Is Virgin better for frequent travel rewards than Qantas
100% 2PAXfly
Virgin’s rewards aren’t outright “better” than Qantas’s; they each have distinct strengths that matter to frequent travellers.
Program size and value
- Qantas Frequent Flyer sits in the global top‑10, valued at about US $7 billion (≈A$10.1 billion) with more than 18 million members and generates billions in revenue each year 2PAXfly .
- Virgin Australia’s Velocity program is smaller, valued at AU $2.58 billion and serving roughly 12 million members 2PAXfly .
Reward‑seat search experience
- Virgin’s new Points Calendar tool is built directly into its website and app, letting you discover and book reward seats in a single workflow, which reduces friction at the moment of purchase 2PAXfly .
- Qantas’s Flight Reward Finder lets you browse a wide network of partner airlines, but the search sits outside the main booking engine, requiring you to switch back to the booking flow to secure a seat 2PAXfly .
Partner coverage
- At launch, Virgin’s tool only covers Virgin Australia flights; partner airlines (Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, United) will be added gradually and may take up to a year to be fully integrated 2PAXfly .
- Qantas’s tool already includes OneWorld and other partner airlines, giving broader immediate access to reward seats across its alliance 2PAXfly .
What that means for you
- If you value a larger, more established loyalty program with extensive partner reach, Qantas currently offers the stronger overall package.
- If you prefer a seamless, integrated search‑and‑book experience and are willing to wait for more partner airlines to be added, Virgin’s new tool could give you a more convenient redemption process once fully rolled out.
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