Aussies have saved an estimated $3.5 billion in the past 12 months by using airline loyalty points.^
- A new report by Velocity Frequent Flyer and YouGov reveals nearly half of Australians plan to use airline frequent flyer points to pay for Christmas shopping or travel.
- Australians are turning to airline frequent flyer points for everyday essentials, transforming loyalty rewards into real savings during the busiest spending period of the year.
- Nationwide, Aussie frequent flyer members are estimated to sit on an average of nearly 783 billion unredeemed points#, representing almost $2 billion in untapped value.**
Tuesday, 2 December 2025: As household budgets tighten and the festive season approaches, new research from Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program has revealed more than half of Australians (55 per cent) feel more financially stretched than this time last year, with four in ten (40 per cent) struggling to afford everyday essentials.*** In response, millions are planning a cashless Christmas, turning to their airline frequent flyer points to ease the pressure.
The inaugural Velocity Points Pulse Report, conducted in partnership with YouGov, shows that nearly half of Australians (49 per cent) intend to use their frequent flyer points to help cover Christmas shopping, travel and everyday expenses - transforming Points from a “nice to have” into a practical budgeting tool.
And Aussies have plenty to work with. The average airline loyalty member has built up an estimated 58,000 points, contributing to a national total of almost 783 billion in unredeemed points.# That’s believed to be roughly the equivalent of $1.9 billion in potential savings** waiting to be used on flights, gifts, groceries and more.
In the past 12 months alone, members of airline loyalty programs who redeemed their points unlocked an average of $400 in value, totalling what is believed to be an estimate of $3.5 billion in savings.^ Nearly three in four members (73 per cent) redeemed $100 or more - turning points into real purchasing power.***
Since expanding its partnership with Myer to allow members to redeem Velocity Points in-store, Velocity Frequent Flyer has seen a surge in members using their Points on everyday retail purchases, with air fryers, coffee machines, blenders, suitcases and headphones, among the most popular items.
The research also found it’s younger Australians leading the way, with Gen Z and Millennials using Points as a clever budgeting strategy:
- 79 per cent of Gen Z plan to use their points for shopping
- 83 per cent are planning to redeem points for travel rewards
Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach said the new report highlights a major shift in how Australians think about loyalty programs.
“Members are no longer just thinking about flights - a 40% surge in members earning through non-air partners shows Aussies are turning everyday spending into Christmas gifts,” said Mr Rohrlach.
“With cost-of-living pressures impacting households, Points are becoming an important part of how Australians manage their spending, especially in the lead up to Christmas. Checking your balance, reviewing unredeemed rewards and planning ahead can make a real difference.”
For more information on how to make the most of Velocity Frequent Flyer Points, visit www.velocityfrequentflyer.com.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
^The estimates are based on the average airline frequent flyer points redeemed in the past 12 months based on research conducted by YouGov as outlined in the Velocity Points Pulse Report dated 23 October 2025. It reflects a nationally representative sample of Australian adults aged 18+, weighted by age, gender and location. Respondents who reported redeeming points in the past year were asked to estimate their value, and the mid-point of these estimates was used to calculate an average of $403.33. This average was then extrapolated across an estimated 8.713 million airline frequent flyer members. The resulting figure is an indicative estimate only and does not represent actual transactions or guaranteed savings.
*The Velocity Points Pulse Report, dated 23 October 2025, was prepared by YouGov for Velocity Frequent Flyer. YouGov surveyed 1,008 Australian adults online, all airline frequent flyer program members, between 16 and 20 October 2025. All data and figures are weighted using the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data to reflect the totals shown in this media release.
**The estimates are based on research conducted by YouGov as outlined in the Velocity Points Pulse Report dated 23 October 2025. It reflects the potential value of airline frequent flyer points that survey respondents said they had forgotten to redeem. Using a nationally representative sample of Australian adults, YouGov calculated an average forgotten value of $292.15 and extrapolated this across an estimated 6.792 million airline frequent flyer members. This has an estimated value of $1.98 billion.#The estimate of 58,590 unredeemed points per airline frequent flyer member and 783 billion points nationwide is based on research by YouGov using the total number of Australian frequent flyer members (13.36 million) and survey responses. These figures are indicative only and represent estimated averages, not actual balances. Individual member totals may vary significantly.
***Findings are based on a nationally representative survey of Australians aged 18+, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Velocity Frequent Flyer. Percentages reflect self-reported responses from participants and are indicative of the surveyed population.
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Virgin Australia’s award-winning loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer, boast millions of members who can use their Points to redeem flights to over 600 destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and the airline’s extensive list of international partner carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and more. The program is also partnered with Flybuys (Coles, Coles Express, Bunnings and more), Door Dash, DiDi and more, giving members more choice than ever before when earning and redeeming Points.
