The Amex Velocity Platinum Card Is Back (And Better Than Ever) + 60,000 Velocity Points Welcome Offer

Maintaining your Velocity Status just got a whole lot easier thanks to the new and improved American Express Velocity Platinum Card.

Essentially, it now allows you to earn up to 100 Velocity Status Credits each year¹, which won’t just help the less active travellers out there retain their Membership tiers — but also help all you would-be jet-setters climb the ranks, escape the crowds, and best of all, skip the queues.

How does it work?

Cop 50 Status Credits when you spend $25,000 on eligible purchases each Membership year and a further 50 Status Credits when you spend another $25,000 in the same Membership year. 

Status Credits earned through this offer are subject to expiry after 12 months from hitting your Account, like any regularly earned Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits would be¹.

And that’s on top of the 60,000 bonus Velocity Points you could earn when you apply online by 21 January 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases with your new American Express Velocity Platinum Card within the first three months from the Card approval date (Available to new American Express Card Members only. T&Cs apply). 

Status Credits and Velocity Points aside, the American Express Velocity Platinum Card also offers:

• Access to Virgin Australia lounges at select domestic airports every time you fly Virgin Australia domestically (At selected domestic airports. Enrolment required. T&Cs apply.)²
• 2 x Complimentary Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes to treat friends/family each Membership year (At selected domestic airports. T&Cs apply.)³
• Complimentary Virgin Australia domestic return flight each Membership year⁴
• Complimentary Travel Insurance⁵ — terms, conditions, and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions, and cover limits)

Velocity Frequent Flyers who want to offset their spending by earning points and extra perks should be all over the American Express Velocity Platinum Card. That is assuming you meet the eligibility requirements, have the key documents and details at the ready, and be prepared to pay the annual fee of $440.

The Eligibility Criteria You’ll Need To Meet

If you’re ready to apply for the American Express Velocity Platinum Card to take advantage of their current offer, do take note of the following eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet before you apply online.

• To be able to apply for the 60,000 bonus Velocity Points, you must reside in Australia and not hold or have held an American Express Credit Card in the last 18 months. That means those who currently hold or who have previously held a Credit Card issued by American Express in the last 18-month period will be ruled out.

Start Earning Those Velocity Points

The American Express Velocity Platinum Card is a direct earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Credit Card, which means all you’ll need to do is link it to your frequent flyer Account upon application.

You’ll then start automatically earning those Velocity Points as you make eligible purchases, which are typically credited to your Account at the end of each statement period.

Eligible purchases on this particular American Express Card typically include day-to-day essentials like grocery shopping, as well as travel bookings and overseas spending. The earn rate for the American Express Velocity Platinum Card is especially attractive with 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 on everyday spend, and 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent with Virgin Australia (uncapped).⁶

To put that in perspective — given you earn 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent with your American Express Card on everyday purchases — if you buy a $10 item from a store like Woolworths or Coles, you potentially rack up 12.5 Frequent Flyer Points from that purchase. There’s also the 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent at government bodies here in Australia. You can see how quickly this can add up. See the world with your points!

Just as important as it is to take note of eligible purchases, it pays to be aware of what won’t earn your points on American Express. Eligible purchases do not include cash advances, interest, as well as fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies.

What Can I Spend My 60,000 Bonus Velocity Points On?

Velocity has a remarkably flexible and comprehensive rewards program so Card Members are able to spend their points in a variety of other ways.

When it comes to redeeming your Velocity Points, you can opt for purchases with Virgin Australia for domestic flights, flight upgrades, accommodation, and products via the Velocity Rewards Store.

You are also able to spend Velocity Points on various gift cards with a great range of companies. Although do note that flight upgrades and airfares are almost always going to offer better points per dollar value than using your rewards points for gift cards.

However, if you did want to forego that extra domestic return flight or other Virgin Australia return flight (e.g. across the ditch to New Zealand) and save them up, here are some popular redemptions for both gift cards and products from the Velocity Rewards Store (as of 22/10/2024):

• 53,811 points will get you a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2
• 35,642 points will get you a pair of Ray-Ban New Wayfarer Sunnies (Non-Polarised)
• 28,317 points will get you an Apple HomePod Mini
• 21,031 points will get you a 50ml bottle of Montblanc Legend Red Eau de Parfum

Is The American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card Worth It?

As long as you’re playing it smart and you keep in mind the purchase rate (23.99% P.A.) and annual fee ($440) regularly when planning your spending, the Amex Velocity Platinum Credit Card is a wise choice for a number of reasons. Beyond the 60,000 bonus Velocity Points and up to 100 Velocity Status Credits.

The 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 on everyday spend and 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on Virgin Australia is a generous earn rate when compared to other Velocity Frequent Flyer Cards. This is balanced against the annual fee, but as long as you play it smart, it’ll work in your favour.

