul <90 min flights. Every other sector it’s full.
The platinum benefit is “pointless” unless you are booking a looooooooong way out as there has to be a redemption seat available. And that far out the J seat is often less than or only slightly more that the Flex fare.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 388
Upgrade me platinum benefit is as rare as hen’s teeth especially on international and east-west flights. It’s a con.
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