Compare the best Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards

What is a Velocity credit card?

Velocity credit cards refer more broadly to cards that can earn you Velocity Frequent Flyer Points when using the card. These credit cards are often made available through branded deals with partner providers (like American Express’ Velocity Platinum Card or ANZ’s Rewards Platinum – Velocity card). These cards may also be referred to as ‘Velocity Points credit cards’ or ‘Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards’.

How do Velocity credit cards work?

Velocity credit cards allow you to earn a certain amount of points per dollar spent on eligible purchases of goods and services. How many points you earn per dollar you spend will depend on the card you choose. 

You may also receive bonus Velocity Points when you sign-up for the card and meet certain conditions. 

These points are then added to your Velocity Frequent Flyer account, where you can redeem them for flights, travel upgrades, shopping, and more. 

In order to earn Velocity Points, you’ll need to join the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. At the time of writing, it’s free to join.

What is the best credit card for Velocity Points?

The best Velocity credit card for points often changes, as Virgin makes different agreements with each credit card provider. You’ll generally want a card with a high earn rate (the number of points you get per dollar spent) and a large bonus point offer on sign-up. That said, these cards can come with high annual fees and interest rates, and typically impose minimum spends in order to earn bonus points.

You can find some of the best Velocity credit cards for points by comparing the available options in the table above. Use the filters to sort by both rewards points per dollar spent and sign-up bonus points to see which products best suit your needs and financial habits.

What are the features of Velocity credit cards?

Some features and benefits offered by Velocity credit cards are:

• The ability to earn Velocity Points: You’ll usually earn a set number of points for every dollar you spend. Keep an eye out for point caps, though. Some cards offer a higher earn rate up to a certain spend each statement period, then drop to a lower earn rate beyond that. Some of the more expensive Velocity credit cards may come with uncapped earning rates.
• Sign-up bonus Velocity Points: Many cards offer generous hauls of bonus points for new customers. However, you’ll generally need to spend a certain amount of money in the first few months of having the card to receive them. A credit card provider may also exclude you from the offer if you’ve previously held a Velocity Points earning credit card with them in the past year or two.
• Complimentary insurances: Some Velocity credit cards offer insurances to cardholders, such as travel insurance and purchase protection. It’s important to check how to qualify for the provided coverage and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to find out what you will and won’t be covered for and if any limits apply.
• Virgin flight services: Depending on the card you have, you may be offered complimentary airport lounge access, travel deals, bonus Velocity Status Credits (which help determine your membership tier), and concierge services (like personal assistance to help you find and book accommodation, hire a car, or make dinner reservations).

What are some of the fees and interest rates of Velocity credit cards?

As Velocity credit cards are considered rewards credit cards, they often come with higher annual fees and interest rates than regular credit cards. This can offset the value you might earn through the attached rewards program.

Here are the average purchase rates and annual fees for Velocity credit cards on our database compared to the market average:

Velocity points cards

• Purchase rate: 22.49% p.a.
• Annual fee: $288.75

Market average

• Purchase rate: 17.83%
• Annual fee: $151.35

Source: www.canstar.com.au – 30/03/2026. Based on personal credit cards on Canstar’s database, excluding interest-free cards.

Some of the fees and interest rates you may be charged when using a Velocity credit card include:

• If you don’t pay your bill in full, you’ll be charged interest on any balance carried over from the previous statement period. The rate at which you’re charged is known as the purchase rate, and while it’s expressed as a percentage per annum (p.a.), it’s usually calculated daily.
• Annual fees, which help to cover the admin-related costs of maintaining your credit card account.
• Cash advance fees, which you may incur if you use your card to withdraw money from an ATM or transfer money from it to another account. This is usually a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the transaction value—whichever is greater.
• Late payment fees, if you don’t make your minimum credit card repayment on time.
• International transaction fees, if you make a purchase in a foreign currency. This fee is usually charged as a percentage of the transaction value. Some travel credit cards may not charge international transaction fees.
• Balance transfer fee, if you’re moving your existing balance onto a new Velocity credit card. This is usually a percentage of the amount you transferred.
• Additional cardholder fees, if you want to add another cardholder, perhaps a spouse or family member, to your account. Some credit card providers may offer to add additional cardholders for free. 

You generally can’t earn Velocity Points when paying fees or interest charges or on balances you transfer.

How to compare Velocity credit cards to find the right one for you

When comparing different Velocity credit cards, consider:

• The purchase rate and annual fees, as well as other potential fees charged by the card.
• How many Velocity Points you earn per dollar spent. If your chosen card has a different rewards program attached, what’s the conversion rate for converting them to Velocity Points?
• How many sign-up bonus points will you receive and what are the terms and conditions required to receive them.
• What features does the card offer (for instance, travel insurance, discounts and flight deals, and lounge access).
• If the product is rated by Canstar, what’s its Star Rating? 5-Star rated products are those we’ve found offer outstanding value to Australian consumers.

