How To Find Virgin Velocity Reward Seats (The Smart Way)

Updated: 9th February 2026

Booking reward seats using Virgin Australia Velocity Points should be exciting.

Instead, most of us have had those full blown OMFG moments sitting in front of the screen wondering why finding reward seats feels harder than actually flying the plane.

You’ve done the hard part.
You earned the points.
You planned the trip.

And now… you cannot find availability.

The frustrating part is this:

It is often not that reward seats do not exist. It is that they are incredibly hard to find inside the booking system.

Let’s talk about the reality of booking Velocity reward seats, and then I will show you how serious points travellers shortcut this entire process.

Protect Your Points First (Seriously)

Before we even talk about booking, quick reality check. Points theft is increasing globally. Weak passwords are still the number one reason accounts get compromised.

Make sure your points are protected with an easy password to remember but hard for people to guess. A strong password is the first line of defense against the growing trend of point theft and unauthorized transfers.

Losing points hurts more than losing cash. Trust me.

The Traditional Way Of Booking Velocity Reward Seats

If you have ever searched reward seats directly through Virgin Australia, you already know the process can be… painful.

Step 1: Destination Selection

Enter departure and arrival cities.

Sounds simple. But you cannot filter by cabin class yet.

Step 2: Date Selection

Enter travel dates. Still no cabin filtering.

Step 3: Passenger Selection 

Select number of travellers.

Still. No. Cabin. Filter.

Step 4: Flight Results

Now you see ALL flights.
Not just reward flights.
All flights.

You now must locate the “Reward Seats available” underneath the flight, click on it and see if your cabin has reward availability. This can take hours. Sometimes days.

Whats worse, some users mistakingly think that all cabins are available as reward seats and can front up over 900,000 points for a business class seat. 🥴

Booking Velocity Reward Seats & The Frustrations.

This traditional approach often leads to frustration and wasted time for users. The fact that ALL flights are listed (not just velocity reward flights) and the lack of a class selection option means that travellers must invest significant effort into finding first the reward flights and then check for suitable reward seats. This can be particularly disheartening and frustrating.

And this is just for trying to find a reward seat on a specific route! Imagine scrolling through every single flight on every single day in every single month and then doing it again for another route! 🫣

How Serious Travellers Actually Find Velocity Reward Seats

This is where things changed for me.

Instead of starting inside airline websites, experienced points travellers often start with award search aggregators.

These tools scan multiple programs and airlines and show you where availability exists before you even open the airline website.

The one I personally use the most is Seats.aero.

Not because it is flashy, but because it is fast and it works.

Why Seats.aero Is So Powerful For Velocity Searches

Seats.aero is not just a Velocity reward seat checker. It scans availability across multiple programs including:

• Velocity
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Emirates Skywards
• Aeroplan
• United MileagePlus
• LifeMiles
• American Airlines
• And more

But for Velocity specifically, it solves the biggest pain point:

👉 Finding where seats exist first
👉 Then going to Velocity to book them

Instead of blindly searching.

Instant Search by Class:

The standout feature of this site is its ability to instantly search for reward seats by class of travel. Simply use the “filter to this cabin” feature. Users can now specify their desired class upfront, ensuring that the results displayed are tailored to their preferences. This eliminates the need for manual scrolling and clicking and repeating for days on end. It significantly reduces the time and effort required to find suitable reward seats.

Comprehensive Date and Airline Filters:

The site also allows users to filter results based on travel dates and even the specific airline or frequent flyer program they prefer. This level of customization ensures that users are presented with options that align closely with their travel plans and loyalty affiliations.

What Information You Get Instantly:

Unlike the traditional method, where users must painstakingly check each flight individually, the site streamlines the process by clearly indicating which flights have reward seat availability in the selected class, carrier and which frequent flyer is offering it. It also lets you know the number of miles you need, the taxes you need to pay and if the flight is direct or has stops. You can also select the minimum number of seats you require so that only flights with this availability will show up. 

This user-friendly interface simplifies decision-making and empowers travellers to make informed choices quickly. Once you have the availability in front of you, head on over to your frequent flyer program and run the exact same search and book – Ta Daaa!

Time and Effort Savings:

Is seats.aero worth it? Absolutely. The convenience offered by this site cannot be overstated. What used to take hours or days of manual searching can now be accomplished within minutes. Travelers no longer need to invest excessive time and effort in hunting down suitable reward seats; instead, they can focus on planning the rest of their journey with ease. There is a free version available but is limited to only a few days of availability. With a subscription you can see the whole year and the results are often live and updated continuously – and its reasonably priced at USD 9.99 per month.

An Example of How it Works:

Here’s an example of Melbourne – Singapore. I run my search on Seats.aero:

(You can also see that it is not limited to Velocity. You can use it for Emirates and Qantas as well and other airlines.)