You can also add value by taking full advantage of all the extra features like the complimentary domestic lounge access + two passes, the complimentary Virgin Australia return flight, plus complimentary travel insurance. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions, and cover limits).

Boss Hunting earns a referral bonus from American Express for anyone who’s approved through the links in this article. This commission helps keep Boss Hunting running, and we thank you for your support.

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Terms & Conditions

Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313. American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Interest rates, fees and charges apply. All interest rates are quoted as an Annual Percentage Rate. All information, including fees, charges, and interest rates are correct as of 22/10/24 and are subject to change.

1. Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits
   Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits are subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. 50 Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits will be awarded when you spend $25,000 on Eligible Spend within your Membership year, and a further 50 Status Credits when you spend another $25,000 on Eligible Spend within the same Membership year. Membership year is defined as commencing upon Card activation and renews on the day of your Card activation each subsequent year. Eligible Spend does not include Card fees and charges, for example, annual fees, interest, late or dishonoured payments, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Please allow up to 2 weeks after you meet the minimum spend requirement for the Status Credits to be credited to your Velocity Account. In addition to Status Credits, Velocity Members need to fly on Virgin Australia-marketed flights to earn Eligible Sectors to upgrade or maintain a level of Membership. To find out more about the Status Credit and Eligible Sector requirements for Velocity Membership levels please visit velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/
2. Virgin Australia Lounge Access
   The American Express Velocity Platinum Card Virgin Australia Lounge Access is subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. The Virgin Australia Lounge Access provides the Primary Card Member with access to Virgin Australia lounges at Australian domestic airports whenever they are flying on a Virgin Australia-operated domestic flight on the same day. American Express Velocity Platinum Primary Card Members will receive 12 months of lounge access on your Velocity Membership. Enrol via your online American Express Account. This is your benefit anniversary date. After enrolling, activate the VA Lounge Access by making an Eligible Transaction on your American Express Platinum Card. Eligible Transaction does not include annual Card fees, cash advances, interest, balance transfers, fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies. After 12 months, at each subsequent benefit anniversary, make an Eligible Transaction on your Velocity Platinum Card to reactivate the VA Lounge Access. Please allow up to 7 days for the benefit to be processed on to the Primary Card Member’s Velocity Membership. The Primary Card Member must provide their Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership details to Virgin Australia lounge staff and present same day boarding pass on a Virgin Australia flight. Additional Card Members are not eligible. Virgin Australia lounge access is subject to space availability. Virgin Australia lounge is owned and operated by Virgin Australia Airlines Pty. Ltd. in selected domestic airports in accordance with Virgin Australia lounge Terms and Conditions, available at virginaustralia.com/lounge and as amended from time to time.
3. Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes
   Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes are subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. Two single entry passes to the Virgin Australia lounge will be activated on the Primary Card Member’s Velocity Frequent Flyer Membership Account annually, on or after each anniversary of Membership. Additional Card Members are not eligible. Complimentary single-entry Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes are not transferable, but may be used to enable other people (who are travelling with the Primary Card Member) to gain access to the lounge. The Virgin Australia lounge is operated by Virgin Australia Airlines Pty. Ltd. in selected domestic airports in accordance with the Virgin Australia Lounge Terms and Conditions, available at virginaustralia.com/lounge and as amended from time to time. Visit the Virgin Australia website for up-to-date information on Virgin Australia’s Lounge network.
4. Complimentary Domestic Return Virgin Australia Flight
   The complimentary domestic economy Virgin Australia return flight is only available between selected Australian cities and is available for booking by American Express Velocity Platinum Primary Card Members after your first Card spend in the first year, and then after your first Card spend each year after the anniversary of your Membership. All flights are subject to availability and neither Virgin Australia nor American Express guarantees that seats or tickets will be available on the dates or at the times you may wish to fly. Seat availability may be limited to certain dates and/or flights and it may be more difficult to book seats around public holidays, school holidays or special events. Some flights may not have any seats available for redemption. Route availability is subject to change without notice. All travel is subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions available here and travel is subject to Virgin Australia Conditions of Carriage available at Conditionsofcarriage/VirginAustralia.com.
5. Insurance
   Velocity Platinum Card Insurance: The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
6. Velocity Points
   As long as your Account remains current and in good standing and you must be a member of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Velocity Points. Velocity Points are earned in accordance with the American Express Velocity Cards Points Terms and Conditions available at americanexpress.com.au/VelocityPointsTerms, and are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program available at experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/terms-conditions. Exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example, annual fees, interest, late payment fees, cash advances, balance transfers, fees for traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. These do not earn Velocity Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the American Express Velocity Cards Points Terms and Conditions. Certain transactions will earn 0.5 points per dollar with Merchants classified as; government, including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), federal/state and local government bodies. Industry specific earn rate may apply when you use a payment Account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example, a payment made to local government bodies processed through payment aggregator may earn rates at the government earn rate. Velocity Points earned on Virgin Australia spend are only valid for purchases made in Australia.