What should you know before applying for a Velocity credit card?

• Velocity Points credit cards often come with above average annual fees and interest rates
• You must have an active Velocity Frequent Flyer account to earn Velocity Points. It’s currently free to join the program.
• These cards will generally only earn you Velocity Points, which means you’re limited to where and how you can redeem them. You may be able to convert your Velocity Points into different airline points to expand the partner airlines you have access to, but they may lose value during this conversion.
• If you’ve recently held a credit card with a provider offering sign-up bonus points, you may be ineligible for another offer. This is to dissuade customers from points churning.
• Cards like these often require you earn a minimum income and, like most credit products, you’ll generally need to be an Australian permanent resident or citizen to be eligible.
• While points churning has become a popular practice with rewards credit cards, it can also hurt your credit score. Each time you apply for a credit card, the provider will make a hard enquiry into your credit history, which is noted on your credit report. Making too many credit card applications in a short period of time may suggest you’re desperate for credit, may lead to your application being denied, and can impact your credit score.

How many Velocity Points will I earn with a credit card?

This will depend on the card you choose, its points earning rate and any sign-up bonus points you receive, as well as your own spending habits. Most cards offer points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, with some providing higher rates when purchasing certain goods or services.

There are also services like Sniip that allow you to pay your bills using your points-earning credit card. It’s important to note that these platforms tend to charge fees that may erode the value of the points you could potentially earn.

What are eligible purchases?

Most everyday shopping counts as eligible purchases for earning Velocity Points, but some transactions won’t, depending on the credit card provider. Common exclusions include interest, fees and charges, cash advances, and balance transfers.

What are the best ways to earn Velocity Points with a credit card?

• Moving your everyday expenses (including direct debits) and other eligible purchases over to the card is usually a good way to earn points. However, you’ll need to pay off your statement balance in full each period to not incur interest. It’s also worth keeping in mind that credit card surcharges can erode the value of the points you’re earning.
• Look at your card’s points earning rates, as you may earn more points per dollar spent on certain goods and services. Keep in mind that changing your spending habits to chase points may not be worth it overall, as any extra money you’re spending may outweigh the value of the points you’re receiving.
• As many sign-up bonus point offers require you to spend a certain amount of money on the card within the first few months, it may be wise to apply when you have some larger expenses coming up. That way you’re not spending for the sake of earning bonus points.
• If your card doesn’t earn Velocity Points directly, but instead earns rewards points for a different rewards program, you could convert them. Keep in mind that your points may lose value when you convert them over.

What’s the best way to redeem Velocity credit card points?

Using your Velocity Points to book or upgrade Virgin-branded flights usually generates the best value for your points. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Virgin’s partner airlines, which may allow you to redeem your points on a larger variety of airlines, flights, and destinations.

If you’re not interested in redeeming your points for flights, you can also use them to shop via Virgin’s online Rewards Store. However this is often the least valuable way to use your points (as far as a dollar per point value is concerned).

How can you pay with a Velocity credit card?

Velocity credit cards should work much the same as any other credit card. You’ll typically be given a physical card that you can use to make purchases. Many providers also offer digital payment options, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, allowing you to make purchases with your card using your phone or smartwatch. 

Who would suit a Velocity credit card?

If you’re considering a Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card, it may be a good idea to first ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you pay your closing statement balance in full each month? Interest rates on frequent flyer credit cards are often around 20% p.a or more–considerably higher than those on many non-rewards credit cards.
• Do you want to earn points to redeem for flights or flight upgrades?
• Are you already a Velocity Frequent Flyer member or keen to sign up?

A Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card might not be the best option if you:

• rarely pay off your credit card balance in full each statement period,
• only plan to use your credit card occasionally, or;
• only want to redeem points for other items like cashback, gift cards, and shopping vouchers. Redeeming your points in this way is often not as valuable as using them for flights.

If you’re likely to carry some debt on your credit card, it’s possible the interest you pay will outweigh the benefits offered through points. In this instance, you may want to consider a low rate credit card or credit card with no annual fee instead.

Who is eligible for a Velocity credit card?

Generally speaking, in order to be eligible for a Velocity credit card you’ll need to:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa
• Currently reside in Australia and have an Australian address
• Meet the provider’s credit assessment criteria

How to apply for a Velocity credit card

You should be able to apply for a Velocity credit card like you would any other credit card, either online, over the phone, or in person (if your chosen provider has a physical branch). As for the process itself, it could look something like this:

• Evaluate your financial situation and compare your options from the table above. This can help you find the right card for your needs.
• Begin the application process in your chosen way.
• Demonstrate your eligibility and supply the provider with the required personal and financial information.
• Think about whether you’ll need additional cardholders or a higher or lower credit limit.
• Wait to hear back from the provider to see if you’re successful.