I head on over to Velocity Virgin Australia with this information and look for this flight and I have found it.

Redemption Value

Before you click on the button to book your fare, ensure you are happy with the points you need to handover to redeem the fare. Look out for taxes as well.

I have built a miles redemption calculator that can help you out.

I find that anything above 3.0 cents for a mile is good value & over 5.0 cents great value.

On a recent trip to the UK, I was able to get velocity reward seats on a First Class Flight with Qatar from Perth to Doha and onwards to Manchester on business. (Doha to Manchester is not a QSuite Route but nevertheless was still quite good). I had enough in my account for a business class reward seat and needed a little more to grab that first class seat on the Perth-Doha sector. I simply transferred miles as a top up from my KrisFlyer miles to my velocity account and it worked a treat.

Amex Membership Rewards is also an option to transfer miles into Velocity. The rate of doing so however is about to go up as Amex Membership Rewards take another hit in December 2025.

FAQ’s Finding Virgin Velocity Reward Seats

Is it hard to find Virgin Velocity reward seats?

Yes, it can be. The biggest challenge is not always a lack of reward seats, but how difficult they can be to locate inside the booking system.

Do Virgin Velocity reward seats get released at specific times?

Sometimes, but not reliably. Airlines can release reward seats:

• When schedules first open (around 330–360 days out)
• Closer to departure if seats are unsold
• Randomly based on demand and revenue management decisions

If you are flexible with dates and routes, you will usually have much better success.

Is it better to search airline websites first or use award search tools first?

Most experienced points travellers now search availability first using award search tools, then go to the airline website to book. This saves huge amounts of time and helps you avoid searching routes that have no reward availability.

Can I use Velocity points on partner airlines?

Yes. Velocity partners include airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and others. Partner redemptions can sometimes offer better availability or better value than Virgin operated flights.

Can I transfer points into Velocity to top up for a reward flight?

Yes, depending on your points balance and programs you belong to. Common transfer options include:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• KrisFlyer

Always check transfer ratios and transfer times before relying on this.

Is the free version of award search tools enough?

For casual searching, yes.
For serious reward travel planning, paid versions usually unlock wider date ranges and more filtering, which can save hours of searching. The Pro version also displays live results.

Do reward seats disappear quickly?

Yes. Premium cabin reward seats can disappear within minutes or hours, especially on popular routes or peak travel periods. If you find availability that fits your plans, it is usually best to book quickly.

Why can I see seats for sale but can’t book them with points?

Because airlines control cash seats and reward seats separately.

Just because a seat is available to purchase with money does not mean it is available as a reward seat. Airlines release a limited number of seats for points redemptions based on demand, seasonality and revenue targets.

Why do reward seats show on one frequent flyer program but not another?

This usually comes down to partner inventory agreements.

Airlines often keep some reward seats only for their own members and release a smaller number to partner programs. For example, you might see availability through one program but not through another, even though they are partners.

This is why many experienced travellers check multiple programs or use award search tools to see where availability is actually bookable.

Do serious points travellers still search airline websites manually?

Yes, but usually after they already know a seat exists.

Most experienced travellers now:

1. Find reward seat availability first
2. Then go to the airline website and book

This avoids wasting hours searching routes that have no reward seats available.

What is the easiest way to find award flight availability?

The easiest way is to check award seat availability first using an award search tool, then go to the airline website to book the exact flight you found. This saves time and avoids searching flights that have no reward seats available.

How far in advance should I search for reward seats?

The best time to search is when airline schedules first open (usually around 11–12 months before travel) and again closer to departure when airlines sometimes release unsold premium seats as rewards.

Are business class reward seats harder to find than economy?

Yes. Airlines release far fewer business and first class reward seats compared to economy. Flexibility with travel dates, routes and departure cities can dramatically improve your chances.

Can I hold reward seats before transferring points?

Usually no. Most frequent flyer programs require you to have the points in your account before booking. Because transfers can take time, always check transfer speeds before relying on moving points at the last minute.

Final Thoughts

Finding Velocity reward seats used to be frustrating, slow and honestly discouraging. Tools like Seats.aero have completely changed that experience.

Instead of hunting for seats, you can now: Find → Verify → Book → Done.

Which is exactly how reward travel should feel.

If you’re looking for unique ideas to enhance your travel experience even further, consider options like airport lounge access, meet-and-greet services, or a private car transfer to the airport. These top 14 unique travellers gifts or ideas can make a world of difference for any frequent flyer.

Happy Travels and don’t forget your packing list!

📚Related Reading:

If you are looking to get even more value out of your points and travel planning, these guides may help:

• Is Seats.aero Worth it? A Game Changer in Award Travel
• How to transfer Krisflyer Miles to Velocity
• Can I Use Velocity Points to Upgrade on Singapore Airlines
• Emirates Game Changer Routes
• When Qantas Usually Releases Reward Seats

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