Velocity Points vs Qantas Points: Why I'd Choose Velocity for Europe

TL;DR

If I were starting from scratch today and my goal was flying Business Class to Europe on points, I wouldn't start by collecting Qantas Points.

That probably sounds strange coming from a Qantas Platinum One member, but I don't believe there's a single "best" frequent flyer program. I think there are programs that are better suited to particular trips, and right now Europe is where Velocity really shines. Between Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, consistently strong reward availability and a compelling overall redemption proposition, I'd be looking very closely at Velocity if Europe was my goal.

The bigger lesson isn't that everyone should switch to Velocity. It's that the smartest travellers don't stay loyal to airlines. They stay loyal to their travel goals.

If Business Class to Europe is your goal, Velocity points have become a solid option

If you asked me today which frequent flyer program I'd choose to get to Europe in Business Class, my answer would probably surprise a lot of Australians.

It wouldn't be Qantas Frequent Flyer.

It would be Velocity.

That's not because I think Qantas is a bad program. Quite the opposite. I'm a Qantas Platinum One member, I fly Qantas more than any other airline, and I expect I'll continue doing exactly that for many years to come. But I also think one of the biggest mistakes Australians make is assuming there's one frequent flyer program that's best for every trip. There isn't. Every program has strengths, every program has weaknesses, and right now I think Europe is where Velocity has a genuine advantage.

If you've ever spent 24 hours flying to Europe in economy, you'll understand why so many people chase points in the first place. Frequent flyer programs remain one of the very few ways everyday Australians can realistically experience Business Class without spending many thousands of dollars. And I understand why so many Australians default to Qantas. With over 17 million members it's Australia's largest frequent flyer program, it's pretty easy to earn Qantas Points through everyday spending, and for many people it's the first loyalty program they ever join. The dream is usually the same. Save enough points to fly Business Class to Europe one day. It's a great dream.

The problem isn't collecting Qantas Points. The problem is assuming they're automatically the best currency for the trip you're trying to book. I've redeemed millions of points over the years, and if Europe were my priority today, I'd be focusing my efforts somewhere else.

The biggest reason is simply the airlines themselves. Velocity gives Australians access to Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, which are consistently ranked among the world's very best airlines and regularly occupy the top positions in Skytrax's annual rankings. Qatar Airways' Qsuite is widely regarded as one of the best Business Class products in the world, combining exceptional privacy, comfort and service. Singapore Airlines is probably the airline most famous for serving Lobster Thermidor in Business Class, but what really makes them special is consistency. Flight after flight, year after year, Singapore delivers one of the most polished premium experiences in commercial aviation. For me, that's a very compelling place to start.

Qatar Airways Business Class is ranked #1 the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards

The second reason is something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough, and that's reward seat availability.

The best Business Class cabin in the world isn't worth much if you can't actually book it with your points.

This is where I think Velocity has become one of Australia's strongest programs. Virgin Australia's expanded partnership with Qatar Airways has significantly increased premium capacity between Australia and Doha over the past year, creating many more opportunities for Australians travelling onwards into Europe. Add Singapore Airlines' extensive European network into the mix and suddenly you've got a lot more options than many people realise.

Planning ahead remains one of the biggest advantages you can give yourself, but I think people sometimes misunderstand what that means. Traditionally, the best advice has been to start searching ten to twelve months before departure when airlines first release reward seats, and that's still an excellent strategy. At the same time, airlines also release unsold premium seats much closer to departure, sometimes only weeks before a flight. Rather than simply booking early, I think the better advice is to plan early, stay flexible and be ready to act when opportunities appear.

The final piece of the puzzle is value, and one of the biggest mistakes I see people make is obsessing over the number of points while completely ignoring what they'll actually spend in cash. That's backwards. I don't care what the points cost until I know what the entire trip is going to cost me.

Taxes and carrier charges are now such a significant part of many redemptions that looking at points alone simply doesn't tell the whole story.

Qantas offers some fantastic partner redemptions. Finnair is a great example, where taxes and carrier charges can sometimes be surprisingly low if you manage to find availability. Other partners tell a very different story. Emirates Business Class redemptions can attract close to $4,000 in carrier charges on a return trip to Europe, and at that point you've got to ask yourself whether you're really getting the value you expected from your points.

Singapore Airlines has typically levied very reasonable taxes & charges on reward flights

Velocity certainly isn't the cheapest program when it comes to taxes and charges, but I'd describe it as fair. A return Business Class redemption on Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines to Europe will often incur somewhere around $1,500+ in taxes and carrier charges. That's still a meaningful amount of money, but in my opinion it's a reasonable trade-off for two of the world's best airlines and a genuinely premium travel experience.

Does all of this mean everyone should stop collecting Qantas Points and move everything across to Velocity? Absolutely not. The biggest mistake Australians make isn't choosing Qantas over Velocity or Velocity over Qantas. It's collecting points without having a clear strategy for where they actually want to travel. Too many people spend years accumulating whichever points are easiest to earn, only to discover those points aren't the best fit for the holiday they eventually want to take.

This is exactly why I built what I call the FlightIQ ACT Framework. It isn't really about Qantas or Velocity at all. It's a simple way of thinking about every frequent flyer program.

The first principle is Adapt. Frequent flyer programs are constantly evolving. Airlines add new partners, remove old ones, change redemption pricing and alter reward availability. The travellers who consistently get the best value aren't the ones who stay loyal to one program forever. They're the ones who adapt as the landscape changes.

The second principle is Collect wisely. Don't collect the most points. Collect the right points. Decide where you want to travel first, then choose the program that gives you the best chance of getting there. Just as importantly, understand what those points are costing you to earn. Cheap points aren't always good value, and expensive points aren't always a bad deal.

The final principle is Travel. Points aren't an investment. They're an opportunity. They generally become less valuable over time, not more valuable. Earn them with purpose, use them when they create exceptional value, then start building towards the next trip.

People often ask whether I'm Team Qantas or Team Velocity. The answer usually disappoints them. I'm neither. I'm Team Strategy. Right now my own philosophy is simple: think Qantas for status and think Velocity for Europe. In five years' time I might give you a completely different answer, because frequent flyer programs evolve constantly. That's exactly why flexibility is one of the most valuable skills any points collector can develop.

At the end of the day, the best frequent flyer program isn't the one with the biggest membership or the most marketing. It's the one that gives you the best chance of taking the trip you actually want.

And right now, if that trip is Europe, I'd be starting with Velocity.