Whether you normally book Lite, Choice or Flex economy class fares for your Virgin Australia travel, the best way to use your Velocity points is to use them for a business class upgrade.
Upgrades to business class are available on all Virgin Australia flights using Boeing 737 aircraft, which make up the majority of its fleet.
If you happen to be on Virgin's Airbus A320 or Fokker 100 jets, of which there are only 16, upgrades are still possible but only for Economy X seats, which only provide extra legroom in the exit row.
Some fares require more points than others - it all depends on availability and often, the type of fare you use to upgrade.
But with only eight business class seats available per flight, it's worth requesting your upgrade quickly to avoid being stuck far back.
Here's what you need to know to convert those spare points into business class seats on your next domestic or international trip with Virgin Australia.
When it comes to business class upgrades, there are two types of economy class fares you should know about:
Preferred economy fares are Virgin Australia's cheapest upgradeable fares, as Lite fares are not upgradeable, and as such, they are sold on all Virgin Australia domestic and international flights.
Flex fares are the highest economy class fares, also available on all Virgin Australia flights. Sold at a higher price but offering the most flexibility (hence the name), it's often easier to upgrade than Flex fares on all routes. They also allow additional flexibility when changing or canceling your flight.
For example, a business class upgrade from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Perth will cost 9,900 Velocity points on a Flex fare, but 30,000 points on a Choice ticket.
Taking a longer trip to any of Virgin's international destinations, such as New Zealand, Bali or Fiji? You'll get 24,000 Velocity points for upgrading from an economy Choice fare or just 14,900 points if you use a Flex economy ticket to Bali.
For a flight from the east coast of Australia to Queenstown – it's 9,900 Velocity points flat to switch from Flex economy to business.
However, points-based upgrades are not available when traveling on any of Virgin's partner airlines – including Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Qatar Airways to name just a few – even if you have booked a codeshare service with a Virgin Australia (VA ) flight number .
But in their favour, Virgin Australia offers a confirmed upgrade as soon as you request it, provided there is a seat available on your flight: rather than waiting until closer to departure as is the case on Qantas international flights.
With Virgin Australia, Velocity frequent flyer members can use Velocity points to enhance their flight experience in one of three ways.
Virgin Australia UpgradeMe points - the equivalent of Qantas Classic Upgrade Rewards - allow Velocity frequent flyers traveling in eligible fare classes to use Velocity points to upgrade on Virgin Australia domestic and international flights.
If you are traveling on a domestic Choice fare, an upgrade with Velocity points can be requested from the time of booking up to four hours before departure via the Virgin Australia website, or up to two hours in advance by phone (13 18 75)
If an upgrade is not available when you request it, you may be able to add your request to a waiting list for consideration closer to the departure date.
Upgrade requests can also be made in the Virgin Australia lounge up to 30 minutes before departure (basically until boarding time) for Velocity Platinum guests, and between 30 and 120 minutes earlier for Gold, Silver and Red members already in the lounge.
Platinum members have the added privilege of requesting upgrades for flights from other airports, such as their return on the next sector.
When departing from Hobart, where Virgin Australia does not operate a lounge, Velocity Gold and Platinum members can instead request a points-based upgrade at the priority check-in desk between 40 and 90 minutes before departure.
On shorter flights such as Sydney-Melbourne or Sydney-Brisbane, the asking price is 10,000 points per passenger, per flight on Preferred Fare: the same number of points required for a similar upgrade on Qantas.
That's not a bad value when you consider the typically low cost of Choice fares — most start at just $80 — plus the perks of lounge access if you're not already a Velocity Gold or Platinum member.
But on the longer journey to Perth, the number of points required to upgrade to business class is comparable to just booking a confirmed business class seat at the start – 30,000 points to upgrade versus 35,500 points to book direct, as we've done previously detailed.
Reflecting the higher prices of Virgin Australia's domestic Flex fares, the number of points required to upgrade from here is significantly less.
Book a Flex fare and for just 4,900 more points, you can sit in business class on short hop airlines like Sydney-Melbourne, Sydney-Brisbane and Sydney-Canberra.
As with Choice fares, confirmed upgrades can be requested online and over the phone, as well as at the airport for frequent flyers and paid Virgin Australia Lounge members during the same time period as above.
With Virgin Australia UpgradeMe Platinum, Velocity Platinum members receive four free upgrade credits each year that can convert Flex fares into business class seats at no charge.
This upgrade can also be redeemed for accompanying guests – such as friends or family members – on the same flight, as long as there are seats available.
It's valid anywhere on Virgin Australia's domestic - excluding flights to Christmas Island and Cocos Island - and 'short-haul international' networks, and is best used on longer flights between Perth and the east coast.
Internationally, you can upgrade to destinations like New Zealand, Fiji and Indonesia (Bali).
Don't have enough points or improve credit to rest on the sharp end? There is one last hope – UpgradeMe's Premium Bid.
Whether flying domestically or internationally, Virgin Australia's UpgradeMe Premium Bid allows economy travelers to make a cash bid to upgrade to a business class seat – as long as they're booked on a Flex or Choice economy fare.
To see the cost of an upgrade on your next booking, visit the UpgradeMe Premium Bid page on the Velocity website.
Here, you can enter the amount you're willing to pay for a business class seat and lock in that figure - along with your credit card details - up to six hours before the flight takes off. You can also cancel or modify your bid during this 'bid period'.
Up to four hours before the wheels go up, the airline will evaluate your bid and choose whether to accept or reject your offer.
If your bid has been approved, your credit card will automatically be charged with the amount of your bid – and if not, or if your card payment is declined, you will retain your original seat at no further charge.
Heading to New Zealand, Fiji or Bali? You can use your points to upgrade to business class if you have purchased a Flex or Choice economy fare.
As Virgin Australia does not have any international lounges of its own – instead using the lounges of its airline partners – international upgrades must instead be requested online or by phone, from any time after booking up to two hours before departure.
As with domestic flights, Velocity points can be used to upgrade anyone on a short international flight, whether you're traveling together or not, while upgrades can be waitlisted if they're not immediately available.
Between Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne to Nadi (Fiji), you're looking at 16,000 points to serve in business class from a Choice ticket or just 9,900 points from a Flex fare.
While upgrades are great, it's important to remember the number of points and status credits you'll earn on upgraded flights is based on your original fare purchased.
Therefore, if you have switched from economy class to business class, your frequent flyer gift will be as if you actually flew in economy.
Whether by points, credits or Premium Bid, upgrades are not available on flights originally booked as Reward Seats using frequent flyer points – so if you're already forking over Velocity points to get your seat, make sure you're happy with the cabin you have chosen.
The only exception to this rule is Velocity Any Seat bookings as the points required to book these are the same as the cash price for the seat, so travelers can upgrade using points or Premium Bids as if they were traveling regular (paid) fares.