While taking a long-haul international flight in a lie-flat Business Class seat is a significant goal for many point collectors, flying at the pointy end of the plane on domestic and short-haul flights can still be nice.
Those flying Business Class on Virgin Australia-operated flights can enjoy priority check-in and boarding, pre-flight lounge access, an additional baggage allowance, and much more spacious seating onboard.
But who can upgrade to the pointy end of the plane using points? And how?
Here is a look at how these work on Virgin Australia.

Eligible fares for Velocity points upgrades

If you are a Velocity member travelling in an eligible Economy fare class, you can apply to use points to move to Business Class on domestic, Trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes operated by Virgin Australia. Economy Lite bookings – Virgin’s cheapest category of fares – are not eligible for upgrades, nor are rewards seats originally booked in Economy class.
However, if you have booked a paid ‘Choice’ or ‘Flex’ Economy fare, you might be able to score an upgrade.
The amount of points required to change cabins from a more expensive ‘Flex’ fare is lower than changing a cheaper ‘Choice’ fare, but upgrades start at 4,900 points.
Here are two tables listing the points required:

Domestic Flights:

One-way miles	Upgrade from a Choice Fare	Upgrade from a Flex Fare
0-600 (eg. Sydney to Melbourne)	10,000	4,900
601-1200 (eg. Melbourne to Sunshine Coast)	17,500	7,400
1201-2400 (eg. Brisbane to Perth)	30,000	9,900
2401-3600	35,000	14,900

Trans-Tasman and International Short Haul Flights:

One-way miles	Upgrade from a Choice Fare	Upgrade from a Flex Fare
0-600	8,000	4,900
601-1200	12,000	7,400
1201-2400 (eg. Sydney to Queenstown)	16,000	9,900
2401-3600 (eg. Melbourne to Bali)	24,000	14,900
3601-4800 (eg. Cairns to Tokyo)	40,000	24,900

Velocity’s UpgradeMe Points program

If you have booked a Choice or Flex fare in Economy, you may be able to upgrade it instantly.
If there are Business Class rewards seats available to book on your flight, then you can also upgrade a paid fare using points and have it confirmed immediately.
If there are no Business Class rewards seats available, you can be placed on a waitlist, where those with higher status levels will be prioritised.
You can request upgrades online until four hours before your scheduled flight’s departure time or during check-in at the airport.

Velocity’s UpgradeMe Premium Bid

If you want an upgrade and don’t have enough points for one – or there is no option to use points – you can instead bid for a paid upgrade through the UpgradeMe Premium Bid program.
You will need to decide how much you are willing to pay and provide payment details, but you will only be charged if your bid is successful.
Bids must be made for each flight sector, not the entire journey if you have a connecting flight.
These upgrades are processed no later than four hours before your scheduled departure time.

Velocity’s UpgradeMe Platinum program

The third way to get an upgrade on Virgin Australia is only for the airline’s most frequent flyers.
Velocity Platinum members can request an upgrade at any time after purchasing an eligible Economy Flex fare on domestic, Trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes operated by Virgin Australia.
Platinum members receive four free Business Class upgrades of this type each year. However, these are subject to reward seat availability, so it is best to book early.
These upgrades can also be used for guests travelling with you on the same flight.

Summary

Velocity members can upgrade to Business Class on eligible Virgin Australia flights using points or by bidding. The points required vary based on flight distance and fare type. Platinum members enjoy priority when applying to change cabins and receive four annual complimentary upgrades.

Written By: Chris
Updated: October 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have made a flight booking in Economy or Premium Economy and wish to upgrade, you can check out your options to do so by logging into your Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity account and seeking out the ‘Manage My Booking’ section. Note that upgrades are subject to availability and may not be confirmed until a day or two before your flight.
Qantas could be a better bet if you are looking for a flight upgrade. Over the years, we have had some luck upgrading from Economy tickets to Business class using points on Qantas flights. Upgrade options through Velocity are far more limited.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to upgrade with a Virgin Australia partner airline using Velocity points. Therefore, if you book a flight with a partner airline like Singapore Airlines, United or Qatar, your only option will be a paid upgrade unless you also have points with the loyalty programs of those airlines.
On Virgin Australia-operated domestic flights, upgrades start at 4,900 points to move from an Economy Flex fare to Business Class on a short route of fewer than 600 miles, like Sydney to Melbourne.
We think so. Business Class does have some nice perks, even on short domestic flights. You will receive priority check-in, boarding and luggage, as well as pre-flight lounge access. An additional baggage allowance is also included, should you need it. Onboard, you are served a proper plated meal and drinks of your choice, while you can also be among the first people off your flight when you arrive at your destination.
No, if you secure an upgrade to Business Class after booking a paid Economy fare, you will still only earn the number of status credits and points you originally would have earned for the Economy booking.